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Project Plan
Finland Center Foundation (FCF) is the meeting point of Finnish and American culture, commerce and community. FCF supports the activities of Finnish-American organizations in the greater New York area, and Finnish values globally, in the present and for generations to come.
Need
Approximately 3000 first and second generation Finns live in the greater New York area; another 20.000 or so in the tristate area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) have Finnish roots. Many more are "friends of Finland" for different reasons: having traveled there, lived there as exchange students or having a business relationship with Finland; simply loving Finnish sauna or Sibelius; etc.etc.
When the Finns started emigrating to America, they formed associations and churches. In the New York area, most of these have now disappeared; a few remain, and some have even been formed in the last few years, so that at least 1000 people actively attend or follow Finnish activities in the area. Being scattered in different, temporary locations hampers the efforts of these organizations to preserve old and introduce new Finnish culture, and even restricts the contacts otherwise formed through informal networking. The Finland Center Foundation was founded to meet the need to gather everyone under the same roof, both figuratively/virtually speaking (initially) and physically (eventually).
Project Description
Finland Center Foundation has adopted a short-term as well as a long-term strategy.
The SHORT TERM strategy involves:
- creating a membership organization and
- centralizing as many Finnish events as possible to the newfound space at the Salmagundi Club at 47 Fifth Avenue. This venerable old artist club offered us rental space for our office, as well as the possibility to have programs in their space whenever a convenient time could be found. The club is naturally particularly interested in programs with an art theme, and its beautiful rooms and cozy restaurant space offer a good location to have musical events as well. The physical proximity of the club to the Finnish Lutheran Congregation and Finnish School in Greenwich Village, currently renting from a local Lutheran congregation, helps us coordinate our efforts.
Long Term Strategy
Thanks to its rich history, the high educational level of its population and its achievements in technology and the arts, Finland's contributions to world culture are significant. However, the Finland brand needs strengthening, and its government has recognized this challenge. Putting forth a strong national brand is particularly important in the multicultural capitals of education and commerce of the world, of which New York City is one of the most important. New York remains one of the most thriving major cities in the world, even in these economically challenging times. Finland needs to increase its cultural visibility in this metropolis, and its presence will be most effectively established with the presence of a physical center for Finland-related activities.
What Finland means to Finns of different ages and backgrounds or to people in general, is an evolving concept. However, there are some words that come to mind, which most of us can agree on — values we all want to promote and hope that they will become and remain universal: education, universal health care, innovation, sustainable development, women's equality, children's rights, transparency, music, architecture, industrial design, love of nature, physical well being, honesty, work ethic, sisu. As the activities of Finland Center Foundation increase, a physical center that does not have to be shared with another organization with different goals becomes a necessity. The above values will be showcased in the physical structure as well as the programs of our future Center.
A permanent physical facility will also be an enabler of activities, both cultural and commercial, that will benefit Finland in a myriad ways. New York is a prime example of a place where visibility to its international and multicultural audience can have a far-reaching impact on a community. The center will become New York's hub of activities for and by expatriate Finns, as well as an accessible starting point for anyone interested in Finnish life, culture and business..
Financing and Fundraising
Our goal has been to fine-tune and shape the project so that it will be a viable and attractive target for investors. In addition, we believe there are wealthy individuals drawn to charitable causes both in the United States and Finland who have close ties to Finnish culture and are more than willing to "pay back" by way of donations and bequests to Finnish cultural organizations. In the U.S, this has happened to some extent in various cultural groups ever since the first immigrants arrived on these shores and made their fortunes. The difference is that now, with previously unimaginable shake-ups occurring in the financial markets, endowments are being placed in stocks and bonds are becoming unreliable; not-for-profit organizations, in turn, are turning to other ways of meeting their budget goals.
According to US not-for-profit law, an organization with IRS 501c3 status can engage in any kind of commercial activity related to its mission. In addition, passive income from space rental, licensing, etc. is permissible and not taxed. Moreover, many organizations partner with for-profit companies that function as normal businesses; in this arrangement, either the nonprofit is one of the owners, or the owners jointly agree to turn over all the profits to the nonprofit. Providing space for different kinds of businesses that together could subsidize the nonprofit organization would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Architectural details of the space itself are still up for discussion. The question of whether the building is owned or under a long-term lease is less important than the possibility of setting long-term goals.
Currently, the FCF is seeking adequate capital to move from concept to realization: to locate a building and hire staff for the initial stages (for approximately three years), after which the center is estimated to be self-supporting. We are now looking to leading Finnish firms and private individuals for both investment capital and long-lasting partnerships. As the space has not yet been acquired, it is still possible to honor the specific needs of the investors/users. For an outline of the proposed center, its functions and its financing plans, please contact the President or any member of the Board of Directors.
Finland Center Foundation has been recognized in the United States as tax exempt under section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As a result, contributions received in the US are tax deductible.
Organization
The Finland Center Foundation (FCF) was established in the beginning of 2002 to implement planning, fundraising and the realization of the Center. The operational work of the Foundation is guided by the Board of Directors, whose members represent various Finnish interests in New York. At the moment, the Chairperson of the Board and President of the Foundation is Jaana Rehnström, MD. In addition, FCF has an Advisory Board consisting of individuals who have offered their help in various ways and/or represent the different New York Finnish organizations. For all its work, the organization at this point in time successfully relies entirely on volunteers.
Schedule
In 2002 we established the project organization, created the most important basic plans, and organized several fundraising events. In 2003, we refined our plans and completed a Feasibility Study, which the Government of Finland funded. At the same time, we conducted active public relations work and extensive fundraising. In 2004, we obtained recognition of tax-exempt status under section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and continued our discussions with various potential participants. In early 2006, FCF received a grant in the amount of 100,000 euro from Suomen Kulttuurisäätiö, which allowed FCF to make great strides, including the creation of a more detailed Business Plan. In 2007, a LOI was signed with a major Finnish Hotel and Spa operator, which has since unraveled. We are encouraging other interested Finnish or American business partners to contact us if they would like to be included as a partner in the final concept. Our membership organization offers a way for individuals (individual membership) and businesses (corporate membership) to network and also influence the final product.