In order to run an NGO in Finland, you have to take several steps. These steps include: forming your team, drawing your bylaws, and paying the registration fee. Your bylaws should be either in Finnish or Swedish, and the chairperson of the organisation is expected to be residing in Finland.

1. Manoj Kr. Bhusal
Silver Lining Creation Ry
P.O. Box 1 4, 00271
HELSINKI, FINLAND
Phone: +358468478608,
E-mail: info@silcreation. org
www.silcreation.org

2. Program Structure
How to Register & Run a Non-Profit Association in
Finland - a Presentation (30 min)
Coffee break (15 min)
Group Work (30 min)
Work in groups to create a dummy organization
Group work presentations (45 min)

3. Today's Non­profit world
World is full of non-profits
40000 in the US, 3 million in India, 0.3 million in Russia
Philosophy behind non-profits
Criticisms: neo-colonialism, religious propoganda, corruption
INGOs, BINGOs, TANGOs, GONGOs, DONGOs
Non-profits & Development aid

4. Registering an Association in Finland
Registration is optional
Registration requires for bank/financial transactions/legal capacity
Property ownership
Electronic Notice
National Board of Patent and Registrations (www.prh.fi)
Regulated by the Associations Act
www.finlex.fi/www.phr.fi
Chairperson should be residing in Finland
Unless a special exemption is not granted

5. Focus should be on non-profit work
A non-profit association is an organisation, meant to be permanent,
founded by several persons or several organisations having legal
capacity, for the realisation of a common non-profit purpose.
Needs at least 3 founding members/age 15 or above
Should be based in only one municipality in Finland
Branches are possible though
File for a business ID (Y-tunnus) when needed
Requires for paying salaries, taxation etc.
More info on www.ytj.fi (PRH & Tax admin joint business info. system)
Auditing & Accounting
Needs one ordinary auditor and one deputy auditor
Accounting period must be 12 months

6. The Rules/Bylaws/Statute
Should be drafted in Finnish or Swedish
Name should be unique & relevant to your work/objectives
Should fulfill the requirements of Associations Act Section 8
Purpose and activity must be well defined
Well-defined liabilities/responsibilities of members
Liability to pay fees must be included
Rights of members
Right to participate, vote, get elected
Any restriction must be mentioned and justified in the rules
Executive committee
At least 3, must be mentioned in the rules, bankrupt persons can't serve
Chairperson & vice-chairperson residing in Finland (exemption possible)

7. The Rules/Bylaws/Statute
Provision for regular meetings
Written invitations (such as emails) required
Use of assets in case of dissolution
For a non-profit cause
Authorized person to sign
Chairperson, but could be shared with someone else as well, bank use & costs
Renewing an association
Not required, amendments must be notified, annual meeting held
Fees: 100€ to register
Electronic registration is 30% cheaper, each amendment costs money

8. Other Practical Issues
Non-profits & tax exemption
If yearly transaction is below certain amount
Fundraising needs special permission
From the police
Allowed to sell products and services
Do not need an external auditor
If financial transaction is not too complicated
Fees: 100€ to register
Electronic registration is 30% cheaper, each amendment costs money

9. My own experience
Easy to register, difficult to run
Voluntarism has limits, time management, consistency,funding etc.
A lot of paperwork
You have to have everything prepared even when you don't need to
submit them anywhere
Businesses enjoy better protection
Such as start-up grants, constant counselling
Career prospects are higher
Personal network expands, gain knowledge and skills
Keeping slow and steady helps
Things do not happen overnight, it takes time and consistent effort

10. Few tips
Make use of IT & Social Networking sites
Build a webpage, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn help too
Work, but document them as well!
Annual reports, audit reports, newsletters, photos, videos
Join organization networks, Evaluate yourself
For instance, join KEPA & Moniheli, SWOT analysis
Study legislation
Important: Associations Act, Auditing Act, Social Welfare Act
Celebrate! Have fun!
Organize events, gatherings, have fun and recharge your batteries!

11. What to expect?
Change over time, evolutionary process
Things change over time, be flexible to obey your intuition
2009 2012
Desire to do everything
Be realistic, have a focus, brand yourself
Financial hardships/hidden costs
Maintaining website(s), even a post box costs quite much
Failures
They teach a lot, accept them and learn from them and move on
Opposition, criticism, manipulation
Competition, unrealistic expectations (from south), criticism of work
methods

12. Group Work
Form a group
4-6 persons in a group
Discuss and come up with an idea of an association
Justify the need, why do you want a new association? Name the
organization and design a logo.
Mention at least 5 objectives
i.e. what does the organization aim to achieve
Specify your beneficiaries, Map your partners/stakeholders
Who is the service for? Who will be your possible partners?
Specify at least 3 working methods/tools
For instance, online campaign, a publication, services, advocacy, lobbying
Identify a few financial sources
For instance, membership fee, product sale, donations, service sale
Come back and present!