Bilitis Foundation

What Bilitis Foundation does

Bilitis Foundation (Bulgarian: Фондация Билитис; legal name: Bilitis Resource Centre Foundation / Фондация Ресурсен център Билитис) is a Bulgarian non-profit organization founded in 2004, headquartered in Sofia at the Rainbow Hub community center (bul. Knyaginya Maria Luiza №45). It is one of the first and longest-running LGBTI rights organizations in Bulgaria, operating across direct service delivery, community organizing, advocacy, and public education.

The foundation's core offerings include a free online chat support platform ("Живей без тормоз" / Live Without Bullying) providing psychological support from trained psychologists to LGBTI+ people facing discrimination, harassment, or violence; the BraveLab web portal for LGBTI+ youth aged 14-29 and their parents; and a portfolio of community groups targeting specific demographics — BraveLab (youth), QueerFemme (lesbian, bisexual, and trans women and non-binary people), BInonymous (bisexual community), and T.I.A. (Trans and Intersex Alliance). Programmatic initiatives include the School's Out European project on inclusive education, Rainbow Hub Without Borders (LGBTI refugee support from Ukraine), Sofia Pride Sports, and the annual Sofia LGBTI Community Fest (17 editions since 2004).

Bilitis operates as a registered Bulgarian non-profit with no disclosed revenue. Its funding model rests on individual donations (bank transfer, PayPal, Patreon) and project-based grants from EU programmes including the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (CERV), Erasmus+, EEA Grants, and the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria. The organization co-locates in the Rainbow Hub with GLAS Foundation, Youth LGBT Organisation Deystvie, and Sappho, creating a multi-organization service ecosystem. Governance transitioned in September 2023 to a dual co-director model led by Manuela Popova and Pol Naidenov.

Name

Bilitis Foundation

Legal name

Bilitis Resource Centre Foundation

Website

https://bilitis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bilitis Foundation is a Bulgarian LGBTI rights non-profit founded in 2004 that delivers free online psychological support, community groups, and advocacy programs to LGBTI+ individuals in Bulgaria, funded by EU grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTI Rights Advocacy and Community Support Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• LGBTI community support
• Psychological counseling services
• Community advocacy nonprofit
• Online chat support
• Human rights education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sofia

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: The foundation accepts donations through bank transfers, PayPal, and Patreon to support its activities and campaigns
2. European Union Funding: Projects funded by EU programmes including Rights Equality and Citizenship Programme, CERV, Erasmus+, EEA Grants, and Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bilitis Foundation provides free psychological counseling via an online chat platform, hosts community support groups for specific LGBTI subpopulations (youth, queer women, bisexual, trans and intersex people), and runs advocacy, education, and community-building projects in Bulgaria. It also operates the Rainbow Hub community center in Sofia and partners on European-funded programs such as School's Out, delivering teacher training and inclusive education resources.

Product overview

Bilitis Foundation is an NGO focused on supporting Bulgaria's LGBTI community through advocacy, community support, and education. The organization offers a portfolio of services including an online chat support platform for psychological assistance, community groups (BraveLab for youth, QueerFemme for queer women, BInonymous for bisexual individuals, and T.I.A. for trans and intersex people), a monthly newsletter, and various initiatives such as the School's Out educational project, Rainbow Hub community center, Sofia Pride Sports, and the annual Sofia LGBTI Community Fest. These offerings work together to provide direct support, community building, advocacy, and public education for Bulgaria's LGBTI population.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BraveLab: A safe space for LGBTQI+ youth aged 14-29, serving as an incubator for building confident, capable young LGBTQI+ leaders.
• QueerFemme
• BInonymous
• T.I.A.
• Rainbow Hub
• School's Out
• Sofia Pride Sports
• Sofia LGBTI Community Fest

Products and services

• Online Chat Support Platform Online chat platform providing free support from trained expert psychologists for LGBTI+ people in Bulgaria who face discrimination, harassment, violence, or other personal difficulties. Also offers a chat for students who experienced bullying at school.
• BraveLab Community Program Protected community space for LGBTI+ youth aged 14-29, functioning as an incubator for developing confident, capable, and bold young leaders of the LGBTI community.
• QueerFemme Community Group Community group for lesbian, bisexual, and trans women and non-binary people, providing a space for free sharing, support and cohesion of the queer women's community.
• BInonymous Community Group Community for bisexual, bi-curious people and anyone who identifies under the bi+ umbrella, providing space for sharing experiences and ideas.
• T.I.A. (Trans and Intersex Alliance) Community Group Community group for trans and intersex people and their allies, providing support and a youth activist sub-group for trans leader empowerment.
• School's Out Project European project creating a better school environment for LGBTI students by training teachers on including LGBTI topics in classes and addressing school bullying, with partner organizations in Belgium, Italy and Portugal.
• Rainbow Hub Community Center Community center in Sofia housing Bilitis operations and providing a safe physical space for humanitarian support, consultations, referrals to other organizations, meetings, and co-location with partner organizations GLAS Foundation and Sappho.
• Sofia Pride Sports Sports initiative launched in 2018 connecting sports spirit and healthy lifestyle with LGBTI community causes, organizing friendly competitions and sporting events including tournaments against homophobia.
• Sofia LGBTI Community Fest Annual community festival organized by Bilitis Foundation since 2004 covering LGBTI and feminist topics, providing a platform for communication, information, support and entertainment. The 17th edition was held in 2020.
• Bilitis Bulletin (Monthly Newsletter) Monthly email newsletter providing news about events, initiatives, and activist actions for the Bulgarian LGBTI community, distributed to subscribers with bilingual Bulgarian and English content.

Quantifiable outcome

• BraveLab portal provides resources for 14-29 year old LGBTI+ youth
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MovingsportminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Just-Gender Community-Wellbeing project enhancing inclusion of women and LGBTQ+ athletes in European grassroots sport.
• Activ'EllesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Just-Gender Community-Wellbeing project focusing on women's sports inclusion.
• EGLSF (European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Just-Gender Community-Wellbeing project addressing discrimination in sports.
• Active Rainbow (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Stories Act Erasmus+ training bringing together LGBTQ+ people from 9 countries to explore storytelling and community building.
• Olde Vechte Foundation (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in Stories Act Erasmus+ training course on storytelling and community empowerment.
• GLAS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-located partner in Rainbow Hub, collaborating on community projects including Rainbow Hub Voice (media skills training) and support for LGBTQ+ refugees from Ukraine.
• LGBT Organization "Deystvie" (Youth LGBT Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in Rainbow Hub Voice project for media skills training and collaboration on advocacy campaigns including the 'Family for All' campaign.
• SapphocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-located organization in Rainbow Hub providing LGBTQ+ community services and support.
• ILGA-EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-host of the 2022 ILGA-Europe Annual Conference in Sofia. Bilitis managed 17+ volunteers for the conference with 350+ participants from Europe and Central Asia.
• Single Step FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in national survey on school climate regarding LGBTQ+ people in Bulgaria.
• CheckPoint SofiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner providing anonymous and free HIV testing during Sofia Pride Sports Equality Run event.
• Sdrujenie "Bokaya"minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Project partner in 'Fair Play' project funded by Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria (EEA Grants) focusing on combating discrimination in sports.
• çavaria (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner in the School's Out project - a European initiative to create better school environments for LGBTI students by training teachers on inclusive practices. The project is funded by the EU Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme.
• Centro Risorse (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner in the School's Out project implementing inclusive school cycle programmes and developing educational resources.
• ILGA PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner in the School's Out project contributing to the development of training materials for teachers.
• Università degli Studi di Brescia (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Academic partner in the School's Out project providing research and evaluation expertise.
• FARE NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Organization supporting Sofia Pride Sports football tournament against homophobia, uniting those who fight inequality in football.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• çavaria: Belgian Flemish LGBTI organization and School's Out project partner. Comparable as an EU-based national LGBTI advocacy organization delivering education, community services, and policy work in a different national market.
• Centro Risorse LGBTI: Italian LGBTI organization partnering with Bilitis on School's Out. Comparable as a national-level European LGBTI NGO delivering inclusive education and community programmes in Italy.
• Single Step Foundation: Bulgarian foundation partnering with Bilitis on national school-climate research. Comparable as a domestic research and advocacy partner operating in the same Bulgarian rights and education space.
• ILGA Portugal: Portuguese LGBTI umbrella organization and School's Out partner. Comparable as a Southern European national LGBTI advocacy and education NGO.

Direct peers

• GLAS Foundation: Bulgarian LGBTI NGO co-located with Bilitis at Rainbow Hub in Sofia. Directly comparable as a Bulgarian LGBTI rights organization operating community support, advocacy, and refugee support programmes from the same physical infrastructure.
• Youth LGBT Organization Deystvie: Bulgarian youth-focused LGBTI organization partnering with Bilitis on Rainbow Hub and advocacy campaigns. Comparable as a domestic LGBTI rights NGO targeting youth segments and policy advocacy in the same Bulgarian context.
• Sappho: Bulgarian LGBTI organization co-located at Rainbow Hub. Closely comparable as a small domestic LGBTI NGO delivering community services alongside Bilitis in Sofia.

Emerging players

• CheckPoint Sofia: Bulgarian community-based health organization partnering with Bilitis on HIV testing at Pride events. Comparable as a Bulgarian NGO serving LGBTI-adjacent health needs in the same community ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• ILGA-Europe: European umbrella LGBTI organization of which Bilitis is a member. Comparable as the broader incumbent network body providing coordination, advocacy, and convening power across European LGBTI NGOs including Bilitis itself.
• EGLSF (European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation): European federation tackling discrimination in sport and partnering with Bilitis on Just-Gender. Comparable as a pan-European organization operating in the LGBTI and inclusion space with a different functional focus (sport).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SofiaPrideSports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bilitis-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bilitis Foundation