General grants for competitiveness

Non-profit communities that have been approved as competitiveness general grant recipients. 

Grants can be awarded for:

• The core activities of the community as defined in its rules, or targeted support for a specific part of its operations.
• The grantor may set specific conditions for the use of the grant, which must be communicated to the recipient at the time of approval. 

Grants can only be awarded for activities that comply with the general principles for grants of the City of Tampere. 

Grants are not awarded for activities where any potential profit is used for the benefit of the owners. 

Grants are targeted at a limited group of applicants. Grants are applied for annually, unless the committee has awarded the grant as a multi-year grant. Applicants are invited to complete an electronic application form.

The applicant must submit the grant application and the following documents by the end of the application period:

• An action plan for the year for which the grant is being applied
• A budget for the year for which the grant is being applied
• The most recent signed financial statement of organization including the profit and loss account and balance sheet with notes, as well as the annual report. The profit and loss account must include account and sub-account as well as cost centre-specific calculation. *
• The most recent auditor’s and/or operational inspector’s statement (audit/inspection report) *
• The organization’s rules (unless previously submitted or if the rules have changed)
• A cash flow statement is required only from organizations that are obligated to prepare one under Chapter 3, Section 1.1 and Chapter 1, Section 4c of the Accounting Act.

*The “most recent documents” refer to those approved by the association’s general meeting. Associations whose financial year differs from the calendar year must submit the most recent approved documents for their own financial period.

If the grant in the previous financial year was at least 50 000 euros, the organization must also submit:

• Any memos and minutes from auditors and/or operational inspectors from the previous financial year
• A breakdown of the balance sheet and a certified or signed extract from the annual meeting minutes regarding the section where the above-mentioned annual report and financial statements were addressed

If the grant in the previous financial year was at least 100 000 euros, the organization must also submit:

• The financial regulations, showing how the organization’s finances are managed and supervised. 

Monitoring of the use of grants is carried out in connection with the application process. Grant recipients must submit the information and documents that allow the grantor to monitor the proper use of the grant. 

General grants for competitiveness may be awarded to organizations with which the city has close cooperation, or whose establishment or relocation to Tampere the city has supported. Through these grants, the city commits to long-term collaboration and a negotiated approach to funding. 

According to the administrative regulations of the City of Tampere, decisions on general grants for competitiveness are made by the Director of the City Group. 

Applicants are notified of the decision by email. The city may set specific conditions for the use of the grant, which will be communicated to the recipient at the time of approval. The grant may only be used for the purpose specified in the grant decision. If the decision does not specify the purpose in detail, the grant must be used for the purpose stated in the application.

Grants will be paid once the decision becomes legally binding, unless the decision specifies a different payment schedule or sets conditions for the payment of the grant. If the grant decision does not specify the payment schedule, grants are paid as follows:

• grants under 10 000 euros are paid in one instalment
• grants of 10 000 - 49 999 euros are paid in two instalments
• grants of 50 000 - 99 999 euros are paid in four instalments
• grants of 100 000 euros or more are paid monthly

The grant may only be used for the purpose specified in the grant decision. If the decision does not specify the purpose in detail, the grant must be used for the purpose stated in the application. 

The grant may be used for expenses that are necessary and reasonable in relation to the supported activities. The grant may not be used for business or investment activities. Support for the acquisition of fixed assets is only granted for justified reasons. 

The grant must be used during the year for which it was awarded. If any portion of the grant remains unused, it must be returned or an extension for its use must be requested. 

Grant recipients are expected to make responsible purchases. If salaries or fees are paid from the grant, the recipient must ensure withholding tax is applied and other statutory payments are made. 

Use of the Tampere.Finland logo 

As part of the grant community’s own marketing, the Tampere.Finland logo is recommended for use. In situations where the funding of operations is publicly communicated, Tampere’s coat of arms is always used in referring to the City of Tampere. You can download the logos from the Tampere brand page. 

No cooperation with the Russian state 

As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, associations and communities receiving general or premises grants from the City of Tampere are not allowed to cooperate with the Russian state or its official representatives. If this is deemed to have happened, the full amount of the general grant will be recovered and any premises grant will be refused, and no further grant or other support from the City of Tampere will be awarded to the organisation. This condition is based on the policy that the Finnish state has towards Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The City of Tampere will comply with the Finnish Government's policy. 

The use of grant is reported in connection with the next grant application. If necessary, additional clarifications regarding the use of the grant may be requested from recipients.

The grant recipient must provide information and documents that allow the grantor to monitor the proper use of the grant. If the association’s activities are extensive, the documents must specifically verify the content and costs of the supported activities.

The grant recipient must organize their accounting and auditing in accordance with legal requirements.

If a grant is not applied for the following year, the use of the grant must be reported according to the schedule specified in the decision. 

Reports on the use of the grant will be submitted by submitting the following documents:

• signed financial statement of organization including the profit and loss account and balance sheet with notes, as well as the annual report. The profit and loss account must include account and sub-account as well as cost centre-specific calculation
• statement of the financial auditors and/or operational auditors (account/operational audit report) 

If the grant has been at least 50 000 euros, the organization must also submit:

• any memos and minutes from auditors and/or operational inspectors from the previous financial year
• a breakdown of the balance sheet and a certified or signed extract from the annual meeting minutes regarding the section where the above-mentioned annual report and financial statements were addressed