Table of contents
How can an association start fundraising?
Fundraising strategies and opportunities in Finland
Fundraising is a key strategy used by over 70% of Finns in various organisations and nearly half of Finns donating annually. The country has around 100,000 registered associations operating in various sectors, including foundations, museums, universities, political parties, and other communities.
According to fundraising laws, public collection campaigns with a limited duration and maximum amount require only a notification, not a permit. For small-scale fundraising, the total amount can be up to €10,000, with a maximum duration of two three-month periods per calendar year. (🔗Police of Finland - Small-scale money collections)
Donations can be organised by registered Finnish foundations or organisations, religious communities or a party entered in the register of political parties. Notifiable small-scale fundraisings can be arranged for purposes other than public interest, but not for business reasons and small collection can also be arranged by an unregistered group of at least three natural persons. These responsibilities are for the persons belonging to the collector’s statutory institution, other management, or using effective decision-making powers who, in their duties decide on matters relating to the organisation of the fundraiser.
A successful fundraising strategy requires a clear vision and answers to the following questions:
- What help is needed at the moment?
- How much support is required?
- What is the appropriate funding target?
- How will the donation make a difference?
Donors can be reached through various channels, both traditional and digital, including radio and TV advertisements, text messages, telemarketing, online platforms, events, and donation boxes. A successful donation process includes three key steps: a donation request, a secure payment phase, and expressing gratitude to donors to maintain trust and engagement.
Fundraising resources for associations
Fundraising training and template (Aalto)
Fundraising training materials to help associations develop effective fundraising plans. Includes tools and examples to support planning.
A template is also available.
Suomen Pakolaisapu - Fundraising
A collection of tools and tips for associations to plan and execute effective fundraising strategies. The page offers guidance on various methods, legal requirements, and best practices to secure funding and build sustainability.
VALA - Professional Fundraising course
VaLa offers training in fundraising skills in Finland and abroad. These trainings contribute to professional development in the field of fundraising.
Guidance on how to run a funding campaign
This page provides instructions on how to set up a crowdfunding campaign, providing a step-by-step approach for different campaign types. It includes advice on creating a campaign page, legal requirements, and methods for promoting and securing funding.
What are the ways to collect donations for an association?
Money Collections
Money collection campaigns involve asking the public for donations without offering compensation. A money collection permit is usually required, except for small-scale collections, which need a written notification to the local police. Organisations must provide clear information about the campaign organiser, purpose, and permit details to ensure transparency.
Money Collection Permits
Organisations must apply for a money collection permit through the Finnish National Police Board. The application must detail the purpose, duration, and target group.
For small-scale collections (limited to 10 000 euros and to six months), a notification to your local police departmentis sufficient.
Crowdfunding and Money Collection Campaigns
Crowdfunding platforms can be used for non-profit projects, but legal regulations must be followed. Crowdfunding campaigns differ from traditional money collections as they may include rewards for donors.
Additional resources for fundraising in associations
Citizens' Forum - Association Finance Workshop: Collecting donations for the association (in Finnish)
- Funding Methods: Membership fees, events, sales, donations, and crowdfunding.
- Small Fundraisers: Guidelines for permits and reporting requirements.
- Crowdfunding: Tips on platform selection and engaging supporters.
- Financial Management: Funds must be tracked and used for their stated purpose.
Where to find grants and funding for your association?
Below are websites that help with finding and applying for grants:
Kansalaisyhteiskunta - Funding Directory (in Finnish)
A directory of funding opportunities categorized by providers, such as government agencies, foundations, EU programs, and municipalities.
Haeavustuksia.fi
An online service that gathers all government grant applications in one place, making the application process easier.
Grants and subsidies from municipalities in the Helsinki area:
Suomen Pakolaisapu - Yearly calendar of funding applications (in Finnish)
Pakolaisapu provides an annual calendar of funding applications to help associations keep track of grant application deadlines throughout the year. This yearbook can be found in the Materials section of the organisations' Dashboard. Please remember to check that it is up to date, as application deadlines and funding sources may change.
What should be considered when planning fundraising?
The importance of the Associations Act and fundraising strategies
The first key point to highlight is the association actwhich overlooks all association activities. These activities are governed by various laws and regulations (Read more : www.finlex.fi*). This law states in its statutes the purpose and forms of the association's activities, the obligations of each member with regard to membership fees and other related fees.
The purpose of the fundraising strategy is to control funding and provide available resources. They also have an investment plan that ranges from one year to five years and includes different areas where they can help the association. Their funds come from one main source: the public. They help with membership fees, fundraising, charity events, donating goods and sponsorship.
By sponsoring, both the target and the sponsor exploit each other's tangible and/or intangible assets to achieve their business objectives. This is a purposeful and responsible partnership between the sponsoring organisation and the sponsored object, i.e. the holder.
*Finlex.fi is a legal database owned by the Ministry of Justice. It provides free public access to Finnish laws, regulations, and court decisions, helping users find comprehensive legal information.
The importance of cooperation with different companies
The next question is: why do we cooperate with different companies?
The reality is that more and more companies today have informal care situations in their work communities that go unnoticed. Employers could support their employees' ability to cope at work through a range of free arrangements if companies were open about the issues. In return, we offer companies the opportunity to get to know us, as well as visibility in our own events and promotional materials, such as our membership newsletter and other brochures, which are published once or twice a year. The business partner also receives up-to-date information on the informal care of their relatives. We organise information on the coordination of informal care and work between employers and company staff. These are just a few of the benefits.
In cooperation, a cooperation agreement is always written and designed. There are five main features: the different parties to the contract, the purpose of the contract, costs and billing, validity, communication and finally confidentiality.
