The National Trust Ecofund was established in 1995 through the mechanism of transforming part of Bulgaria's debt into environmental protection projects - the "Debt for Environment" deal - an agreement between the governments of the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Bulgaria.

Over the 30 years of its operation, the National Trust Ecofund has financed 515 projects of municipalities, schools, universities, companies, institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, non-governmental organizations, etc., located in over 150 municipalities. The total value is over 270 million leva. The funds provided by the NTEF to the beneficiaries amount to about 121 million leva, with the average percentage of grant funding being about 46% (min. 19%, max. 85%).

The most characteristic of the National Trust Ecofund over the years is that it always does things for the first time – without the opportunity to take a ready-made model and apply it. There has always been a need for creativity based on knowledge and reliable information. In managing the specific projects that are financed by the NTEF, there is a lower administrative burden compared to other programs and we work directly with the beneficiaries. They are partners of the Fund.