In 2026—the year marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the organisation—the ‘13 Centuries Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund, initiated and launched a donation campaign, making contributions of books to the libraries of leading higher education institutions in Bulgaria.
The donations included 1,110 publications of various genres relating to Bulgarian and world history, culture and literature, as well as monographs on Bulgarian artists from the Fund’s series under the project, ‘Contemporary Bulgarian Art. Names’. All the books were published by St Kliment Ohridski University Press.
These donations of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ contribute to enriching the universities’ library collections with contemporary Bulgarian literature.
Among the first universities to receive the Fund’s donation were higher education institutions with a proven reputation of their teaching teams, significant contribution to modern education, and extensive library collections:
University of Economics in Varna, the oldest higher education school of commerce, is Bulgaria’s only higher education institute certified with the European Solidarity Corps Programme Quality Label. Established by a decree of the Council of Ministers, the university also carries out research in priority scientific areas, such as: Green economy and Sustainable Development; Digital Transformations and Digitisation; Innovation and Competitiveness; Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, and Crisis Management. The Fund’s donation comprises 185 publications.
Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv has a high level of experience. Since 2017, the university is working on implementing the National Strategy for the Development of Scientific Research in Bulgaria, for the period 2017–2030, and, by fulfilling its objectives, it aims at contributing to the successful development of Bulgaria as a prosperous European country. The Fund’s donation comprises 305 publications: fiction, historical and geographical studies.
Neofit Rilski South-West University in Blagoevgrad has been awarded the status of a research higher education institution in Bulgaria, an eloquent recognition of the university’s significant contribution to the development of science, education and innovation, as well as high appraisal for the results achieved in the field of scientific research. It is an established leader in academic life and a driver for the development of the region of Blagoevgrad and Southwestern Bulgaria. The Fund’s donation comprises 310 publications.
Sts Cyril and Methodius University in Veliko Tarnovo has a rich history and experience in education. Having established itself as the largest state university in Bulgaria, outside the capital, it received 70 publications for its library.
The University of National and World Economy in Sofia is the oldest higher economic school in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe. It received over 140 books for its library collection, including publications of the Fund.
Vasil Levski National Military University in Veliko Tarnovo, a higher educational institution with a long history. It received a donation of 100 books.
The book donation campaign of the ‘13 Centuries Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund will continue throughout 2026.