Instructions for making a money collection permit application

Do the money collection permit application always in written form and send it to the National Police Board, either by mail, e-mail or through the online police’s service. Formulate the application either in Finnish or Swedish. You can do the application in free form or use the application form. 

The directions given here follow the paragraphs in the form. Give the same information in the free formed application.

Information about the applicant

Give the following information about the organisation which applies for a money collection permit:

• the association’s, foundation’s or any other organisations name
• business ID (Y-tunnus) 
• address information
• the applicant’s phone number and e-mail  

Inform also the organisation form in the application. Organisation forms are:

• An association registered in Finland
• A foundation registered in Finland
• a party registered in the register of political parties
• A religious community registered in Finland
• a non-registered organisation operating in Finland, which status is laid down in Finnish legislation 
• a university referred to in the Universities Act
• a university of applied sciences referred to in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act
• the Finnish National Gallery
• the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Churches federation of parishes
• the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Churches parish, which does not belong to a federation of parish
• the Finnish orthodox churche's parish

Please note, that a money collection permit cannot be given a corporation that practices business, to a private trader or individual. 

Date to begin the money collection

You need to specify a date on which you intend to begin money collection in your permit application. Remember that money collection permits cannot be issued retroactively. In other words, you cannot begin collecting donations until your permit has been issued. You cannot apply for a permit retroactively for a money collection campaign that has already begun.

The association’s accounting period

Inform in the application the association’s accounting period. The money collection permits annual reports and annual plans are done according to the association’s accounting period. 

Contact information 

Inform such a person to be the contact person, who can answer the questions about the arrangements of the money collection. Give the information about this person in the application (e-mail, phone number, from where they can be reached the best).

Persons using actual decision-making power

Attach to the application the information about all the people, who decide about things related to arranging the money collection, as well as their personal ID. Inform as well every persons role in the organisation. People using actual decision-making power are usually for example the association’s or foundation’s board members. They can also be:

• anyone with access to the account into which the funds raised will be deposited,
• the organisation’s directors and members of any supervisory board or other statutory governing body,
• the organisation’s managing director and other executives and managers,
• the organisation’s agents,
• anyone authorised to sign official documents on behalf of the organisation,
• the organisation’s money collection manager or chief of finance, and
• the organisation’s treasurer or secretary.

The list is not exhaustive, as organisations may also have other staff who make decisions about money collection campaigns. Please think carefully about the individuals who will be competent to make decisions about money collection in your organisation before submitting your application and make sure to provide the National Police Board with the personal details of all such individuals.

If all of the people’s names using actual decision-making power cannot fit on the application form, then inform about the rest on a separate attachment. 

Money collection bank accounts

Report all of the bank accounts that are used for the money collection. In the application form it is possible to report two money collection bank accounts. If all of the information about the accounts does not fit on the form, then report the rest with a separate attachment. 

Additionally, report every person that has the access to the money collection accounts as well as their personal ID. 

You cannot use any bank account for money collection, only the bank account specified in the money collection permit may be used as a money collection account. A bank account opened in a Finnish deposit bank or in a Finnish branch of a deposit bank licensed in an EEA state may be designated as a money collection account. 

There is no limit to the number of money collection accounts, therefore, there can be several money collection accounts. However, money collection assets must always be kept separate from the license-holders other assets. Thus, it is usually clearest that a bank account is used as a money collection account that is used exclusively for money collection.

The requirement for a separate account may be waived under certain conditions and a money collection account may be designated as an account that also has cash transactions other than those related to money collection. In this case, however, it must be possible to handle money transactions in such a way that the funds raised are clearly distinguishable from other money transactions at all times (e.g. reference numbers).

Purpose of the applicant's activities

In this section, describe the activities of your community and its purpose. For example, you can state the purpose of the activity, based on the rules of the association or foundation.

Purpose of the raised funds

Money collection funds may not be used for any purpose other than that specified in the permit. In principle, a money collection permit can only be granted to finance non-profit activities.

Describe the intended use of the raised funds as accurately as possible and taken to a practical level. In the application must be indicated for which purpose the funds are actually used for. If the purpose is not clearly and concretely described, it is impossible to assess the non-profit nature of the activity.

For example, the expressions “Supporting one’s own activities”, “Acting in accordance to the rules” or “Paying the costs of the association’s non-profit activities” do not say anything about what the money is actually spent on. Also, for example, "Child Welfare Work" is too generally described.

Instead, a much better understanding of the purpose can be obtained, for example, from the following description: “The funds are used for child protection work. The funds will cover the costs of summer camp activities and hobbies for children from low-income families with substance abuse problems.” In addition to a precise description, try to write the purpose in such a broad way that there is no need to constantly change the purpose to be recorded in the permit.

Additional information

In this section, you can provide any additional information about the collection activity that you deem necessary.

Address for delivery of the decision

Indicate the address to which you would like the decision to be delivered.

Billing address

Please provide a billing address to submit your invoice. Please note that at this time, invoices can only be delivered by mail or e-invoice, and cannot be emailed.

The processing of a money collection permit application is billed separately after the decision is made.

Signatures

Make sure the application is properly signed. Signatories must have the right to sign the applicant community.

Required attachments

Attach to the application:

• Evidence of the applicant’s details having been entered into the Finnish Register of Associations / Register of Foundations / Register of Religious Communities or another register kept by a public body. The register extract must not be more than three months old on the date on which the application is submitted.
• A copy of the applicant’s most recently adopted financial statements or other evidence of the applicant’s financial situation. 
• A copy of the rules of the association or foundation
• An annual report, an action plan or other evidence of the applicant’s operations. Ideally, an annual report should be supplied. An action plan or other evidence should only be supplied in the absence of an annual report. 
• Explanation of how money collection campaigns and the use of the funds raised will be supervised in the association or foundation, if this is not evident applicants annual report or similar document