Saastamoinen Foundation actively collaborates with partners in science, education, art and culture to promote meaningful and long-lasting impact.

The Foundation’s objective is to promote international research, education, and networking through strategic and long-term commitment. Grants are focused on project with a duration of 3-5 years.

 

In its grant-making activities, the Foundation aims to:

• Support art and artists both in Finland and internationally. The Foundation maintains, develops, and exhibits its art collection. The foundation’s art collection is actively developed and permanently displayed at the EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art.
• Advance science and education in collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland, Aalto University, and the University of the Arts Helsinki with the aim to promote international research, education, and networking.
• Encourage interdisciplinary projects in the intersection of science and art.
• Promote social and cultural projects aimed at youth as well as cultural projects related to the history and legacy of the Saastamoinen family business.

Grants from Saastamoinen Foundation can be applied for:

• Visual art-related projects (including performance art and sound art)
• Research projects (mainly through the University of Eastern Finland, the University of the Arts Helsinki, and Aalto University)
• Interdisciplinary projects between science and art
• Projects aimed at solving socially significant challenges
• Youth engagement
• In exceptional cases for other cultural projects

 

What is generally not funded?

• Profit-seeking business activities
• Purposes related to private life and personal economy
• Financing studies or internships
• Travel grants
• Permanent funding for any activity
• Solely for work (salary/working grant). However, the project budget can include a fee or salary within the project’s framework.
• Theatre and music-related projects

 

Funding priorities

Saastamoinen Foundation awards grants for initiatives related to societal development, science, art, and projects combining science and art.

 

Priorities in Art

Saastamoinen Foundation mainly grants funding for visual art-related projects. The objective of art grants is to promote the international visibility of Finnish art and publications. The foundation collaborates with the Espoo Museum of Modern Art EMMA, the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of the Arts Helsinki, artists, a wide network of museums, and international art institutions (such as PUBLICS and various residencies).

 

Priorities in Science and Research

In the field of science and education, the main partners of the Foundation are the University of Eastern Finland, Aalto University, and the University of the Arts Helsinki. Other universities and colleges are welcome to propose projects and collaboration models to the Foundation. Examples of supported research projects include freshwater research, forest bioeconomy research, epilepsy research, sustainability law and economics, artist pedagogy, and analogue imaging research.

 

Priorities in Social Projects

The Foundation supports societal projects that engage and support children and youth. Supported projects include the 4H organization’s Taimiteko project, Yrityskylä, Gutsy Go, and RARE Media.

The grants can be applied by an organisation with a business ID, a working group or a private person.

Applications from people of different ages and backgrounds who represent diversity in terms of gender, language, and culture are welcome.

 

 

University collaboration

Applicants studying or working at Aalto University’s School of Business, the University of Eastern Finland, or the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of the Arts Helsinki ca find information about funding opportunities from their grant office or nearest professor or supervisor.

The Foundation does not directly award grants to individual students for studies, dissertation work or internships.

 

 

The applicant is to send a free-form grant application to Saastamoinen Foundation via email either in Finnish or English to apurahat@saastamoinenfoundation.fi.

 

The application should include:

• A summary of the work plan
• Full project plan
• Budget with detailed statement of costs
• Information on any other grants received or applied for the same project
• Communications plan
• The applicant’s view on the project’s impact and sustainability
• Reporting plan
• Depending on the application, a portfolio and/or resumes.

Grant awarding requires that the applicant commits to the Foundation’s grant awarding conditions. Grants are not awarded retrospectively.

Grant awarding takes into account the project’s social impact, responsibility and sustainability, as well as the promotion of internationality and openness.

 

Application schedules

Saastamoinen Foundation accepts applications continuously without specific application periods or deadlines. Applications are processed approximately four (4) times a year. Applications are processed in the order they are received. The next processing dates for 2025 are January 20th, March 25th, and June 11th. The board processes all large-scale projects that pass the pre-selection.

The processing of an individual grant may take approximately 1-3 months. Currently, the Foundation receives a large amount of applications, which means longer processing times. We encourage you to submit your grant application well ahead of the planned project start or expected need for funding, to ensure timely processing.

Grant applications are not processed in July, when the office is closed for summer holidays. Please note that the summer holidays affect application processing times.

 

Inquiries and applications: apurahat@saastamoinenfoundation.fi

 

 

The awarded grant is notified to the applicant via email. The grant invoicing instructions are sent to the grant recipient as an attachment with the grant notification. The entire grant should generally be invoiced at once and during the same year it is awarded. The payment schedule for multi-year projects is agreed upon separately with the applicant.

Grant awarding requires the applicant to commit to the Foundation’s grant awarding conditions. These conditions include:

• Reporting: For projects lasting less than a year, a free-form final report is required. For projects extending over a year, an annual interim report along with a final report is necessary. These reports should detail the project’s objectives, achievements, and itemized use of the granted funds.
• Communication: The grant recipient is to mention Saastamoinen Foundation in their communications, including both traditional and social media. In social media, use the hashtag #saastamoisensaatio or #saastamoinenfoundation. You can tag Saastamoinen Foundation on your posts in Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The Foundation may communicate about the funded project in its channels, and the grant recipient should provide necessary communication materials.
• Sustainability: The grant applicant should define how the project promotes sustainability. The decision takes into account the applicant’s own view of the project’s responsibility, for example, in terms of the UN’s sustainable development goals or cultural sustainability. Read more in the ART+ section of this page.

 

The names of the funding recipients are published in the Foundation’s annual report.

 

Saastamoinen Foundation’s decisions are guided by the Foundation’s rules, values, and priorities. The foundation does not provide feedback on individual grant decisions.

Saastamoinen Foundation emphasises cultural sustainability across its activities through an approach known as ART+. This concept is rooted in the belief that the goals of sustainable development cannot be achieved without the contributions of culture and creativity.

ART+ promotes the use of art in the creative search for sustainable solutions. Projects often highlight the integration of art and science, recognising the untapped potential in cross-disciplinary collaboration. Acknowledging the funding gaps in both the arts and sciences, the Foundation brings together experts from diverse fields to spark creativity and imagination. In its grant-making, the Foundation prioritizes projects that help find concrete solutions for building a better society.

The Foundation also operates within the broader dimensions of economic, environmental, and social sustainability. It supports Aalto University, the University of Eastern Finland, and the University of the Arts Helsinki, underscoring a strong commitment to education, research, and cultural heritage.

The Foundation’s environmental focus is reflected in its support for water research and forest bioeconomy initiatives. In the social sustainability domain, the Foundation backs youth-oriented projects such as Gutsy Go, Yrityskylä, RARE Media, and the Spring Idea Competition—all of which promote peacebuilding, entrepreneurship education, youth journalism, and civic engagement.

Who can apply for a grant?

The grants can be applied by an organisation with a business ID, a working group or a private person.

 

What can I apply the grant for?

Saastamoinen Foundation supports initiatives that promote Finnish science and arts as well as internationalisation and openness. In addition, we support youth-related social and cultural initiatives.

 

How do I apply for a grant?

The applicant sends a grant application to the Saastamoinen Foundation via email. The application should include e.g. a project and financing plan. More information on the application process and required attachments can be found in the section “Applying for a grant”.

 

Can a non-Finnish citizen or someone living abroad apply for a grant?

Yes.

 

How is the grant paid?

The awarded grant recipient is provided with invoicing instructions, according to which the recipient can invoice the grant from the Foundation.

 

Can a grant be applied for retrospectively?

No.

 

What obligations will I have if I receive a grant from Saastamoinen Foundation?

For projects lasting less than a year, the grant recipient must provide a free-form final report on the use of the grant. For projects lasting more than a year, a final report must be provided, along with an annual interim report. The report should state the project’s objectives, what was achieved during the project, and a breakdown of the grant used. You can get the reporting form template here.

The grant recipient must mention the Foundation’s support when communicating about the project. The Foundation may also communicate about the project in its channels, and the recipient must provide necessary communication materials, such as images and press releases for this purpose. Read more in the section “Grant awarding”.

 

Are there specific instructions for reporting?

You can provide the report in your desired format.

The grant report should state what was achieved with the grant and the project’s overall budget, itemising how the Foundation’s grant was used.

 

Can the Foundation award multiple grants to the same applicant or grantee? If so, is there a recommended interval between grants?

It is possible for the same applicant to receive multiple grants. There is no fixed interval between awards, as grant decisions are based on the nature and content of the project.

 

I study or work at one of Saastamoinen Foundation’s partner universities. Can I apply for a grant from the Foundation, for example, for a study exchange or dissertation work?

An individual student or university staff member cannot directly apply for a grant from the Foundation. The Foundation awards funds to the university, which uses them for pre-agreed purposes such as research, grants to students, or exchange programs. Please contact the responsible party in your university for questions related to grants.

 

I study or work in a university in Finland or abroad that is not a partner university of Saastamoinen Foundation. Can I apply for a grant from the Foundation to fund my studies or for a study exchange?

The Foundation does not grant direct support to individual students or university staff for study-related expenses but supports research and higher education in collaboration with partner universities.

 

I sent a grant application two weeks ago and have not received a decision on my application. When will I get a decision on my application?

The Foundation processes applications in the order they are received, and due to the increased number of applications, the processing may take several months. When your application has been processed, we will notify all applicants.

If your application is urgent or you need more information about the status of your application, you can contact us at apurahat@saastamoinenfoundation.fi.

Grant applications are not processed in July, when the office is closed for summer holidays. Please note that the summer holidays affect application processing times.

 

I was not awarded a grant. Can I receive feedback or an explanation for the decision?

The Foundation receives a high volume of strong applications, but unfortunately, not all can be awarded a grant. Grant decisions are guided by Saastamoinen Foundation’s rules, values, and priorities. Please note that the Foundation does not provide individual justifications or feedback for its grant decisions.