The Community grants distributed by Finland Society are discretionary. The grants are financed by appropriations from the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Applicants are required to read the terms and conditions on this page before completing the application.
Application period
The annual application period for Community grants is November 1 – February 28. The application period for 2024 has now closed.
Who can apply?
The Community grant is applicable to Finnish communities abroad that operate outside Finland and whose main target group is expatriate Finns. The community’s activities must be open to this target group.
For what purpose?
In 2024, we will award grants for events organised by expatriate Finnish communities and for projects that support the community as a whole. We will only award grants for acquisitions and renovations in exceptional cases.
The Ministry of Education and Culture has designated 2024 as the Year of Sivistys. Various communities and networks can have their own event included in the calendar of events for the Year of Sivistys 2024. In our grant applications, we place special emphasis on events and projects related to the this theme year. The Year of Sivistys is coordinated by the KVS Foundation, a partner of Finland Society. Read more about the Year of Sivistys.
Within one application period, applicants can apply for Community grants for up to three separate purposes or projects. Applications for separate projects have to be included in the same application form. In case an applicant submits more than one form, only one application will be considered. Grants will not be awarded for small group travel.
What is the amount of the grant?
The Community grant is provided to co-finance a project and its amount will be assessed individually for each applicant.
What are the grant criteria?
The grant is awarded based on an assessment of the application, comparative evaluation and an overall assessment. The regional distribution of applicants and the available budget are taken into account as well principles of equal treatment. Grants are discretionary and are awarded separately each year. In the decision, attention will also be paid to the financial situation and the resulting needs of the community applying for the grant. The applicant may give information on the community’s financial situation in the application form in the field ‘Message to Finland Society’ or in an additional attachment.
Who decides on the amount of the grant?
The applications are assessed by a working group appointed by Finland Society’s Board of Directors consisting of Finland Society staff members or members of the Board of Directors. Grant decisions are taken by the Board of Finland Society based on the proposals of the working group.
When will the grant be paid?
Grants will be paid to the account indicated by the applicants in the application form normally by the end of June.
A grant may not be awarded if
o the applicant is a private individual
o the applicant is a company
o the applicant’s main activities are carried out in Finland
o the application is incomplete and the applicant has not provided the missing information on request
o the applicant has not provided Finland Society with an account report on the use of previous Community grants received
o the grant is intended to be used for basic expenses for community activities, e.g. the rent of office premises
Grant period
Grants are awarded for a calendar year and the grant awarded has to be used by the end of the year the grant was awarded.
Reporting on the use of the grant
After receiving a grant, a community is required to provide Finland Society with an account on the use of the grant using the respective electronic form indicated below. The account must be submitted by the end of February of the year following the grant period at the latest.
Information on the grant decision
All applicants will be informed by e-mail of the decision on their grant application. Remember to also check your inbox’s spam folder. The applicant is responsible for regularly checking the e-mail address provided in the application.
What attachments are needed?
The application does not require any attachments, but in case the applicant wishes to submit an Annex in support of the application, it is possible to include attachments in the application form.
How to apply
The application period for 2024 has now closed.
Report for the use of the grant 2023
For more information please contact:
Community Manager Maarit Hyvärinen, maarit.hyvarinen@suomi-seura.fi, +358447109324