Guidelines for Grant Applicants

You can create and submit applications in the online grant service only during the application period.

For technical questions related to using the online grant service, our technical support team is available by email at hakemustuki(at)datalink.fi.

Filling in the application form

The application consists of the following pages:

1. Applicant
2. Grant
3. Plan
4. Other funding
5. Attachments
6. Commitment
7. Send

You can fill in the pages in your choice of order.

• It is not necessary to complete the application at one go. It will remain as a draft and can therefore be edited until you submit it.
• Remember to submit your application within the application period.
• Only fill in the appropriate sections: you do not need to write something in every field. Some of the required information is mandatory though and the system will not let you submit the application without filling in these parts.
• There is a question mark next to some of the answer fields. By clicking on it, you are given a tip for filling in the field.
• Some of the information requested on the application form is collected for statistical purposes. The data collected for statistical purposes is anonymized and is not used as part of the application evaluation. The information is collected so that we can obtain as consistent data as possible about the work enabled by Finnish foundations and its impact.

Registering and logging in to the service

• Log in by using your online banking personal user ID of a Finnish bank or mobile credentials.
• Alternatively you can log in to the online grant service by giving your username and password by choosing “I want to log in using a username and password”. If it is your first time using the service, create a user account by choosing “Register”.
• Grant applications are user-specific, so if you want to edit an existing grant application, you must log in with the same credentials or username and password that were used to create the application.
• If you have used the username and password earlier, your previous applications, payment requests or reports are not visible to you when logging in to the service with your bank ID or mobile credentials. Log in to the service with the username and password that you have used when creating the documents if you wish to view them. It is possible to transfer the documents to the new login system with your bank ID and mobile credentials.
• Please also note that if a grant is awarded, a request for payment of a grant on the Online grant service may only be made with the same credentials as the grant application was made.
• In particular, when an organisation is the applicant, one needs to make sure who is managing the user codes, so that the grant application process and possible grant can be processed smoothly on the online grant service, regardless of possible changes in personel of the organization.
• Hang on to your username and password – they will be of use if you are awarded a grant. If you lose your password, a new one will be sent to the email address you have created the user credentials with.

Creating, editing and sending an application

• It is possible to create and send applications only during the application period. On the first day of the application period, the option of creating a “Grant application” will appear on the “Create new” drop-down menu.
• In the online service “Move forward” or “Move backwards/landing page” saves the information/page. If you exit the application form without moving from one page to another, the text you wrote on the page will not be saved.
• Please note that you need to save your information from time to time, i.e. move around the pages of the application form. If you are an inactive user in the system for a longer period of time, your session will automatically close for security reasons.
• You don’t have to finish your application at one go after creating it. After you have created a grant application, you can return later to edit the information during the application period in May.
• When your application is ready, submit it in the online grant service.
• Once submitted, the application can be reverted to the draft status and edited by choosing “Revert back to draft mode for editing”. This must be done before the application round ends. Remember to send the application again if you wish it to be processed by the Foundation.
• You can’t edit the information on your application after the application period has ended. For more information, see “Can I edit my application after the application period has ended?”
  E.g. after the application period has ended you must inform the Foundation about other funding you have received.
• When in preview mode, make sure that all text fits into the given space. Check that your text is readable.
• There are some mandatory fields that need to be filled in the application. If you haven’t filled them in, it is not possible for you to submit the application.
• When you have filled in the information on all the pages of the grant application, submit the application online during application period in May. The status of an application that hasn’t been sent will show as “Draft”. A successfully sent application will show as “Sent”. After a couple of days when the application period has ended, the status will show as “Received”.

Choose language = Choose in which language you wish to receive information concerning your grant application

The applicant is = Choose the type for which the grant is applied for (choose correct type of applicant).

• Private person = Individual
  OR
• Working group (has at least two members/individuals). The members of the group must elect a leader to submit the application in his/her/their own name. If the grant is intended for use by only one member of a working group, that person should apply as an individual applicant
  OR
• Organisation

“The applicant is” type you choose defines the fields to be filled in on the Applicant page:

Last name = Fill in your last name if the applicant is you as a private person (individual) or the last name of the leader of the working group if the applicant is a working group.
or
Name of organisation = If you’re filling in the form for an organisation, write the name of the organization.

First name = Fill in if your applicant type is an Individual or working group (first name of the leader).

Degree =  Private person (individual) or working group’s leader’s academic degree in full form, not using abbreviations (e.g. Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy). Please fill in your current degree (don’t write a degree you have not received yet).

Finnish personal ID, date of birth = In the form ddmmyy-(xxxx). Date of birth is also sufficient (in the form: ddmmyy, e.g. 8 May 1991 = 080591). If the applicant is a working group, fill in the date of birth or personal ID of the leader of the working group.
or
Business code = If the applicant is an organisation, fill in its business code.

We request your personal identity number at the application stage to help speed up the process if you are awarded a grant. This information is required for the annual notification to the tax authorities and for reporting to the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (MELA) if the grant is awarded and paid to you.

Gender = For statistics (individual or working group’s leader -applicant).

Citizenship = Please choose from the options provided (individual/working group’s leader),  If you are applying for a grant on behalf of an organization, please select the country in which the organization operates.

In which country will the project take place = From the provided options, select in which country(ies) the project will primarily be carried out

In which Finnish municipality = If the project takes place in Finland, please select from the options provided the municipality or municipalities where the project will primarily be carried out, or choose ‘National project’. This information is collected for statistical purposes.

Location of work/study =

• Choose from the provided options (universities in Finland, research institutes etc.) 
  
  OR
• Choose “Freelance artist/researcher”, if the purpose for the grant is not connected to any specific organisation
  
  OR
• Choose “Other, what?” and write the full name of the institution where the project will be executed on the line below (for example, the full name of a university outside Finland)

Faculty = Applicants working in universities or research institutes should fill in the name of the faculty/department. E.g. “The Faculty of Mathematics”. Other applicants are not required to fill in this field.

Place of residence = If you are an individual applicant or the leader a working group, please enter your place of residence. If you are temporarily living in another locality, indicate your actual place of residence. If you are applying for a grant on behalf of an organisation, enter the organisation’s place of domicile.

Contact person of your organisation = Fill in if you are submitting an application in behalf of an organisation.

Address = Fill in the address to which you would like to receive papermail concerning the application.

Phone = Fill in the phone number of the applicant

Email = Fill in one email address to which you would like to receive information concerning the application.

Working group = If you are applying for a grant as a working group, please fill in the information concerning those members of the working group to whom you are applying a grant for (except for leader’s whose information has already been given as a main applicant). If you are applying for a grant for more than six members, you should list some of the members in a separate attachment, or check that the text of the working group field remains readable (Preview your application).

As group members, list only those individuals for whom you are applying for a working grant, those who are involved in specific expenditures, or those who are otherwise key members. You may include their personal ID or date of birth (this is not mandatory when applying for the grant).

If you do not yet know the name of a member, identify this person with the initials N. N. Note, however, that the working grant is, primarily, intended to be applied for on the person’s own merits.

A working grant can only be awarded for scientific or artistic work. All other work is either paid auxiliary labour or outsourcing service for which you can apply an expenditure grant (“Assisting work”). Do not name paid auxiliary personnel or outsourcing service providers as members of the working group.

Type of grant = Choose the primary use for the applied grant from the provided options

• doctoral studies
• post-doctoral studies: up to 5 years after dissertation, otherwise research
• research
• homing: research following post doc, for researchers returning to Finland; must be applied within one year of returning to Finland
• writing work
• artistic work
• purchasing a musical instrument or other equipment
• basic studies: of art, not science
• organizing an event
• other purpose

Field of specialization = The field of specialization you select informs Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation about the area of expertise you would like the evaluators of your application to represent.

Please choose one of the existing categories in your application. Only select ‘Other causes’ if none of the provided categories align with the focus of your project.

In principle, we do not award grants in the fields of medicine and biomedicine, since they are furthered through funding the Wihuri Research Institute. Nor do we award working grants in the field of visual arts or grants for organizing art exhibitions. We support visual arts mainly by making art acquisitions to the Wihuri Foundation Art Collection in Rovaniemi Art Museum, and by maintaining visual arts residency programs.

Choose one of the following

• Economic Sciences/Business
• Economics
• Engineering Sciences
• Mathematics and statistics
• Architecture
• Natural Sciences
• Agriculture and Forestry
• Food Science
• Biology
• Health Sciences
• Education
• Psychology
• Law
• Political science
• Social sciences
• Media and Communication science
• Art history, visual arts and applied art (research)
• History and Archaeology
• Theology and study of religions
• Philosophy
• Linguistics
• Fiction Literature (also includes literature research)
• Non-fiction Literature
• Music – Folk music
• Music – Pop/rock
• Music – Jazz
• Music – Classical singing, opera
• Music – Choral singing, choral conducting, orchestral conducting
• Music – Classical instrumental music
• Music – Composing classical music
• Music, other (only if other music categories are not suitable)
• Musicology and research in music, e.g. doctoral education
• Dance (also includes research)
• Theatre (also includes research)
• National Defence
• Youth Work
• Cultural projects
• Other causes

Field of the project for statistical data  = The statistical data is collected solely for research purposes. The statistical field does not affect the evaluation of the application. The menu first lists different fields of science & research, then fields of arts & culture, and at the end of the list, other activities. Select the main field of the project. You can add two other fields if necessary. Please note that Wihuri Foundation evaluation fields (=Field of specialization) do not include fields of medicine/biomedicine (science) or fields related to the visual arts (in art & culture), for which the Foundation generally does not award grants.

Grant description = State the purpose of the application briefly and clearly.
Grant description will be used in the Foundation’s communications if a grant is awarded. The Foundation may edit the grant description in order to ensure a similar style for grant awards.

Examples of grant descriptions:

• post-doctoral research “The name of the research”
• attending cello studies led by Professor X in the city of Y
• writing a screenplay about dancers in the 19th century
• covering expenses of performance “Name of performance”

Applied amount = Announce the applied amount by the euro. Do not use commas or periods in the amount. See “How much can I apply for?”.

The applied amount is to be categorized: personal working grant, assisting work/paid staff, material, travel and/or other expenses. “Total” stands for the total amount you are applying for from Wihuri Foundation.

• Personal working grant is the working share of the applied grant. A working grant is meant to allow the grant receiver to work on the project full time or part-time free from salaried work. It is meant to be used to cover living expenses. The amount you enter includes possible statutory insurance premiums (www.mela.fi). See “Conditions of a working grant”.
  
  Working groups fill in the total amount that the group members apply from the Wihuri Foundation to cover their working.
  Please note that an organization cannot apply for a personal working grant, but a grant for hiring personnel under the title “Assisting work”.
• Assisting work can be hired or purchased labor essential for the project. If the grant is used to hire labor, the grant receiver is obliged to take care of the payroll taxes and other legal obligations of an employer.
• Material and equipment expenses can be big purchases e.g. instruments and grand equipment purchases for working groups.
• Travel grants can be applied for travel expenses relating to the project. Separate travel grants are not usually awarded (e.g. conference travels).
• Other can be e.g. space rents.

Duration of work with this grant = If you are applying for a personal grant for full-time or part-time work, please indicate the number of months (1-12 months) that will be covered by the Wihuri Foundation grant you are applying for. Organizations should indicate how many months the project or part of the project funded by the grant will last.

What is the total planned duration of the project in months = Fill in the estimated duration of the entire project in months (e.g. if you are working on a doctoral dissertation and estimate that it will take 4 years in total, enter 48 (4*12 months).

Starting year of the project =Please indicate when you originally started the project or studies, or when you intend to start them. For example, if you are writing a dissertation, provide the year you began your doctoral studies.

Which option best describes your current career stage? = Choose the option that best describes your career stage, if your applicant type is an Individual or Working group. If the applicant is a working group, fill in the current career stage of the leader of the working group.

Which option best describes your current employment or study situation? = Choose which of the options best describes your current work or study situation at the time of application, if your applicant type is an Individual or Working group. If the applicant is a working group, fill in the current employment or study situation of the leader of the working group. The information is collected only for statistical purposes.

Work carried out with a grant from Wihuri Foundation?

If you are applying a grant for an individual or working group, this question concerns you. If you are applying a grant for working group, this question concerns those members of the group who intend to use the grant for working.

The amount of the grant applied for depends on the duration of work. A full-time working grant cannot be applied to be used concurrently with another corresponding type of funding (e.g. salary or another working grant).

Choose from the options the one for which the grant is primarily being applied: Full-time work/ Part-time work/ Incentive grant / Expenditure grant.”

• Full-time means that you would work with the working grant from Wihuri Foundation full-time 100 % (or at least 75 %). The grant is intended to cover normal living expenses.
• Part-time means that you would have other funding at the same time during the grant period of Wihuri Foundation, e.g. 50 % salary from the university, in which case you can apply for a maximum 50 % of the annual grant amount for one year. Explain your financial situation on the application form (Plan: Financial plan)
• Incentive grant means you are applying for funding from the Wihuri Foundation to support the completion of a project and is intended to supplement full-time funding received from other sources, such as a salary from a full-time job or a full-time grant from another organization. Please explain your financial situation in the application form.
• Expenditure grant means that the grant from Wihuri Foundation is intended to cover only project costs (e.g. rent, travel, instrument purchases, salary costs). Organisations can only apply for an expenditure grant.

Will you be working as a paid postgraduate during the grant period?
(applicant: individual or working group)

• “Paid” – If you are in graduate school/doctoral program and get a salary.
• “Self-financed” – If you have to get funding for the doctoral program yourself
• If the question doesn’t concern your project, choose “No”.

Are you applying for a grant for full-time doctoral thesis work for one year from Wihuri Foundation?
(applicant: individual or working group)

• If you haven’t received a one-year (12 months) fulltime working grant for doctoral studies specifically from Wihuri Foundation before and you’re applying for one now, select “First year”. Choose this even if you’ve worked on your thesis for several years with funding from other foundations.
• If you’ve previously received a one-year (12 months) fulltime working grant for doctoral studies  from the Wihuri Foundation and you are applying for a fulltime continuation grant for doctoral studies, choose “Continuation application”.
• If the question doesn’t concern your project choose “No”.

Is the grant application for full-time research work as a doctoral-level researcher (already PhD) for one year (12 months)? (Individual or working group)

• “Yes”, if you are applying for a full-time one year (12 months) grant as already a doctor/PhD e.g. for post doc research
• If the question doesn’t concern your project choose “No”. E.g. you have a PhD and applying for less than one year of funding or you are doctoral student.

PhD defense year/Doctorate defense year = Fill in the year in which you defended your doctoral thesis.

Names and phone numbers or emails of referees giving a reference letter = Please enter the names of the referees you have asked to submit a reference.

On the Foundation website there is a link to the online reference service. Please advise your referee to use it.

Once digitally submitted through the online reference system, the reference doesn’t have to be sent in paper form. If the reference letter has been sent straight to you, add the reference to the application as an attachment (pdf). The grant applicant must personally ask the referee to submit a reference to the Foundation.

When you submit your application to the Foundation, the system will automatically send a reminder to submit the reference to the referee’s email address that you entered on the application form. You can leave the e-mail address of your referee blank if you no longer want to remind the referee.

The evaluators are expected to be able to make a preliminary assessment of your project based on the information provided on the Plan page.

They will take into account the scientific, artistic, or societal significance or topicality of the project. They will also assess the applicant’s ability to successfully carry out the presented project.

In this section, present your plan ieven if a more detailed research or work plan is attached.

If your project is a multi-year initiative and you are applying for one year’s share from Wihuri Foundation, roughly present the entire project schedule as well as the expenses and financing plan. Referring to attachments is not sufficient.

Work plan and timetable for the execution

Describe concisely and in general terms the purpose to which you are applying a grant for. Also describe how and in what time you are intending to carry out your plan. If you are applying for a grant for part of the project, please also state when the project originally started and when it is supposed to be completed, e.g. if you are applying for one year of funding in a multi-year project. You may also describe why it is important for you to receive funding. (Maximum 4000 characters including spaces.)

A presentation of the main expenses of the project= What does your project costs and what kind of expenses does it include? Present the expenses of the project. If you are applying for a working grant meant to cover living expenses, you can present your living expenses as a single figure. (Maximum 1500 characters including spaces.)

A financial plan  =In your financial plan, present how you intend to organize the full financing of the project. From what sources are you going to get funding to cover the costs of the project? The evaluator of the application should get an overall picture of the actual and planned funding of the project. (Maximum 1500 characters.)

Summarise the significance or impact of the project = (why you do what you do) Please outline the implications of the project in your own field and its potential wider societal significance. For example: Why is your project important? Does your project build civilization/culture, how? Does your project offer something for social decision-making? Maintain or develop professional skills? Does your project improve the well-being of people or society? (Maximum 2000 characters including spaces.)

Keywords
Write up to five keywords that best describe the content, objectives or impact of the project. A keyword (or pair of words) summarizes the main content, topic or theme of the project. The desired keyword is precise and informative. E.g. democracy, climate change, children and youth, detective story, contemporary dance

Estimated employment impact of the project?  Estimated number of direct jobs created by the funding. How many person-years (py=htv) do you estimate will be generated by the project with the funding you are applying for. Only report the work input of those working directly in the project, i.e. people who are employed or funded by the project. Provide the answer in person-years with an accuracy of 0,1 person-years.

This info is collected for statistical purposes only.

PY=one person working full-time for one year (1,0 htv).

For example, 6 months of full-time work = 0,5 PY(=htv) or 12 months of 50% work = 0,5 PY (=htv).

List the grants you have previously received and your pending funding applications.

If your financial situation changes after the application period has ended, for example you receive another grant or salary, please let the us know immediately.

Is this your, your group’s or organisation’s first application to the Wihuri Foundation? = Please choose from the options provided:
Yes / No / I don’t know – I don’t want to answer

The information is collected for research and statistical purposes and does not affect the evaluation of the application. If the applicant does not know or remember the application history, choose “I can’t answer/I don’t want to answer” (it is not necessary to verify the application history with the Foundation).

Awarded grants and other funding

List the grants awarded to you for the same purpose you are now applying as well as other significant funding within the last three years (max. 10 grants). Remember to list all grants you have previously received for the same purpose from the Wihuri Foundation regardless of the year of awarding.

Pending applications

Make sure to include in your application other open applications. Also inform if you submit other grant applications to Wihuri Foundation in this grant call – this must be mentioned on each application (application section “Other funding/Pending applications”).

The application’s attachments must be in PDF format. The maximum file size is 3 MB.

The application cannot be submitted without accepting the terms stated on the Commitment page.

See the ‘Attachments’ section for the required attachments for different applicant types.

The application form includes a Commitment page. The application cannot be submitted without accepting its terms and conditions.

The Foundation requires you to verify that the information you have given on the application form is correct and that you agree to your information and documents being used in the application evaluation and decision-making process.

The Foundation also requires you to comply with grantee guidelines, should a grant be awarded.

The Foundation is also allowed to publish information about the grant even if the awarded amount is less than what was originally applied for.

Read the commitment carefully and then choose “I understand and accept the stated above” (bottom of the Commitment-page).

Please make to submit your application within the application period if you want it to be considered by the foundation!

• The online grant service will ask you if you want to submit the application. To submit it choose “Yes”.
• After submitting the application, the following text should appear on the screen: “Your application has now been successfully submitted!”
• You will not receive a separate email about the submission. On the landing page, the status of a successfully submitted application will show as “Sent”. After a couple of days after the application period has ended, the status will show as “Received”.
• Once submitted, the application can be reverted back to draft status and edited by choosing “Revert back to draft mode for editing”. However, this must be done before the application round ends. Don’t forget to send the application again during application period if you wish it to be processed by the Foundation.

Individuals, working groups and registered organisations can apply for funding.

Eligible applicants for funding include:

• private individuals
• working groups (at least two private individuals as applicants)
• registered legal entities/organisations (such as association or cooperative) for expenditures of a project

In principle, the grant applicant seeking funding should be Finnish OR the project should take place in Finland OR have a strong link to Finland.

The applications of those under 15 years of age must be filled in by their legal guardians under the applicant’s name.

Working groups

Please present all members of the working group who are applying for funding (the group of people participating in the project can be larger than the working group applying for a grant). The person responsible of the group (“main applicant”) is liable for the possible grant to Wihuri Foundation and authorities, such as the Farmer’s Social Insurance Institution (MELA) and the Finnish Tax Administration, and the other members of the working group.

If you do not yet know the name of one member, identify this person with the initials N. N. Note, however, that the working grant is, primarily, intended to be applied for on the person’s own merits and it is not recommended to apply for a grant to an anonymous person.

Only people engaged in research or artistic work can qualify as members of a working group. All other work is either paid auxiliary labor or outsourced services, for which you can apply for an expenditure grant under ‘Assisting Work’. A research assistant, for example, does not perform research in the legal sense. Hence, he/she/they is regarded as a salaried assistant.

What qualifies as an organisation?

Grant-receiving organisations are typically ones of non-profit nature. Technically also a company (Ltd.) can apply for a grant to cover specific costs of a project within the fields of research, art and societal activities.

You can apply for a grant to support scientific research, artistic work, or projects in the fields of science, art, and social engagement. Typical examples include funding for doctoral studies, artistic creation, and the organisation of events.

You can apply for a grant to support scientific research, artistic work, or projects in the fields of science, art, and social engagement. Typical examples include funding for doctoral studies, artistic creation, and the organisation of events.

• Grants are mainly intended for expenses, activities or working that occur after the grants have been awarded (from 9th October onwards).
• Grants are awarded for a maximum of one year at a time (1-12 months).
• Personal working grants should, as a rule, be used for continuous work.

Grants for science

Grants for science are primarily awarded for research work (for 1-12 months at a time, full-time or part-time work but continuous work). Grants are awarded broadly to different fields of science to both basic and applied research. However, we do not award grants in the fields of medicine and biomedicine, since they are furthered through funding the Wihuri Research Institute.

Doctoral thesis work

You can apply for a working grant for doctoral studies:

• for less than a year OR
• for one year at a time, and if needed, submit a continuation application in the next application period in May

The grant intended for one-year full-time work is 32 000 euros (including expenses).

The working grant is awarded for a maximum of one year at a time, but the Foundation is prepared to grant funding for full-time doctoral dissertation work for two, three or four years in a row. Separate applications for each extension period (2nd year, 3rd year or 4th year) are made each year during the normal application period. In the continuation application, clear project progression must be presented, and the supervisor of the project must submit a reference.

The purpose of the multi-year grants is to provide an opportunity for as continuous dissertation work as possible. The first-year grant must be used within three years of the date it was awarded on. The final continuation grant for the same purpose must be withdrawn within five years of the date the first-year grant was awarded on.

Post doctoral research

Post doctoral research is research conducted by someone who has received their doctoral thesis within the past five years.

The grant intended for one-year full-time work is 36 000 euros (including expenses).

As a rule, the post doc grant is awarded for a maximum of two years in a row.

Other research

Doctors who have received their PhD more than five years ago can also apply funding for research. The grant intended for one-year full-time work is 36 000 euros (including expenses).

Homing grant

It is possible to apply for a homing grant, which provides research funding for a person returning to Finland after postdoctoral research abroad. The grant is intended to support the establishment of one’s own research group and must be applied for within one year of the researcher’s return to Finland.

The grant amounts to €75,000 and is intended to cover costs related to establishing one’s own research group, such as equipment and hiring research assistants.

The grant may also be used, in part, to provide working grants for the group leader and other members of the research team. If the funding is intended to support work by postdoctoral researchers or doctoral candidates, the homing grant must be applied for as a working group.

Funding for research groups

Research groups can apply for part-funding for their research projects.

Other activities that further the appreciation and impact of science

Grants may also be applied for other activities that further research or the appreciation and impact of science in the society.

Grants for art

Grants in the fields of art are intended to support artistic work as well as encountering and experiencing art in the society. 

We award grants in the fields of music, literature, dance or theater, as well as grants for instrument purchases or organizing performances and events. It is also possible to apply for grants for initiatives and development projects in the fields of art and culture.

For a one-year full-time artistic or literary project, one can apply for a personal working grant of €32,000, which also covers ordinary expenses. Grants can be requested for 1–12 months, for either full-time or part-time work.

We support visual arts mainly by making art acquisitions to the Wihuri Foundation Collection in Rovaniemi Art Museum, and by maintaining visual arts residency programs. Therefore in principle, we do not award working grants in the field of visual arts or grants for organizing exhibitions. This does not, however, prevent one from applying for a grant for art history or research in visual arts.

Grants for societal activities

We define societal activities as all the work that helps build a civil society composed of active and participatory individuals. Societal activities include, for example, youth work, voluntary national defense work, cultural activities, and promotion of entrepreneurial skills. However, societal activities may include other themes, too.

The foundation has a few rules that exclude certain types of applications.

Grants are generally not awarded for

• Proof reading costs or printing costs of doctoral theses or research work
• Overhead costs of equipment
• Undergraduate studies in the field of science
•  Separate travel grants (e.g. conference travels)
• Post-doctoral research abroad that lasts for 6-24 months (See The Foundations’ Post Doc Pool).

Restrictions in the fields of science and the arts

In principle, we do not award grants in the fields of medicine and biomedicine, since they are furthered through funding the Wihuri Research Institute.

Similarly, we do not award working grants in the field of visual arts or grants for organizing art exhibitions. We support visual arts mainly by making art acquisitions to the Wihuri Foundation Art Collection in Rovaniemi Art Museum, and by maintaining visual arts residency programs. However it is possible to apply for a grant for research in the visual arts (Art history, visual arts and applied art).

Foundations’ joint grant pools

• The Foundations’ Post Doc Pool, which the Wihuri Foundation is a member of, funds post-doctoral research abroad that lasts for 6-24 months. You can find more information here.

• Post Docs in Companies -program (PoDoCo) is aimed for young doctors who have recently completed or will soon complete their doctoral degree. The aim of the PoDoCo program is to promote academic research supporting long term competitiveness and strategic renewal of Finnish companies, and the employment of young doctors in industry. For more information click here.

The amount of the grant applied for depends on the project— the Wihuri Foundation provides funding across a wide range, from large research projects to individual instrument purchases.

For scientific or artistic work, we have defined recommended amounts, which are rarely exceeded.

The amount of the grant applied for depends on the project. A single application can request both a working grant and a project expenditure grant, as long as the amounts are specified in the application. For instance, an application for a dance performance can include a personal working grant for the artistic work and an expenditure grant for props and rents.

• Individuals may apply for both working and expenditure grants.
• Organisations may apply only for grants to cover expenses (the application must include a detailed income and expenditure estimate).
• Grants are awarded for a maximum of one year at a time.

Working grants

The foundation awards working grants to individuals and working groups for 1–12 months of scientific or artistic work.

• Working grants are intended mainly for continuous work (1-12 months).
• When assessing how much you are going to apply for, you must take into consideration how long you intend to work with the grant and whether you intend to work full-time or part-time (e.g. 50 %).
• An organisation can’t apply for a working grant. If some sort of salaried work is involved in the organization’s project, it is seen as applying a grant for the expenditures of the project (“Assisting work”)

One-year and six-month grants for full-time work

For you to be able to use a full-time working grant you must be on a leave from other salaried work at the same time and you may not concurrently use another corresponding type of funding, such as other working grant. See “Conditions for a working grant”.

One-year (12 months) grants for full-time work (including some expenses, e.g. statutory Mela-insurance) are:

• 32 000 € / doctoral thesis and artistic/writing work
• 36 000 € / post doctoral research, doctors (Phd)

Six-month grants for full-time work or one year 50 % work (including some expenses, e.g. statutory Mela-insurance) are:

• 16 000 € / doctoral thesis and artistic/writing work
• 18 000 € / post doctoral research, doctors

A grant awarded for one-year full-time work covers the personal expenditures of the individual (minimum about 26 355,60 euros in year 2025 / Finland’s annual artist grant sum, tax-exempt). In addition it covers for normal expenditures, travel (e.g. conference travel), equipment and working space costs and the statutory social security (about 15 % of the working grant, organized by Mela).

Undefined grants for working

You can also freely choose the amount of a personal grant and define the duration of the work and the applied sum. Calculate the amount of grant you are applying for based on the guideline amounts for full-time one year work. Always round numbers to the nearest hundred.

Incentive grant

It is also possible to apply for grant that is not based on the amount of working months. Incentive grant means you are applying for funding from the Wihuri Foundation to encourage the completion of a project. This grant is intended to supplement full-time funding received from other sources, such as a salary from a full-time job or a full-time grant from another organization. Explain your financial situation on the application form. If you are not applying a grant for full-time or part-time work but instead in addition to other funded work, the duration can be marked as ‘’0’’ when filling in the application form. (Incentive grant)

Please note: The Foundation encourages applicants to full-time work especially in the fields of science – most grants awarded for scientific work are full-time or part-time grants.

Homing grant

Homing grant provides research funding for a person returning to Finland after postdoctoral research abroad. The grant is intended to support the establishment of one’s own research group and must be applied for within one year of the researcher’s return to Finland.

The grant amounts to €75,000 and is intended to cover costs related to establishing one’s own research group, such as equipment and hiring research assistants.

The grant may also be used, in part, to provide working grants for the group leader and other members of the research team. If the funding is intended to support work by postdoctoral researchers or doctoral candidates, the homing grant must be applied for as a working group.

Expenditure grants

The amount of an expenditure grant is undefined, but the applied amount should be based on an expenditure and income estimate.

Expenditure grants are awarded for covering the expenditures of a project (such as the costs of a theatre production) or single purchases (such as an acquisition of an instrument). When applying for an expenditure grant for a project, it is important for you to include a thorough and detailed budget.

Grants are mainly purposed for expenses, activities and/or working that occur after the grants have been awarded (9 October).

We generally award working grants, not salaries, to individuals engaged in scientific or artistic work. Expenditure grants can be applied for to cover the costs of hiring support staff for other types of work.

The grants awarded by the Foundation are intended primarily to support personal artistic or research work, not as salary funding. A person can apply for a working grant as an individual or as a member of a working group. Grants awarded by foundations and other corresponding entities for scientific or artistic work are tax-free up to the state’s annual grant to artists (“Personal working grant“).

Anything other than scientific or artistic work must be reimbursed as a salary or a fee or acquired as an outsourcing service (“Assisting work”). An individual or a working group applicant may apply for an expenditure grant to this purpose. In these cases, potential employer’s legal obligations must be taken into account and costs included in the budget.

Organisations can’t apply for a working grant. Organisations may only apply for an expenditure grant for the purchase of services or for salary, (Assisting work”) The remunerations for completed work paid by organisation are always considered salary, for which the employer’s contributions must be paid. This should be taken into consideration when drafting the budget.

Grants awarded for scientific or artistic work, or for public-benefit activities, are tax-exempt under certain conditions.

Under the Income Tax Act (1535/92, 82 §), scholarships or other grants received for studies, scientific research or artistic activities, or awards received in recognition of scientific, artistic or non-profit activities are tax-exempt income under certain conditions.

Grants are tax-exempt insofar as the total amount of grants – including scholarships, grants and awards – awarded to the taxpayer does not exceed the state of Finland’s annual artist grant sum in one tax year (26 355,60  euros in 2025).

Grants are considered income in the tax year in which they are paid.

The foundation reports grants of €1,000 or more paid to an individual or a member of a working group to the tax authorities.

When a grant is used to hire salaried work, the grantee is obligated to take care of withholding tax and other statutory liabilities of an employer.

Please note that taxation regulations are subject to change and their interpretation may vary to an extent. If anything regarding taxation is unclear, a grant recipient should contact the Finnish Tax Administration (www.vero.fi) directly for further advice.

Prepare the project’s income and expenditure estimate carefully and realistically.

For larger projects in particular, it is advantageous if the funding base is broad. Well-considered self-financing, such as ticket revenues, creates the impression of a credible and feasible project.

Even if the foundation is asked to provide only partial funding, the application must present a comprehensive, clearly structured income and expenditure estimate for the entire project.

Working grant

A personal work grant is primarily intended for continuous work and personal living expenses for a specific period.

The portion used for ordinary living expenses can be reported as a single amount, which may include the statutory Mela insurance contribution (personal work grant).

Expenditure grant and support staff

All work other than scientific or artistic work must be compensated with a salary, fee, or purchased as a service. An individual or research team applicant may apply for an expenditure grant for this purpose. In such cases, possible employer obligations must be considered, and the related additional costs included in the income and expenditure estimate.

Organisations cannot apply for a personal working grant. They may apply for an expenditure grant to cover service purchases or salaries and must account for employer contributions.

If the grant recipient hires an independent entrepreneur as a service provider, the entrepreneur invoices the grant recipient for the service provided.

Multi-year and co-funded projects

Prepare the project’s income and expenditure estimate carefully and realistically. In multi-year projects, it is recommended to present an approximate income and expenditure estimate for the entire project, even if the grant is requested for a maximum of one year at a time.

If there are multiple funders, clearly indicate which portions of the project the Wihuri Foundation grant is intended to cover. A credible and clear plan increases the project’s chances of success in the eyes of the funder.

Purpose of the grant

The grant is generally intended to cover expenses and/or work carried out after the grant decision (October 9).

Overhead costs regard mainly grants in science.

Overhead costs regard mainly grants in science.
Any overhead costs must be stated in the grant application (costs of the project).

Working grants

If necessary, you can pay your university or research institute 1 600 euros overheads of a personal annual working grant. Overhead costs of a half-year grant can be 800 euros.

Expenditure grants

If necessary you can pay overhead costs to your university or research institute but it must not be more than 15 percent of the other expenses of the project than the personal working grant. Overhead costs of equipment are not accepted.

The field you choose indicates the type of reviewer you would like to read your application.

The field of specialization you select informs Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation about the area of expertise you would like the evaluators of your application to represent.

Please choose one of the existing categories in your application.Only select ‘Other causes’ if none of the provided categories align with the focus of your project.”

• Economic Sciences/Business
• Economics
• Engineering Sciences
• Mathematics and statistics
• Architecture
• Natural Sciences
• Agriculture and Forestry
• Food Science
• Biology
• Health Sciences
• Education
• Psychology
• Law
• Political science
• Social sciences
• Media and Communication science
• Art history, visual arts and applied art (research)
• History and Archaeology
• Theology and study of religions
• Philosophy
• Linguistics
• Fiction Literature (also includes research)
• Non-fiction Literature
• Music – Folk music
• Music – Pop/rock
• Music – Jazz
• Music – Classical singing, opera
• Music – Choral singing, choral conducting, orchestral conducting
• Music – Classical instrumental music
• Music – Composing classical music
• Music, other (only if other music categories are not suitable)
• Musicology and research in music (e.g. doctoral education)
• Dance (also includes research)
• Theatre (also includes research)
• National Defence
• Youth Work
• Cultural projects
• Other causes

In principle, we do not award grants in the fields of medicine and biomedicine, since they are furthered through funding the Wihuri Research Institute.

Nor do we award working grants in the field of visual arts or grants for organizing art exhibitions. We support visual arts mainly by making art acquisitions to the Wihuri Foundation Art Collection in Rovaniemi Art Museum, and by maintaining visual arts residency programs. However, it is possible to apply for a grant for art research (e.g. doctoral studies “Art history, visual arts and applied art”).

Note: Field of the project for statistical data.  The statistical data is collected for research purposes only. The statistical field does not affect the evaluation of the application. Choose the main field of the project – preferably just one of the fields of science, art or other activities. You can add two other fields if necessary. Please note that Wihuri Foundation evaluation fields (=Field of specialization) do not include fields of medicine (science) or fields related to the visual arts (in art & culture) for which the Foundation generally does not award grants.

The application can be submitted in Finnish or, if necessary, in English.

Applicants who speak Finnish

• The application and all attachments must generally be prepared in Finnish.
• If the working language is English, attachments may be in English, but the pages of the application form must be completed in Finnish. In particular, the section “Work plan and schedule” on the Planning page of the online service must be written in Finnish.

Applicants who do not speak Finnish

• May prepare the entire application in English.

The foundation awards grants for a maximum of one year at a time. You can apply for a grant for a period of 1–12 months.

General

• Grants are awarded for a maximum of one year at a time (1–12 months).
• A work grant can be applied for full-time or part-time work.
• Grants are intended for expenses or work carried out after the funding decision; retroactive applications are not recommended.
• For a grant awarded in 2024, it is advisable to start before October 9, 2025, but the grant remains valid for three years from the date of award. Any unused portion will be cancelled after three years unless otherwise agreed.
• Personal working grants should be used for continuous work.

Grants for doctoral thesis work

A grant intended for doctoral thesis work is awarded for a maximum of one year at a time.

The foundation aims to ensure the progress of doctoral thesis work. If you have received a full-time, year-long grant from the Wihuri Foundation for your doctoral thesis research, you can generally expect to receive a total of 2–4 years of consecutive funding for full-time doctoral thesis work.

Continuation grants must be applied for annually in the spring grant call. A new award requires that the applicant can demonstrate planned progress in the project and has not received equivalent funding elsewhere. A new statement from the supervisor must be submitted in support of the application.

Multi-year doctoral grants are intended to enable as continuous scientific work as possible. The last continuation grant should be applied for so that its use can begin within five years of the first grant award.

Example: If you plan to start working on your doctoral research in 2027, apply in the 2026 grant call, not in advance in the 2025 call.

Personal working grants are generally intended for continuous work and require that the recipient is free from salaried employment or other equivalent funding.

What is considered as being on leave from other salaried work?

A full-time personal working grant cannot be applied to be used concurrently with another corresponding type of funding (e.g. salary, another working grant, student allowance, paid annual leave).

It is, however, possible to have a paid job maximum 25 % of the working time during the full-time working grant period. The purpose is for the grantee to be able to do occasional or regular hourly work. This will not affect the time of the working grant (e.g. a one-year working grant is meant for 12 months of working free of salaried work).

However, if you are a full-time grant recipient, you must notify the Foundation if, during the grant period, you plan to be away for more than one month — for example, to take a full-time research position elsewhere, perform military service, or take family leave.

Personal working grants should, as a rule, be used for continuous work.

What does the working grant cover?

The personal working grant for full-time one-year work covers normal personal living expenses as well as usual travel, equipment and working space costs or some research costs.

The personal one year fulltime working grant share should be at least approximately 26 355,60 euros (the amount of the artist grant in 2025). The grantee must reserve about 15 % of the working grant for insurance premiums (Mela) if certain conditions are met.

Am I required to pay statutory insurance contributions?

If you have been awarded a grant for artistic or scientific work in Finland, your pension insurance is provided by Mela. The grantee must reserve about 15 % of the working grant for insurance premiums if certain conditions are met and personally see to the obtaining and paying for the insurances. The insurance premium is included in the grants and does not need to be specified on the grant application form.

You have a legal obligation to apply for pension insurance if you meet the following conditions:

The grantee, who is between the ages of 18 and 68 but not yet on an old-age pension, is legally obligated to take care of statutory insurance contributions and if the grant has been awarded for artistic or scientific work lasting at least four months and is at least 1 535 euros (year 2025) and if the grantee is eligible for the Finnish social security system.

The insurance obligation doesn’t concern grantees of undergraduate studies or expenditure grants. When certain conditions are met an insurance can be taken for grant work that takes place abroad or for foreign grantees working in Finland.

The insurance must be taken to cover the period for which the grant has been awarded (given in months in the grant decision), even if the work will not be carried out in one continuous period.

Mela (Farmer’s Social Insurance Institution) collects pension, accident and group life insurance payments during the grant period (in other words, when the insurance is valid). The tax authorities collect health insurance payments. For more information concerning grant recipient social security, please contact MELA.

The people evaluating grant applications may read hundreds of them, depending on the field. When writing your application, imagine yourself in their role

A good application is well planned and reasoned. It is also presented in a clear, understandable and compact manner.

• Put effort into the section “Work plan and  timetable” in your application. Its purpose is to spark the interest of the evaluator. In other words: say what you want to say already in the first sentence. What is it that you need a grant for? Why is your project important?
• Present a realistic and credible work plan.
• If you are applying for an expenditure grant, pay special attention that your budget is thorough, well-structured and easy to read. All income and expenses of the entire project are to be itemized in the budget so that the income and expenses are equal. (cost and income evaluations must add up)
• Tell us what you are really going to use the grant for. Don’t talk vaguely about production expenditures if what you really mean is a producer’s salary. The expert assessing your application should be able to easily understand what the grant will be used for.
• References count. They are important especially if you are working on a doctoral thesis. When applying for a grant in the field of art or science, you may want to have a reference, especially if you are in the beginning of your career. (Ask referee to write Online reference or submit a reference letter as a pdf attachment)
• Make sure that important attachments (pdf) are submitted to the Foundation.
• Ensure the application is free of language errors. Among applications of similar quality, those with polished language tend to stand out.
• See Preview of your application before sending the application online – make sure all information fits into the given space and the text is readable!

Submit your application in time. The application service closes at 4 pm local Finnish time on the deadline day. Take into account that the service might become congested in the final hours. After submitting the application, make sure that the status of your application changes to “Sent” on the Online grant service (and “Received” a few days after the grant call has closed). The Foundation does not process application drafts. It is not possible to submit your application through any channel whatsoever once the deadline has passed.

The application form cannot be edited after the deadline, but you may submit important attachments—for example, by providing information about funding received from other sources.

You can’t edit the information on your application after the application period has ended.

Instead, in the online grant service you can provide crucial information, you have only received after the application period has ended:

• Inform the Foundation about other funding you have received.
• Inform a change of postal address.
• Delete your application (remove the application completely from the Foundation’s application process).
• Upload important documents (attachments, pdf) that you have received after the application deadline, such as a financial statement. Please note, that documents such as a work plan should be attached already during the application period.

References count. They are especially crucial if you are pursuing a doctoral degree (particularly a statement from your supervisor) or are at the beginning of your research career. In applications in the arts, they may also be necessary if you are at the start of your career. Be sure to request references in time!

More info for the Referees

• Consider if you need references to support your application. If you are working on a doctoral thesis or at the beginning or your research career, the reference of someone (e.g.supervisor) familiar with your project is very important. When applying for a grant in the field of art you may want to have a reference, especially if you are in the beginning of your career.
• You can request more than one reference to your application.
• Inform your referee in time. Ask your referee to submit their reference through the online reference system (In Finnish or English). For further information please read ‘’For the referee’’. The referee can use personal banking id or mobile certificate to log in to the online service or use a username and password.
• The reference can be submitted through the system even if you haven’t submitted your grant application yet. The reference and the application will be reconciled after May based on the name of the applicant.
• The reference made by the referee in the online reference service is application-specific – a reference can be attached to only one grant application. Please take this into consideration if you have more than one grant application and you need references from the same referee.
• The referee will not see your grant application unless you send it separately to your referee. You also do not see the reference made by the referee on the Online reference service. Neither will it be disclosed whether or not the referee has submitted a reference.
• In case you have received the reference in paper form you may add it to your application as an attachment (pdf).
• The Foundation will only take into consideration references submitted in the Online Reference Service or attached letters (pdf) to the application in the Online Grant Service.

The applicant’s ability to successfully carry out the proposed project is assessed based on their CV and other attachments.

General

• An applicant’s ability to successfully carry out the proposed project is assessed based on their CV and other supporting documents.
• Attachments must be in PDF format, with a maximum file size of 3 MB. Save attachments directly as PDF files (e.g., from a word processor) or use one of the free PDF creation programs available.
• Upload the requested attachments (PDF) on the Attachments page of the online grant application.
• The applicant should carefully consider which attachments are essential for the evaluation of the application. Include all relevant documents, but avoid unnecessarily inflating your application.
• Applications are primarily reviewed online, so we cannot guarantee that attachments sent by post will be evaluated.
• Copies of certificates are sufficient; they do not need to be officially certified.
• Attachments must be uploaded during the application period, not afterward. Only certificates, financial statements, or other documents essential to the application that are received after the deadline can be added in the online service after the application period. See the section “Can I edit my application after the deadline?” for details.

Attachments for individuals or research teams

• Work or research plan (usually 3–10 pages) and CV. It is recommended to use the researcher CV template provided by the National Advisory Board on Research Ethics (TENK) as applicable.
• If applying for a grant in science, also include a list of publications if available.
• Include your degree certificate or doctoral permission if applying for postdoctoral research and you have not yet received your doctoral degree.
• If you are a postgraduate student, include proof of current enrollment, e.g., a transcript.
• Optional letters of recommendation (see “References”)
• Note for research team applicants: Attach documents for all team members requesting funding, including CVs and brief summaries.

Attachments for organizations

The organization must include:

• Work or project plan
• Complete project budget / income and expenditure estimate, where income and expenses are balanced. If there are multiple funders, clearly indicate in a table which portions of the project the Wihuri Foundation grant is intended to cover. For multi-year research or project plans, break down expenses annually in the table.
• A copy of the previous year’s annual report, financial statement, and auditors’ report. Public institutions (e.g., universities) do not need to attach financial statements.
• If the organization is newly established, attach a certificate of registration or equivalent proof of establishment.
• Any other attachments deemed essential for the application.

References

• References are particularly important if you are applying for personal working grant for doctoral thesis or for artistic/scientific work at the start of your career.
• The applicant decides the number of letters to request; typically, 1–3 references are sufficient.
• The applicant asks the referee to log in to the online reference service on the foundation’s website, where a template is available (Finnish/English). If you have received a letter in another format, you may attach it as a PDF.
• Request references well in advance!

Additional information for referees

Work / research plan

The work/research plan (usually 3–10 pages) should describe:

• Background, objectives, and significance of the project
• Location of the work
• Current stage of the project
• Implementation plan
• Timeline
• Income and expenditure estimate, briefly describing total project funding. Has the project received funding previously? If so, specify the period and amount. If the project has been carried out with salary funding, simply mention this. The reviewer should get a complete picture of the project’s funding. Ensure that income equals expenses (costs = funding). A personal work grant is intended for ordinary living expenses and can be presented as a single annual item in the expenditure estimate (including any statutory Mela insurance, which does not need to be broken down).

If you have previously received funding from the Wihuri Foundation for the same project, describe the project’s progress and how the requested grant relates to previously received funding.

If your work plan fits entirely on the application form’s page, you do not need to submit it as a separate attachment.

The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation requires all grant applicants and recipients to follow the guidelines below and to agree to the following conditions.

Generally

• Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation requires that you confirm the accuracy of the information provided in your application and commit to reporting any funding received from other sources to the Foundation.
• You also commit to carrying out your project according to the plan you have presented. You can find the commitment here.
• Information about the awarded grant may be made public, even if the awarded amount is smaller than the amount applied for.
• Grantees are required to provide a report of how the grant was used every calendar year starting from the year after awarding the grant.
• You find more guidelines for grantees on our website.

Data Protection for Applications

The content of the application forms a personal data register in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, which is maintained, stored, and archived by Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. The applicant has the right to review the information stored in the register and to correct any incorrect information by contacting the foundation.

• Personal data is collected and processed to enable the foundation’s operations (legitimate interest).
• This includes the processing, analysis, and archiving of applications. The purpose of processing personal data is also to produce information and other communications related to stakeholders.Information and documents are provided for the use of experts evaluating the applications.
• The foundation also requires that you accept that the information in the application may be stored and disclosed to authorities and organizations distributing grants for the monitoring of the distribution and use of grants.
• Based on the processing for the public interest, the foundation publishes the names, the degree or occupation, place of residence, purpose of the grant and the amount awarded of grant recipients on its website and provides information to the research data repository maintained by the Ministry of Education and Culture (tiedejatutkimus.fi) as well as for statistics and research related to foundations.