Grants
The purpose of the grants awarded by the student union is to support projects and events organized by associations, student groups, and individual students operating within JYY. The aim of these grants is to encourage student activity and the development of new forms of engagement.
JYY grants
JYY offers two types of grants for associations and students. Activity grants are intended to support the core operations of associations. Project and sports grants can be applied for one-off projects and sports-related events. Carefully review the criteria before applying and contact the Member Services and Association Specialist if needed.
Activity grants
In 2026, €20,500 has been allocated in the student union’s budget for association activity grants. These grants are awarded in two parts: a basic component in the spring and an activity-based component in the autumn. The purpose of the grant is to support the core activities of associations and Representative Council groups operating within JYY. For Representative Council groups, grants are distributed only in the spring.
Activity grants are awarded based on applications, and decisions are made by JYY’s Board.
Application criteria for grants
To receive an activity grant, an association must meet the criteria for associations operating within JYY.
These criteria do not apply to Representative Council groups.
Applying for the basic component in the spring
Application period: March 30 at 10:00 – May 4 at 23:59.
The following documents must be submitted:
Subject or hobby association
- Previous year’s financial statements (balance sheet + income statement) or equivalent documentation
- Previous year’s annual report
- Previous year’s audit (operational audit) report
- Association rules
- Current year’s budget
- Current year’s action plan
- Valid equality plan (applies only to subject associations)
Representative Council group
- Current year’s budget and informal action plan
- Previous year’s informal annual report and financial statement
- Report on group size and representation in JYY bodies
- Information on other funding sources
Note: The most recently confirmed financial statement must be submitted. An unconfirmed latest statement can also be included. If all documents are not available (e.g. for newly established associations), equivalent explanations are accepted.
Autumn: activity-based component application
Application period: October 19 at 10:00 – November 16 at 23:59.
Grant amounts are based on the association’s activities, evaluated by JYY’s Board using criteria in the application form. Example forms are available to help plan activities. The official form is published at the start of the application period.
Esimerkkihakemus ainejärjestölle (pdf)
Esimerkkihakemus harrastejärjestölle (pdf)
Subject associations
The amount of the spring grant for subject organizations is €200. The amount of the activity-based grant for the autumn is determined based on the activity level, diversity, and fairness of the organization’s activities. The activities should encourage as many members as possible to participate, and the association’s administration and finances must be properly managed. More detailed criteria will be announced at the end of April.
Hobby associations
For hobby organizations and student nations, the spring grant is €150. The autumn activity-based grant is determined based on the activity level and fairness of their activities. When determining the grant, it is also required that the association’s administration and finances are properly managed. More detailed criteria will be announced at the end of April.
Representative Council groups
For representative council groups, the amount of the grant is primarily based on the number of seats in the representative council. The base amount per group is €50, plus €30 per representative. Grants for representative council groups are distributed only in the spring.
According to the law, political party organizations and affiliated entities cannot receive funding from student unions. It is the responsibility of each representative council group to identify its own position within the party structure. Representative council groups are not required to register in order to receive general grants.
Toiminta-avustuksen hakuaika on päättynyt! The application period for the general grant has ended!
JYYn toiminta-avustuksen kevään osuuden hakuaika on päättynyt. The applying time of the grant has ended.
Project and sports grants
In 2026, a total of €5,000 is allocated to project and sports grants. The budget is divided into three phases. In the first phase, grants are awarded in order of application; in the later phases, decisions are made after the application period.
Grants may be awarded in smaller amounts than requested. Decisions are made by the Board member responsible for associations and the Member Services and Organization Specialist.
Criteria for project and sports grants
- An applicant may receive a maximum of €600 per year in combined project and sports grants. A maximum of €300 can be awarded for a single project or event.
- Receiving the grant requires that the applicant has their own funding or funding obtained from other sources covering at least one third of the total costs of the event or project. For justified reasons, the grant may cover a larger share of the costs, but it can never exceed the total cost of the project.
- A grant may be awarded for a project or event that is not recurring annually and for which a responsible person (or persons) has been appointed. If the application concerns an event, an equality officer must also be designated. The project does not necessarily have to be a single event; longer-term projects are also taken into account. The grant may also cover purchases necessary for implementing the project.
- Grants can also be applied for various types of sports events. Funding may be awarded for a sports-related and substance-free project or activity organized by an association or other student group, for which responsible person(s) and an equality officer have been designated. For sports trials (try-out activities), funding is applied for based on cost per participant (x € per JYY member), if the number of participants can be determined. For other sports events, such as organizing tournaments, the grant is applied for as a lump sum.
- Receiving the grant requires that the JYY logo is displayed in the event or project’s promotional materials (e.g. event advertisements, program leaflets) and that JYY is mentioned as a partner in the description of the event or project. JYY logos are available in the organizations’ materials bank.
Applications are viewed favorably, if the project or activity:
- involves cultural activities
- supports student well-being
- encourages broad participation
- is free of charge
- is accessible and inclusive
- engages international students
- improves study conditions
- is substance-free
- is interdisciplinary
- minimizes environmental impact
- supports JYY’s goals
- improves students’ societal position
Grants are not awarded for:
- recurring activities
- business activities or fundraising
- activities against JYY’s values
- publishing association magazines
- late applications or reports
Other notes:
- Competition participation support: €5 (national) or €10 (international) per JYY member
- Anniversary events (every 5 years): €100
Applying and processing project and sports grants
Grants may be applied for by an organization or student group operating within JYY. In addition, an individual student may apply for funding to cover participation fees for national or international competitions. The amount of the grant awarded depends on the content of the event or competition, as well as the number of participating JYY members.
The application must be submitted before the start of the project. After the application has been processed, a decision regarding the grant will be communicated to the contact person indicated in the application. A grant report must also be completed after the project, after which the funding will be paid to the organization. Separate deadlines may also be set for applications and reports, and these will be communicated to organizations separately.
Application period
- The first application period is open from January 1 to March 31, during which funding can be applied for projects taking place between January 1 and March 31. Grants are processed in the order they are received. The budget for this round is €1,500.
- The second application period is also open from January 1 to March 31, and it is intended for projects taking place between April 1 and July 31. After the application period ends, all applications will be reviewed and funding will be awarded to the projects that best meet the selection criteria. The budget for this round is €1,500.
- The third application period is open from April 1 to July 31, for projects taking place between August 1 and December 31. After the application period ends, all applications will be reviewed and funding will be awarded to the projects that best meet the selection criteria. The budget for this round is €2,000.
All grant applications must include an attachment providing a description of the nature of the project or event, as well as a budget. These must include:
- A clear and comprehensive description of the project/event and its purpose (e.g. the target audience)
- The estimated number of participants, with the number of JYY members specified separately
- Justifications for why the funding should be granted
- The schedule of the project/event
- Information on any participation fee
- A breakdown of the project’s income and expenses
- The project’s self-financing share
- Information on other parties from whom funding or support has been or will be sought
- The amount of funding requested from JYY
Separate University of Jyväskylä grant for 2026
The University of Jyväskylä provides an additional €5,000 to support projects by associations within JYY. The grant particularly supports projects that enhance internationalisation and community-building.
Application periods
- The first application period is open from April 1 to July 31, during which funding can be applied for projects taking place between August 1 and December 31. After the application period ends, all applications will be reviewed, and funding will be awarded to the projects that best meet the criteria outlined below.
- The second application period opens on August 1, if the budget has not been fully used in the first round. Grants are awarded in the order applications are received to projects that meet the funding criteria.
Criteria for getting the grant
- Grants are awarded to projects carried out by student organizations operating within the university community that promote at least one of the following objectives:
- Internationalization of the community and the integration of international students into the community
- Students’ physical and mental well-being and their ability to study
- Students’ sense of community and the reduction of loneliness experienced by students
Applications are viewed favorably, if
- projekti edistää useampaa edellä kuvattua tavoitetta
- projekti toteutetaan poikkitieteellisessä yhteistyössä useamman järjestön voimin; erityisesti jos projekti toteutetaan yhteistyössä JAMKin opiskelijajärjestö(je)n kanssa
- projekti on avoin koko Jyväskylän korkeakouluyhteisölle eli kaikille JYU:n ja JAMKin opiskelijoille
Reporting the grant
The use of the grant must be reported no later than one month after the end of the event or project. The contact person indicated in the application is responsible for completing the report after the event, including attachments (receipts). If the final report is submitted late, the grant will not be paid. If the report contains the required information and supporting documents, the grant will be paid to the account specified in the application.