Good to know
Club Giraffe Membership
All donors are invited to join Club Giraffe, which is a club meant for donors hosted by the Chancellor and the Rector. The club is named after the historical Giraffe quarter, where the university main building is located. Club Giraffe offers a scientific vantage point and an excellent forum for networking with other donors and top experts from the university.
Tax deductions for private persons
Thanks to a temporary amendment to the Income Tax Act, natural persons and estates can deduct from their net income monetary donations of between €850 and €250,000 donated for the promotion of science or art to a university or institution of higher education within the European Economic Area which receives public funding, or to a university endowment connected to these. The tax deduction is valid until 31 December 2011. The University of Helsinki will inform the tax authorities of all tax deductible donations from private persons between 2009 and 2011.
Tax deductions for communities
Since the beginning of 2008, communities have been allowed to deduct from their net income donations made to universities or university funds. Communities can deduct from their net income monetary donations of between €850 and €250,000 made for the promotion of science, art or Finnish cultural heritage to a university or an institution of higher education within the European Economic Area which receives public funding, or to a university endowment connected to these.
How do the tax deductions work in practice?
To illustrate how the tax deduction works in practice, let’s say that George Giraffe has an annual income of €30,000 and his tax rate is 21%. He has recently received a large inheritance and decides to donate €3,000 euros of that inheritance to the Future Fund of the University of Helsinki. Because the donation is tax deductible, George’s taxable net income drops to €27,000, and his tax rate to 19%. In this way, he pays €1,170 less in taxes. Thus, the actual cost of George’s donation is €1,830.
Publicity of donations
The University of Helsinki publishes the names of donors on a web page dedicated to donors as well as in the University of Helsinki Funds yearbook. You can also make an anonymous donation by ticking the relevant box in the deed of donation or on an electronic donation form. Other related communications will be agreed upon separately with the donor.
Legal advice for donors
Donors can consult the legal counsel of the University of Helsinki for legal advice on writing a testament. Contact >
Licence to collect money
The University of Helsinki has a licence to collect donations between 3 July 2012 and 31 May 2014 (National Board of Police decision POHADno/2020/2012/2317) for the promotion of research, teaching, studying and other activities at the University of Helsinki. The license is valid nationwide, except for the Åland Islands.