Pelastusarmeija

What Pelastusarmeija does

Pelastusarmeija (Suomen Pelastusarmeijan Säätiö sr) is a Finnish non-profit foundation and the Finnish branch of the international Salvation Army, operating since 1889. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of charitable social services through 22 local branches (osastot), 16 iCare secondhand retail stores, 7 housing service units, 3 social service centers, 3 private kindergartens, 1 children's holiday home in Nummela, and 2 elderly care facilities. It serves approximately 110,000 households annually, targeting low-income families with children, elderly individuals experiencing loneliness, homeless and at-risk-of-homelessness individuals, at-risk youth, and the general low-income population, with programs spanning food aid, crisis support, supported housing, summer camps, employment support, and anti-human-trafficking work.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across donations (one-time, monthly, and the flagship Joulupata Christmas kettle campaign running since 1906), iCare secondhand retail sales, corporate partnerships (S-ryhmä, Abloy, Make it Simple, Helsingin Villasukkatehdas), facility rentals (Temppeli Helsinki, Turku, Kuopio, Tampere), and government grants including European Social Fund financing. Headcount is approximately 300 employees across all units, with annual revenue of approximately €24 million. Operations are primarily domestic (Finland) with an affiliated territory command covering Estonia as well. The organization does not operate on a proprietary technology platform; its digital infrastructure is limited to a website donation portal (Paytrail and payment card processing) and standard communication channels including the Sotahuuto magazine, email newsletter, and social media.

Name

Pelastusarmeija

Legal name

Suomen Pelastusarmeijan Säätiö sr

Website

https://pelastusarmeija.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pelastusarmeija is a Finnish non-profit foundation providing charitable social services — food aid, supported housing, elderly care, and child welfare — through 22 branches, 16 iCare secondhand stores, and 7 housing units, serving 110,000 households annually with €24M in revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Social Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Assistance (624), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAE

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGACAF

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAKAE

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAJAA

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Charitable fundraising
• Social welfare services
• Secondhand retail stores
• Supported housing services
• Elderly care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices31 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Pelastusarmeija's primary revenue comes from charitable donations including one-time donations, monthly recurring donations, and annual fundraising campaigns. The flagship Joulupata (Christmas kettle) collection has been running since 1906 and raises approximately 1 million euros annually. The 'Auta ihmistä' (Help a Person) campaign supports families in need.
2. iCare Secondhand Retail: iCare secondhand stores sell donated clothing, accessories, home goods, and furniture. All proceeds are directed to the organization's domestic charitable work supporting low-income individuals and families.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Companies partner with Pelastusarmeija through Joulupata-kampanja corporate sponsorship, corporate donations, in-kind product donations, pro bono services (e.g., marketing), and branded merchandise collaborations.
4. Rental Income: Rental income from renting Pelastusarmeija's facilities (Temppeli Helsinki, Turku osasto, Kuopio osasto, Tampere osasto) for events, concerts, courses, and meetings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pelastusarmeija is a Finnish charitable foundation that delivers social welfare services and raises funds for vulnerable populations. It operates 22 local congregations providing food aid, social counseling, crisis support, and community gatherings; 16 iCare secondhand stores selling donated goods to fund charitable work; supported housing units, an elderly care home, three daycare centers, a children's holiday camp, an employment support unit, and anti-human trafficking programs. Its primary fundraising vehicles are the Joulupata Christmas kettle collection (since 1906) and the year-round 'Auta ihmistä' campaign, complemented by individual and corporate donations.

Product overview

Pelastusarmeija operates as a comprehensive charity organization offering a diverse portfolio of social services and retail operations. The core offerings include social assistance programs (food aid, emergency relief, social counseling), supported housing services, elderly care, children's holiday camps, daycare centers, and volunteer coordination. Retail operations center on iCare secondhand stores with proceeds funding domestic assistance. Major fundraising campaigns include the Joulupata (Christmas pot) collection since 1906 and the year-round 'Auta ihmistä' campaign. Additional services include anti-human trafficking work, spiritual ministry, employment support, facility rentals, and the Sotahuuto magazine publication. The organization serves approximately 110,000 households annually across 22 locations with a staff of 300 and revenue of approximately 24 million euros.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iCare secondhand: Hyväntekeväisyysmyymälät (charity secondhand stores) that sell donated goods to fund the organization's charitable work in Finland.
• Joulupata
• Auta ihmistä
• Sotahuuto

Quantifiable outcome

• 110,000 households helped annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Make it SimplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish marketing agency Make it Simple has been a key partner since 2016, designing and producing all creative marketing solutions for the Joulupata campaign — entirely pro bono (free of charge). Their collaborative campaigns have achieved broad media visibility through TV commercials, outdoor advertising, and digital marketing. The agency won multiple advertising awards for the Joulupata film 'Odotus'.
• AbloyminorOthersAbloy donated 200 ABLOY padlocks to protect Joulupata collection kettles across Finland. Abloy is a renowned Finnish lock manufacturer known for its over 110-year history.
• SOK / S-ryhmäcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerS-ryhmä (SOK) has been involved in enabling Joulupata relief distributions three times. Joulupata collection kettles are also placed at S-ryhmä store locations.
• Otava and Suomalainen KirjakauppaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOtava and Suomalainen Kirjakauppa donated children's and youth books distributed nationally to individual children and Pelastusarmeija's Nummela Children's Holiday Home.
• Helsingin VillasukkatehdasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboratively developed branded Joulupata socks with Helsingin Villasukkatehdas. Proceeds from sock sales are donated to the Joulupata campaign.
• Suomalainen KirjakauppaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoulupata collection kettles are placed in Suomalainen Kirjakauppa bookstores nationwide, expanding physical presence during the Christmas season.
• dun & bradstreet FinlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributordun & bradstreet Finland has participated multiple times as Joulupata kettle watchers (volunteer shifts), contributing staff time to the campaign.
• Moxie OyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoxie Oy has reserved multiple kettle-watching shifts and participated in helping low-income individuals with their staff.
• EmkinenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEmkinen partnered with Pelastusarmeija on a work capacity management development project (Työkykyjohtamisen kehittämisprojekti), providing HR mentoring, supervisor coaching, and staff training alongside occupational health partner competitive tendering. Kati Räfstenin from Emkinen led the partnership.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• City of Helsinki Social Services and Health Care Division: Public sector provider that both partners with and competes against Pelastusarmeija for government-funded social services contracts in Helsinki (housing, elderly care, social counseling). Comparable in service portfolio at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Folkhälsan: Swedish-speaking Finnish social and health nonprofit with comprehensive services including elderly care, disability support, and family services. Comparable in scope, charitable foundation structure, and Nordic welfare delivery model.
• HelsinkiMissio: Finnish social services NGO focused on homelessness, elderly loneliness, and youth at-risk support in Helsinki. Directly comparable target segments (homeless, elderly) and Christian-value organizational model.
• SOS-Lapsikylä (SOS Children's Villages Finland): Finnish child welfare nonprofit providing residential care, family support, and youth transition programs. Comparable target population (children and families in crisis) and donation-based funding model.
• Emmaus Finland: Finnish branch of the international Emmaus solidarity movement operating secondhand retail to fund social programs for marginalized groups. Directly comparable in the iCare retail-to-charity funding model and supported-employment operations.
• Diakonissalaitos (Helsinki Deaconess Institute): Finland-based social services foundation operating housing services, elderly care, substance abuse rehabilitation, and immigrant integration — directly comparable service portfolio with faith-based (Lutheran) roots similar to Pelastusarmeija.
• Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (Mannerheimin Lastensuojeluliitto, MLL): Finland's largest child welfare nonprofit providing family support services, crisis assistance, and child welfare advocacy. Comparable target population (low-income families with children, at-risk youth) and funding model (donations + government contracts).
• UFF (U-landshjälp från Folk till Folk i Finland): Finnish charity operating secondhand clothing collection and retail stores to fund international development cooperation. Directly comparable in the secondhand-retail-funds-charity model to iCare.
• Finnish Red Cross (Suomen Punainen Risti): Finland's largest humanitarian organization operating across social welfare, emergency relief, refugee support, and youth programs with a similarly broad branch network and donation-funded model. Directly comparable to Pelastusarmeija in mission, funding model, and service breadth.

Emerging players

• The Salvation Army Sweden (Stadsmissionen alternative): Comparable Nordic charity organization in the same sector. Note: The actual Swedish Salvation Army territory (Frälsningsarmén) is the direct international sibling of Pelastusarmeija and operates in Sweden with similar programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pelastusarmeija
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suomen-pelastusarmeijan-s-ti-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pelastusarmeija