City Board, general grant application
General grants awarded by the Helsinki City Board are intended for registered organisations whose activities are seen to contribute to the common good. Applicants can apply for these grants for activities that do not fall under any of the board's divisions.
The organisations applying for the grant must be registered in an official register applicable to their group (e.g. association register, trade register).
Organisations that can apply for the general grant must have been in operation for at least one year and their activity must target the city's residents or a at least as significant amount of these residents.
Discretionary grants awarded by the City Manager
- Applications for discretionary grants awarded by the City Manager can be submitted year-round.
City Board grants
- Application period for the next operation year 2026 is 2 May to 2 June 2025. Application period ends on June 2, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
How the process works
How to apply
- Log into the city's e-services at avustukset.hel.fi/en.
- Confirm your identity with a form of strong identification (online banking codes, Mobile ID, or a certificate card).
- Fill in the online application form for the City Board general grant.
- Submit the completed application.
- You can track the processing of your application in the My applications and communication page. Open application and follow the processing at Application info.
When to apply
Discretionary grants awarded by the City Manager
- Applications for discretionary grants awarded by the City Manager can be submitted year-round.
City Board grants
- The application deadline for City Board grants each year is at the end of May. Grant decisions are made towards the end of the year, after the budget has been approved.
- Application period for the next operation year 2026 is 2 May to 2 June 2025. Application period ends on June 2, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Applications are archived in the Grants services for four years.
Application processing
- The City Board or City Manager will make a decision on the grant.
- You will receive notice of the decision to your email.
- The City of Helsinki pays the grant to the selected applicant organisation's bank account.
- Selected applicants must draw up a report explaining how the grant was used and send it to the city. The grant can only be used for the purpose stated in the application.
- Inform the city immediately via email (avustukset.kanslia[at]hel.fi) if any significant changes arise that affect the grant or its use.
Validity period
The application is valid until a decision has been made. A new application submitted for the same purpose will replace any older versions in the system, if you submit it before the deadline.
Additional information
Apply for City of Helsinki grants through the city's e-services. If this is not possible, you can also mail the application to the City Register Office at the following address: City of Helsinki Register Office, P.O. Box 10, 00099 CITY OF HELSINKI