Webinar with KULTA ry (Online)
“The donation deduction is coming – are you ready?”
OBS this event will be held in Finnish. Registration link is at the bottom of this page.
With the guidance of top experts, KULTA ry will prepare us for a new phase in fundraising; the donation deduction in Finland is set to come into effect, as it currently stands, on January 1, 2026. The first public draft of the law is currently under public consultation, and by autumn it will likely already be clear what form the donation deduction will take in its initial stage. The webinar is suitable both for those who have already done some fundraising, those who lead fundraising, or those who wish to start attracting donations.
Programme:
1:00 PM Janne Sirén shares his experiences in attracting donations. Janne Sirén, PhD, Peggy Pierce Elfvin Director of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, leads large-scale fundraising campaigns annually and is also familiar with legislation related to the subject, as well as the philosophical background of philanthropy.
1:45 PM Johan Wenström & Pekka Lehtinen from Brakeley talk about professional fundraising in Finland and Sweden, offering practical advice and sharing examples.
2:30 PM Break
2:45 PM Henri Terho, Head of Arts Promotion at Taike, addresses fundraising in the context of, among other things, the structures of Finnish art and the general funding outlook for cultural and artistic actors.
3:15 PM Kaarlo Hilden, Rector of the University of the Arts Helsinki, comments on fundraising from the perspective of the interface between science and art.
3:30 PM Saara Kankaanrinta, environmental influencer, talks about donating from the donor’s perspective.
Pekka Lehtinen is a seasoned lawyer who, during his 36-year career, has worked not only in Finland but also in the United States and the Netherlands. In addition to handling legal matters for companies, foundations, and private individuals, Pekka has spent the past nine years as an advisor on fundraising for cultural organisations. He joined the board of the Kiasma Support Foundation in 2016 and has served as the foundation’s chair since 2017. The Kiasma Support Foundation assists the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in expanding its collection and supporting its other activities through fundraising. In addition, Pekka has assisted certain other museums and universities in developing fundraising strategies, for example together with Brakeley Nordic AB.
Johan Wennström is Managing Director of Brakeley Nordic AB, a fundraising consultancy that helps organisations to work in a strategic and structured way with philanthropic donations and similar private support. Brakeley has its roots in the US and has been working in the Nordic region since 1993. The clients served come from all Nordic countries and are active in different sectors: higher education, charities/NGOs, cultural organisations, etc. Johan has recently led a three-year project to help the cultural sector in Sweden to seek out philanthropic support as an alternative source of funding. The project is funded by Kulturbryggan, a part of the Swedish Arts Grants Committee. Johan Wennström is Swedish and has lived in Helsinki since 2021.
The webinar is organised by the Central Organisation for Culture and Arts KULTA ry, and will be held in Finnish.
The price is 250 euros. Registrations by September 8 via this form:
KULTA ry is a central organization for support and producer associations operating in the Finnish arts and culture industry. Its purpose is to advance the overall economic growth, operating conditions and social standing of the arts and culture industry.
