The Community Fund Chepelare was founded in July 2002. Representatives of local authorities, business and citizen groups form its Managing Board. The Fund was created with the technical and financial assistance of Counterpart International Bulgaria as part of the Pilot Community Funds and Social Enterprises Programme supported by USAID.

The Community Fund Chepelare mission is to support financially and organizationally citizen initiatives leading to the solution of immediate public needs through revival of charity traditions and forming of new citizen consciousness. The main activities for implementing this mission is survey of local needs, organizing campaigns for fundraising, organizing competitions for funding projects in priority areas, managing projects in priority areas, according to the principles of work for the public benefit and according to the donor s will.

In 2002 Community Fund Chepelare implemented its first project Reconstruction and modernization of street lighting in Chepelare . Based on citizen priorities highlighted in a session of a Community Forum in April 2002 the Community Fund organized a charity campaign and collected 44 600 from local firms, citizens and local authorities. Over 1000 citizens and 13 firms made individual donations. The funds collected were doubled by Counterpart International to the total sum of 89 200 lv.

The community Fund conducted a public tender for a subcontracting firm and approving the site. After the completion of the project the Fund conducted a survey of public opinion and found out that an important problem for the community had been solved and citizen trust in the organization had risen.

The Fund s next project was Reconstruction of the city park . Improving and cleaning up the green areas has a significant social effect on the local community. In the implementation of the project the Fund works in partnership with municipal administration, the Union of the protection of the Rhodopi mountains and biathlon sports club.

At present Chepelare organizes donation campaign under the motto: Our culture center is what we wish to be. The funds raised will be used for the reconstruction and modernization of the culture centre building. The implementation of this project will create new activities and will have a strong social effect.