General grants for cultural minorities

Grants can be applied for by associations or non-profit organizations of ethnic and linguistic minorities of Tampere. Associations or non-profit organizations must be registered in Finland. They also must have operated for at least one year.

Grants can be awarded for the basic functions of associations / non-profit organizations.

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: 

• operations that are not regular and continuous
• small associations (as a general rule, the activity must involve at least 25 active participants).
• activities which are considered to be covered by Project grants
• student organizations within educational institutions
• the practice of religious or political activities

The application period for grants is once a year (in January). Applications are submitted via an electronic application form.

The applicant must submit the following documents in addition to the application form:

• 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 or, for a non-profit company, the articles of association (unless previously submitted or if the document has changed)

*The “most recent documents” refer to those approved by the association’s annual meeting.

Did your organization receive a grant last year?

The use of general grants must be reported in connection with the next grant application. The grant recipient must provide information and documents that allow the grantor to monitor the proper use of the grant.

If the association has activities other than those for which the grant has been awarded, the documents must clearly show the content and costs of the activities for which the grant has been awarded.

The grant is awarded on the basis of an assessment of the applicant's need for the grant. Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Correspondence of operations with the goals of the grant

• Diversification of local cultural offering
• The activities promote the participation and wellbeing of the municipal residents, accessibility of culture, equality, and cultural interaction
• Ecological sustainability has been taken into account in operations
• Networking is promoted in the activities as well as in collaboration with other actors 

Number of participants and scope of activities 

• The activities are well-established and regular
• The activities reach a comprehensive group of people
• Total number of regular participants
• Total number of regular members of the applicant association or non-profit organization
• Total number of events arranged in Tampere with their total quantity and visitors
• Integration activities organised in Tampere in co-operation with other associations and the number of participants

Continuous planning and development of operations

• The activities and their objectives are clearly described and planned
• The activities are assessed and developed as needed

Financing of activities

• The association/non-profit organization has a need for support, but its overall financial situation is stable
• Own fundraising is balanced in relation to operational costs and received grants (a grant can cover 80% of the applicant’s acceptable expenditure at maximum)
• The disproportionately large share of administrative expenses in the total expenses of the previous fiscal year exerts a negative impact on the grant

Quality and influence of operations

• Cultivation of own culture and identity (in particular, promotion effort on behalf of the cultural identity of children and youth)
• Integrating activities and promoting connections with the majority population

The grant decision is made by the Culture and Leisure Committee. The applicant will be notified of the decision by email. Remittance, use and reporting of the grant are explained in the positive decision. 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 are paid once the decision becomes legally binding, unless the decision specifies a different payment schedule or sets conditions for the payment of the grant. 

Grants can be applied to expenditure that is needed for the financed operations and is moderate in amount. Grants cannot be used for business or investment activities. The acquisition of fixed assets is supported with a grant only for a justified reason.

The grant must be used during the year in which it has been awarded. If the grant remains unused, it must either be returned or an extension to its period of use must be applied for.

It is required of the grant recipient that purchases are made responsibly. If salaries or compensation are paid from the grant issued, the recipient of the grant must take care of the withholding tax and other statutory payments.

Use of 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 general grants is reported in the next grant application. If necessary, other reports on the use of the grant may also be requested from the beneficiaries. 

The beneficiary must provide information and documentation enabling the grantor to monitor the correct use of the grant. If the association has activities other than those for which the grant has been awarded, the documents must clearly show the content and costs of the activities for which the grant has been awarded.

The beneficiary must organise its accounting and auditing in accordance with the law. 

If the grant is not applied for in the following year, a report on the use of the grant must be submitted in accordance with the timetable set out 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)