Finlandia Foundation National has much to offer affiliated chapters.

Please click here for the brochure about FFN Chapter Membership.

Click here for a PDF of the FFN Application for Affiliation. It is a fillable form. You may complete and submit it online or print to complete and return the application to the FFN office.

Benefits of Affiliation

1. Each Chapter of Finlandia Foundation National is an independent, self-governing entity, solely responsible to its membership and the local community for its affairs.  Each organization determines its own mission, plans its own activities, and remains in control of any funds and property, with no interference or involvement by the Finlandia Foundation National organization.  All organizations have one common goal:  the preservation of Finnish-American heritage and culture.
2. FFN Chapters in good standing* are permitted to use the Finlandia Foundation name and logo.
3. The FFN office in Pasadena, California, is an important resource especially for new chapters and will provide guidance and direction and share resources and materials with new chapters. The office has an audio-visual lending library, and will provide all new members with a complimentary copy of “Black Ties and Miners’ Boots,” an institutional history of the national organization.
4. The FFN website offers opportunities for linkage to all FFN chapters and affords the new chapters visibility. Chapters are encouraged to create their own web pages that can be hosted by or linked to the site.
5. All the members of FFN Chapters receive the FFN newsletter, which informs, inspires, and links the Chapters, and at the same time publicizes the achievements of the chapters.
6. FFN Chapters in good standing* may request FFN grants for local cultural programs, support grant requests of other organizations and /or individuals, and support FFN scholarship applications submitted by qualified local applicants.
7. FFN Chapters help to shape the national organization by presenting candidates for FFN trustees and Performer of the Year (POY) and Lecturer of the Year (LOY), and by contributing materials to the FFN newsletter and to the Finnish-American press and other media.
8. FFN Chapters in good standing* may take advantage of FFN’s travel funding for both Performer of the Year and Lecturer of the Year by inviting an entertainer or scholar to perform/lecture at a local chapter event.
9. Chapters are kept informed of planned programs and events. Should a given program or event sponsored by another chapter be of interest, funding may be available to support the transfer and replication of the program locally.
10. Other tangible and intangible benefits can be derived from the strength and common purpose of a mature, well-endowed, nationwide organization, in the areas of communications, mutual support and cooperation with other organizations. A Finlandia Foundation Chapter can expect to be better informed about Finnish and Finnish-American cultural trends and programs than a local organization without national and international ties. The up to $100,000 which Finlandia Foundation National awards each year in the form of scholarships, grants and chapter support reflects favorably on all Finlandia Foundation Chapters.

*A chapter must be fully current in dues owed to Finlandia Foundation National, and meet the other requirements of FFN affiliation, to be considered a chapter in good standing.

Chapter Guidelines

1. New Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) Chapters are encouraged to include the words “Finlandia Foundation” in the official name of the Chapter; for example, “Finlandia Foundation of Palm Beach.” It is understood, however, that some existing Finnish-American cultural organizations that affiliate themselves with FFN may opt to use the original name of incorporation, like the Hibbing, MN FFN Chapter, which is called “Finnish-Americans and Friends.”   The Chapter then publicizes its affiliation with FFN by way of our logo, newsletters, letterhead, and other printed materials.
2. FFN Chapters are cultural rather than ethnic organizations, and membership is open to all friends of Finland regardless of ethnic background. The official language of the organization is English.
3. The bylaws of the local Chapter should allow the organization to qualify as a “not-for-profit” cultural and/or educational 501(c) 3 organization approved by of the IRS. The bylaws shall clearly state that the purpose of the organization is to provide both the membership and the general public with cultural/educational programs and events featuring Finnish and Finnish-American culture. Chapters are encouraged to incorporate and to seek tax-exempt status. Information about how to become a 501(c)3 organization is available on the IRS web site.
4. Each Chapter in good standing remits an annual per capita contribution to Finlandia Foundation National to partially offset the cost of printing and mailing the FFN Newsletter. The annual dues are calculated at $1 per each mailing address in the group.
5. Finlandia Foundation is a federally registered Service Mark. The name Finlandia Foundation and the Finlandia Foundation logo are to be used only by organizations associated with Finlandia Foundation National.