Olvi Foundation

The Olvi Foundation (Finnish: OLVI-säätiö sr) is a Finnish non-profit foundation established in 1955 by industrial counsellor E. W. Åberg, the long-serving managing director and principal owner of the Olvi brewery, together with his wife Hedwig Åberg. The foundation was endowed with the majority of Åberg's holding in Olvi's share capital; those Olvi Oyj K-shares remain the cornerstone of the foundation's wealth today. Its founding purpose combined securing the continuity of the company with enabling support for causes the founders considered important and valuable. Under its charter, the Olvi Foundation supports work for the benefit of children and the elderly, the studies of talented young people and the improvement of conditions for further education. It also assists local heritage work and supports and promotes the development of natural-resource use and the food economy, including an essential element of fisheries and agriculture development. The foundation fulfils its purpose by awarding stipends, grants, subsidies and prizes. It distributes stipends to students in several different fields and for vocational study alongside work, and awards grants at its discretion. Annually the foundation distributes roughly 2–3 million euros in grants, stipends, subsidies and prizes. It runs separate application rounds: a dedicated doctoral dissertation grant round from 1 January to 15 March, a spring round for other grant categories from 1 January to 15 March, and an autumn round for other grant categories from 1 July to 15 September. The year 2025 marked the foundation's 70th anniversary, with children as the anniversary theme; all grant categories were supported, but projects related to children were given particular emphasis during the theme year. The foundation formerly awarded a comparatively large literature prize of 12,600 euros, but discontinued it in 2006. It has since made major donations, including one million euros to the University of Eastern Finland in autumn 2009 and two million euros to a children's hospital project. The Olvi Foundation holds 52 percent of the voting power in Olvi Oyj and owns approximately 15 percent of the shares. Its board ensures that the foundation's operations are properly organised and that its charter purpose is realised, and defines the foundation's strategy. In 2016 the Finnish Patent and Registration Office approved the foundation's proposed amendments to modernise its rules, and its strategy and governance processes were reformed in line with the new Foundations Act and the updated rules. The Olvi Foundation is a member of the Finnish association Säätiöt ja rahastot ry (Foundations and Funds), and Neuvottelukunta is the association of Finnish grant-makers that serves as a liaison and advocate for Finnish non-profit foundations, funds and associations.

The Olvi Foundation was founded in 1955 by industrial counsellor E. W. Åberg, the long-time managing director and principal owner of the Olvi brewery, together with his wife Hedwig Åberg. The foundation's history reaches back to that year, when E. W. Åberg transferred the majority of his holding in Olvi's share capital to serve as the foundation's basic capital. These Olvi Oyj K-shares handed over by Åberg remain the cornerstone of the Olvi Foundation's wealth today. The founders' idea was not only to secure the continuity of the company but also to make possible support for endeavours they considered important and valuable. According to its rules, the Olvi Foundation assists work for the benefit of children and the elderly, supports the studies of talented young people and improves the conditions for further education. The foundation assists local heritage work and supports and promotes the development of natural-resource use and the food economy, an essential part of which is the development of fisheries and agriculture. The foundation carries out its purpose by awarding stipends, grants, subsidies and prizes. It distributes stipends to students in several different fields and for vocational study alongside work, and awards grants at its discretion. The foundation formerly awarded a comparatively large literature prize of 12,600 euros, but the awarding of that prize was discontinued in 2006. Since then the foundation has made significant donations, including one million euros to the University of Eastern Finland in autumn 2009 and two million euros to a children's hospital project. The Olvi Foundation holds 52 percent of the voting power in Olvi Oyj and owns approximately 15 percent of the shares. Its board ensures that the foundation's operations are properly organised and that the foundation's charter purpose is realised, and the board defines the foundation's strategy. In 2016 the Finnish Patent and Registration Office approved the amendments proposed by the foundation to modernise its rules, and the strategy and governance processes were reformed in accordance with the new Foundations Act and the updated rules. The Olvi Foundation is a member of Säätiöt ja rahastot ry (Foundations and Funds). Neuvottelukunta is the association of Finnish grant-makers that acts as a liaison and advocate for Finnish non-profit foundations, funds and associations. Annually the foundation distributes roughly 2–3 million euros in grants, stipends, subsidies and prizes. Its application rounds include a dedicated doctoral dissertation grant round from 1 January to 15 March, a spring round for other grant categories from 1 January to 15 March, and an autumn round for other grant categories from 1 July to 15 September. The year 2025 was the Olvi Foundation's 70th anniversary year, with children as its theme; all grant categories were supported, but projects related to children were given particular emphasis during the theme year.

• 2025

  The Olvi Foundation celebrates its 70th anniversary with children as the theme year.

• 2016

  The Finnish Patent and Registration Office approves the foundation's proposed amendments to modernise its rules; strategy and governance processes are reformed under the new Foundations Act.

• 2009

  The foundation donates one million euros to the University of Eastern Finland in autumn.

• 2006

  The foundation discontinues its literature prize, which had been worth 12,600 euros.

• 1955

  The Olvi Foundation is founded by E. W. Åberg and Hedwig Åberg; E. W. Åberg transfers the majority of his Olvi shareholding as the foundation's basic capital.

A grant-making non-profit foundation and controlling shareholder of Olvi Oyj, combining corporate continuity with broad public-benefit philanthropy in Finland.

• Doctoral dissertation grants

  A dedicated grant category with an application period from 1 January to 15 March.

• Other grant categories (spring round)

  Application period from 1 January to 15 March.

• Other grant categories (autumn round)

  Application period from 1 July to 15 September.

• Stipends for students and vocational study

  Stipends awarded to students in several fields and for vocational study alongside work.

• Literature prize (discontinued 2006)

  A comparatively large prize of 12,600 euros, discontinued in 2006.

1. 1OLVI-säätiö official websiteolvisaatio.fi
2. 2Olvi Foundation on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Olvi-säätiö on Finnish Wikipediafi.wikipedia.org