In Stare de Bine at 6 Years: Over 6 Million Euros Allocated to NGOs for Projects Reaching a Quarter of Romania’s Population

Mar 18, 2025

In Stare de Bine, one of the largest annual private funding programs in Romania, implemented by the Foundation for the Development of Civil Society (CSDF) with the support of Kaufland, has reached its 6th anniversary. Over this period, the program has provided non-refundable grants worth 6.2 million euros to NGOs in Romania, enabling in-depth interventions in vulnerable communities.
The interventions have focused on three areas: culture, sports, and healthy living. Cultural, educational-recreational, sports, medical, and health education activities have taken place over more than 45,000 hours—the equivalent of walking around the Earth at a leisurely pace 4-5 times.
Nearly a quarter of Romania’s population—4.6 million people—have benefited from initiatives funded through In Stare de Bine. Moreover, the number of people directly involved in the funded projects could fill Arena Națională more than three times.
The 184 funded projects have organized a total of 8,000 workshops and over 1,600 events for the general public. If an event had been organized each day, it would have covered nearly three decades of continuous activity.

A Nationwide Program: 4.6 Million Beneficiaries of Initiatives Supported by In Stare de Bine

Over the past six years, In Stare de Bine has mobilized significant resources and thousands of people, united in the mission to transform vulnerable communities across the country and reduce social inequalities, making Romania a better place. The program has provided non-refundable grants totaling over 6.2 million euros to NGOs in Romania, reaching over 4.6 million people—almost a quarter of the country’s population.

The program has contributed to the development of civil society and local communities in Romania by supporting initiatives aimed at reducing social inequalities through annual project calls in three key intervention areas: culture, sports, and healthy living.

Following funding calls, 147 organizations have implemented 184 projects across all counties, with 51% of activities taking place in rural areas. The number of people directly involved would fill Arena Națională more than three times, exceeding 185,000. Cultural, educational-recreational, sports, medical, and health education activities have taken place over more than 45,000 hours—the equivalent of walking around the Earth at a leisurely pace 4-5 times.

The impact of In Stare de Bine has been national, with events organized in every county. Most initiatives have taken place in Bucharest (35% of projects), followed by Iași (16%), Cluj (14%), Constanța (13%), and Timiș (12%).

In total, more than 1,600 public events and nearly 8,000 workshops have been organized. The funded projects have also involved over 700 public institutions, including 288 schools, over 70 hospitals, municipalities or local councils, 47 social or foster care centers, and more than 200 other institutions.

”The In Stare de Bine program is more than just a funding source—it is a driver of community solidarity and a space where initiatives addressing real people’s needs are supported and encouraged. Over the years, the program has backed a variety of projects that have made a tangible difference in people’s lives. From improving access to medical services for vulnerable groups to creating opportunities for inclusion through culture and sports, from projects that helped expectant mothers in isolated communities monitor their pregnancy for the first time, to initiatives providing medical and hygiene services for homeless individuals, offering deaf children the opportunity to perform in a theater play, or enabling wheelchair athletes and other individuals with disabilities to participate in dedicated national competitions.
We want human diversity to be seen as normal, and access to essential services to be adapted to everyone’s needs. NGOs play a crucial role in achieving this goal, and their dedication and involvement make a real difference in communities. We thank all those who, through their work, contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.
Laura CireașăProgram Coordinator for In Stare de Bine and CSDF member.

In Stare de Bine Has Mobilized All of Romania, Intervening in Generally Underfunded Areas: Culture, Sports, and Healthy Living

Over 2 million people—the equivalent of Bucharest’s population—have benefited from the 38 projects funded in the field of Culture. In 163 localities across the country, more than 360 public events have been organized—the equivalent of one event per day for a year.

The projects funded in the Sports sector have had over 282,000 beneficiaries through 26 initiatives organized in 103 localities. In total, sports activities have taken place for more than 5,500 hours—twice the duration of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Eighty-two projects have been funded in the Healthy Living sector, 22 of which focused on equal opportunities. The number of beneficiaries exceeds 1.5 million—five times the population of Timișoara. These projects have organized over 30,000 hours of health education, educational-recreational, and medical or psychological recovery activities.

”Over six years, together with non-governmental organizations, we have demonstrated that we can generate tangible and systemic changes, both locally and nationally. Throughout this time, In Stare de Bine has shown once again that a healthy society grows from the ground up, with patience and attention to every link in the chain, shining a light on brave communities willing to expose their vulnerabilities. Good needs all the support it can get to grow, and with every action we take, we can make the world a better place, just as we do through all our programs dedicated to supporting NGOs and communities.
Katharina ScheidereiterCSR Manager at Kaufland Romania.

Special Interventions in the Context of the Pandemic and the War in Ukraine

As a targeted response to crisis situations, the special call #ÎnStareSăAjut has had three editions (2020, 2022, 2023) and, since 2023, has become a permanent component of the In Stare de Bine project. The pandemic prompted the first edition of #ÎnStareSăAjut, followed in 2022 by the war in Ukraine.

Through these three editions, 36 projects have been funded, benefiting over 460,000 people. During the pandemic, 65 medical and hospital units were equipped with medical supplies. In response to the war in Ukraine, over 36,000 refugees received support through funded projects, including more than 22,000 hot meals, mobilizing 350 volunteers.

About In Stare de Bine

The In Stare de Bine grant program for NGOs is fully funded by Kaufland Romania, with an annual budget of 1 million euros. Its main objective is to reduce social inequalities through cultural, sports, and healthy living activities for vulnerable groups and communities, as well as to support initiatives aimed at strengthening Romania’s non-governmental sector. The program emphasizes community interventions that actively involve local communities in solving local issues.

This program is implemented by CSDF and runs annually through two or three project calls, depending on identified needs. For more information, visit www.instaredebine.ro.

About Kaufland

Kaufland is one of Europe’s largest retail companies, with over 1,550 stores in 8 countries, more than 155,000 employees, and 188 stores in Romania.

Environmental and social responsibility is a key aspect of Kaufland’s corporate policy. The company believes that individual involvement can make the world a better place, which is why it launched the “Implicarea face diferența” platform in 2018 to communicate its social responsibility initiatives. Most of its CSR projects are carried out in partnership with regional and national NGOs and aim to implement large-scale social programs addressing significant beneficiary groups.

For more details, visit www.kaufland.ro. For media inquiries, please contact: presa@kaufland.ro.

About the Civil Society Development Foundation (CSDF)

Now celebrating 30 years since its founding, CSDF is recognized as a driving force in the non-governmental sector not only in Romania but also in the region and across Europe. Through its work, it has supported not only the development of NGOs but also a broader civil society capable of addressing social challenges and promoting human rights, transparency, and civic participation.

More details are available at www.fdsc.ro