Small grant for the promotion of welfare and health

The small grant application period for 2025 will start on 11  August, and grants will be awarded until the allocated funds run out.  

The application must include a clear description of the content of the activity or a plan for the project, a cost estimate and the persons responsible. A small grant may also be used to support unregistered operators and consortiums. 

Attachments such as the minutes of the annual meeting of the association or financial information need not be added to the application. 

The maximum amount of a small grant is EUR 3,000. The Communications Director makes grant decisions in the order in which applications are received. Grant recipients will later be sent a reporting form by email to report on the use of the grant. Please keep any receipts associated with the use of the grant.  

Criteria for grants

• The activities for which a grant is being sought must support the realisation of the objectives of the current City Strategy and the statutory welfare and health promotion plan approved by the City Council.
• Grants may be awarded for activities that seek to reduce disparities in health and welfare among an area’s population, prevent social exclusion and promote participation.
• As a general rule, grants are allocated for activities that directly promote wellbeing and health, such as customer service work, guidance, advisory services, meeting place activities, group activities, or peer activities and volunteering. The main focus of the activities for which a grant is being sought must be preventive promotion of wellbeing and health.
• The activities must be long-term, continuous and open to Helsinki residents. General grants are not allocated for one-off activities, such as event productions. In contrast, the small grant for the promotion of wellbeing and health may also be allocated for supporting new, starting or one-off projects.
• A grant may be used to cover administrative costs such as tools, rental costs and administration in so far as the costs directly relate to the activities for which a grant is being sought. A grant may not be used to cover an association’s general administration costs, such as annual meeting expenses, bank charges or financial statement expenses.
• Grants are not allocated for investments.
• Grants are not allocated for costs related to celebrations or group travel.
• In the distribution of grants, attention is paid to organisations’ cooperation with other organisations and the City of Helsinki.
• In the distribution of grants, attention is paid to the diversity of Helsinki residents.
• In the distribution of grants, attention is paid to the public benefit offered by organisations, the impact of the activities, and organisations’ self-sufficiency.
• The recipient of the grant must engage in fundraising or have other resources for their activities (e.g. voluntary work) to prevent the activities from relying entirely on financial support from a single external financier.