Through the second edition of the „In Zona Ta” program, created by the Bucharest Community Foundation via Environmental Platform for Bucharest with assistance from ING Bank Romania, residents of 42 micro-communities in Bucharest who wish to address an environmental issue in their area can receive funding of up to EUR15,000 to transform their ideas into tangible solutions for a better city to live in.
Public educational institutions, civic initiative groups, and non-governmental organizations have until April 7, 2025, to submit project concepts and ideas that can improve their local community. The initiatives that are chosen will be supported from inception to completion.
Neighborhood by neighborhood, the „In Zona Ta” program is still actively involving local communities in improving the city’s environment and standard of living. The Bucharest Community Foundation brought tangible answers to apartment complexes at the center of urban life last year, reviving the civic movement in the Capital. With the help of ten communities and up to EUR15,000 in funding per project, four NGOs and six new civic initiative groups turned abandoned areas into gardens, improved residential buildings’ energy efficiency and separate waste collection, and created infrastructure for alternate modes of transportation for themselves and their neighbors.
Extra – A Project Incubator
In the second edition of the program, in addition to nearly EUR140,000 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”, Alina Kasprovschi, Executive Director, Bucharest Community Foundation, said.
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.
The Final Projects Eligible for Grants Will be Selected by June 10, 2025
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”, Tomina Vodarici, Community Investment Specialist, ING Bank Romania, added.
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.