Funding
EHYT – the Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention – is a non-profit organisation working for the common good. Most of our activities are funded through public grants aimed at promoting well-being and health across Finnish society. A smaller share is financed through private grants and participation fees.
Government grants are the primary source of funding for non-profit organisations. The most significant provider of funding for social welfare and health organisations is the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The funding application process is coordinated by the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA), which also oversees the use of the grants.
The majority of EHYT’s income comes from grants provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (87% in 2024). In addition, EHYT’s operations are financially supported by eg. cities, municipalities, and private foundations.
We collect participation fees for some of our services, such as certain trainings and courses. EHYT also receives donations and holds a fundraising licence granted by the National Police Board. Fees and donations account for approximately 6% of the organisation’s total income.
The grants and donations received are used to fund activities in accordance with EHYT’s rules, such as preventing and reducing harm caused by substance use and promoting public health. Project-based grants enable the development of new initiatives.
The state monitors whether the grants are used for the purposes for which they were awarded. Grants are based on applications and detailed annual reports on the effectiveness, impact, and use of the funding.
Volunteering is a distinctive feature and a major strength of civil society organisations. The monetary value of volunteer work to Finnish society has been estimated at up to three billion euros. Due to the diversity of our society, municipalities and companies have also sought to involve volunteers in their activities. Non-profit organisations contribute to a free civil society, as their work supports the public sector. At EHYT, both employees and volunteers work together to prevent harm caused by substance use, gaming, and gambling, and to support people affected by these issues.
EHYT’s operating income in 2024 totalled approximately EUR 5.8 million, consisting of a general grant and individual project grants and operational grants.
Wages, salaries, and remuneration accounted for approximately 74% of the organisation’s expenses, while premises-related costs made up about 7%. The remaining expenses consisted of operational and statutory personnel costs. During the year 2024, wages and remuneration were paid to 109 individuals.18 of whom were hired with employment support measures. Remuneration was paid to 56 instructors in our training network.