Funding of up to 15,000 euro for community initiatives in 42 areas of the Capital through the Environmental Platform for Bucharest

Bucharest residents from 42 micro-communities who want to address an environmental issue in their area can receive funding of up to €15,000 to turn their ideas into concrete solutions for a better city to live in through the second edition of the “In ZONA TA” program, developed by the Bucharest Community Foundation through the Environmental Platform for Bucharest, with support from ING Bank Romania. Until April 7, 2025, civic initiative groups, non-governmental organizations, and public educational institutions can submit ideas and project proposals that can make a difference in their local community and the selected initiatives will receive support from concept to implementation.

The “In ZONA TA” program continues to actively engage local communities in transforming the environment and quality of life in the city, neighborhood by neighborhood. Last year, the Bucharest Community Foundation revitalized the civic movement in the Capital, bringing concrete solutions at the heart of urban life, in apartment buildings. By mobilizing ten communities and providing funding of up to €15,000 per project, six new civic initiative groups and four NGOs transformed neglected spaces into gardens, increased separate waste collection and energy efficiency in residential buildings, and developed infrastructure for alternative transportation for themselves and their neighbors.

In the second edition of the program, in addition to nearly €140,000 in total grants for selected environmental initiatives, the Bucharest Community Foundation provides a project incubator, mentorship, and access to specialists to help civic groups turn their ideas into concrete solutions.

Thus, “In ZONA TA” continues to support initiatives that can transform communities and the city by improving the quality of green spaces, developing solutions for green spaces around buildings, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting waste separation and resource reuse for a circular economy, encouraging responsible consumption, and increasing urban mobility through alternative transportation solutions. Eligible projects for a grant include repair centers for household items, community-accessible libraries of shared objects, neighborhood events for exchanging clothes, books, and other items, cooking workshops aimed at reducing food waste, composting stations, parking and repair hubs for bicycles and scooters, and urban community gardens.

”We all surely notice things around us that could be improved for our community and the environment and our mission is to move from observation to action, because each of us has the power to make a difference. Through the «In ZONA TA» program, we empower people to take initiative and actively participate in transforming the neighborhoods they live in. The projects funded in the first edition have already proven that change is possible and the dedication and energy of the micro-communities that came together around these initiatives have been truly inspiring, giving us the confidence that, together, we can continue making Bucharest a better place to live in”, said Alina Kasprovschi, Executive Director, Bucharest Community Foundation.

Initiative groups composed of at least three people who want to plan and implement a project together, non-governmental organizations with no political affiliation, and public educational institutions looking to develop an environmental project with community engagement potential can apply for funding until April 7, 2025, by completing the online application form available on the Environmental Platform for Bucharest website.

Submitted initiatives will be evaluated, and representatives of the selected projects will participate in the project incubator, from April 28 to May 31, 2025, receiving support in project planning and management, budget administration, community engagement, project communication, and specialized consultancy tailored to their development needs. The final projects eligible for grants will be selected by June 10, 2025, and implemented by May 31, 2026. The allocated funding amounts will be established based on the complexity of each initiative and the resources required for its development.

”We know that addressing environmental challenges in the community is a shared responsibility and that everyone can contribute to change, which is why we wanted to support the Environmental Platform for Bucharest in multiple initiatives. We are happy that, through the «In ZONA TA» program, we can amplify the civic movement and provide people with the resources they need to turn issues around them into concrete solutions for a healthier, cleaner, and greener Bucharest”, said Tomina Vodarici, Community Investment Specialist, ING Bank Romania.

The Environmental Platform for Bucharest is a strategic program developed by the Bucharest Community Foundation and ING Bank Romania, launched in 2021. Its mission is to turn environmental challenges into viable projects that benefit both Bucharest and its residents. The platform was created to bring together experts from civil society, academia, businesses, activists, policymakers, and local administration, fostering a coordinated approach to addressing the complex environmental issues affecting Bucharest.

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The Bucharest Community Foundation connects donors, NGOs, and initiative groups to build strong and united communities in Bucharest and Ilfov. In its 13 years of activity, the foundation has funded 875 projects and scholarships, with a total investment exceeding 28 million lei. For more information, visit www.fundatiacomunitarabucuresti.ro.

The Environmental Platform for Bucharest is a strategic program launched in 2021 by the Bucharest Community Foundation and ING Bank Romania to facilitate collaboration between public authorities, civil society, businesses, and citizens in shaping a shared vision for the environment in the capital. Through key areas such as research, funding, and collaboration, the platform collects data and concrete examples to understand environmental challenges and the solutions proposed by civil society, mobilizes financial resources to implement and scale these solutions, and creates a collaborative framework for NGOs, private companies, and public administration. To date, the platform has funded 36 projects, with a total investment of over 10 million lei.

ING Bank Romania is part of ING Group, a global financial institution serving over 38 million individual, corporate, and institutional clients across 40+ countries. Established in 1994, ING Bank Romania is now a universal bank, offering a full range of products and services to large and small companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and individual customers. It is the only bank in the top 10 local banks by assets that has achieved organic growth, without acquiring customer portfolios or other banks. ING Bank Romania has over 1.7 million clients across three business segments – Retail Banking, SMEs & Mid-Corporate, and Wholesale Banking –