The Marketplace is an event that is organized once or several times a year, continues about one hour and matches the needs and interests of civil and business organizations. The aim of the marketplace is to stimulate and facilitate supply and demand of materials, goods, services and volunteering between civil and business organizations.

There is only one rule at the Marketplace – money is a taboo – nobody speaks or looks for money!

The Model
The Marketplace model, introduced by Tulip Foundation in Bulgaria, is very popular in the Netherlands, where numerous marketplaces are organised every year. Since 2007 the model is being applied in Germany, Austria, Belgium and other European countries. Tulip Foundation received the model from its partner organizations in the Netherlands (MOVISIE and Community Partnerships Consultants) and Germany (Bertelsmann Foundation) and started to implement and disseminate it in Bulgaria.

It is a working instrument especially suitable in times of economic crisis when resources (expertise, money, services, materials, equipment, etc.) are limited and their effective use is of crucial importance.

Participants
Civil organizations, companies and local business, business organizations, media, local authorities, active citizens and leaders of the local community.

What do the participants win in a Marketplace? 
New partnerships 
Access to new services and resources 
Access to new networks and contacts 
Opportunity to reach new customers 
Broadening the contacts with local community 
Good business reputation 
Contribution to the development of local community 
Public recognition

Film Marketplace for projects and ideas (presented in Bulgarian by Tulip Foundation in cooperation with Bertelsmann Foundation).