Even organizations in Zala operating with minimal resources can make their projects a reality with Tesco’s 15th tender

According to the latest data, there are more than 4,000 domestic organizations in the non-profit sector that operate without money or only have expenses. 111 of these are located in the county of Zala. Even for them, Tesco’s “You choose, we help” tender program, which the supermarket chain has put out for the 15th time, can be a huge help.

So far, the initiative has contributed to the implementation of more than 2,000 projects supporting local communities with financial funding exceeding half a billion forints. In the anniversary round, which started on April 8, Tesco will provide another total of HUF 42 million for the implementation of matters important to local residents. The most successful applicants will receive HUF 400,000 in support in 60 districts across the country.

Based on the latest data from the KSH, in 2022 there were 60,878 foundations and social non-profit organizations in Hungary, and only a quarter of them won income through tenders, while 6.8 percent of them operated without money or income. Among other things, Tesco’s “You choose, we help” community tender program can provide them with financing support. Since 2016, the department store chain has usually announced the initiative twice a year, and in its 15th round, it once again provides HUF 42 million in financial support to 150-200 organizations across the country.

During the 14 rounds so far, Tesco has supported the implementation of nearly 2,100 local community projects with a total of more than half a billion forints. During this time, more than 5,300 applications were received, of which the department store chain awarded nearly 2,400, and awarded 22 with a special award. In Zala county, the Zala Dog Friendly Association, the Association of the Disabled and the Disabled and the Göcseji Dombérozó Egyesület have successfully applied several times over the years. Thus, among other things, special programs such as a family day with the participation of therapy dogs in the name of responsible animal husbandry, experiential photography for people with disabilities, an event reviving folk traditions or a regional cultural rendezvous could be realized.

In the jubilee round of “You choose, we help”, Tesco, between April 8 and May 3, 2024, local organizations, friendly communities, non-foundation nurseries, kindergartens and schools, as well as non-profit small and medium-sized enterprises, even apartment buildings and housing cooperatives or welcomes applications from informal groups who want to contribute to the development of the life of the local community with their initiative.

The special feature of the program lies in the fact that Tesco entrusts the distribution of the financial framework available in the current round to local customers, as they are the ones best able to judge which of the pre-juried initiatives they consider the most deserving of support. Based on their votes, the first place winner in each of the 60 districts will receive HUF 400,000, the second with the most votes will receive HUF 200,000, and the third will receive HUF 100,000. In addition, the independent experts recommend one or more applicants for an additional special award based on professional aspects (elaboration, innovativeness, creativity and sustainability).

“According to reports, two-thirds of the income of non-profit organizations comes from grants. The proportion of tender funds in Zala county is 9.7 percent. The goal of our program is to provide as many local communities as possible throughout the country with a financial contribution to the implementation of initiatives that are important to the people living there. Our regularly returning applicants make smart use of the opportunity, so there are 12 organizations that have received a total of HUF 2 million in support from us in recent years, two of them around HUF 4 million. We therefore encourage all local communities to use the opportunity as often as possible and apply” – said Nóra Hevesi, Tesco’s head of communication in Hungary.

In the current round, applications can be submitted through the program’s website until May 3. Once again, the applications received will be judged by independent experts of the Effekteam Association, and they will select which initiatives can go on to the store voting stage. After that, between July 15 and August 11, 2024, Tesco customers in all stores can decide with their votes which tender will receive how much support.

Additional information about the application and previous winning tenders can be found at www.tesco.hu/kozosseg.