What Suomen Setlementtiliitto does

Suomen Setlementtiliitto ry (Finnish Settlement Association) is a national non-profit umbrella organization founded in 1920, coordinating the Finnish settlement movement that has roots in the 19th century. It serves as the parent body for approximately 30 member settlement associations operating across roughly 45 locations in Finland, delivering services to approximately 300,000 people annually. The organization's portfolio spans the full continuum of social welfare: children's and youth work (including the Sekasin Chat and Sekasin Gaming mental health support services for youth aged 12–29), adult education through the largest private network of civic institutes (kansalaisopisto) in Finland and three folk high schools (kansanopisto), senior and elderly services, crisis and violence intervention work, peace education (Rauhanlähettiläsakatemia), equality and non-discrimination programs, and over 30 community houses. The organization is also the majority owner of Setlementtiasunnot Oy, a social impact housing company providing supported rental housing for youth, people with disabilities, mental health recovery clients, and seniors.

The underlying technology is not a software platform—services are delivered through physical locations, in-person programs, and modest digital channels (chat, Discord, Teams for webinars, Microsoft Forms for reporting). There is no developer-facing API, SDK, or proprietary technology. The "platform" is the federated network of member settlements, community centers, and educational institutions, supplemented by Sekasin Kollektiivi, a partnership network with MIELI Suomen Mielenterveys ry, the Finnish Red Cross, and SOS-Lapsikylä for youth mental health.

The business model is non-profit association funding. Revenue is sourced from STEA (Finnish government funding for social and health NGOs), service fees from housing and care operations through Setlementtiasunnot Oy, course fees from civic institutes and folk high schools, and donations from individuals (including sustainability partners and testamentary donors). The central organization operates with only 18 staff, while member settlements and subsidiary institutions deliver the bulk of frontline services. International engagement is maintained through the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS), a UN and Council of Europe cooperating organization.

Name

Suomen Setlementtiliitto

Legal name

Suomen Setlementtiliitto ry

Website

https://setlementti.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Suomen Setlementtiliitto is a Finnish non-profit umbrella organization coordinating ~30 member settlements delivering social welfare, youth mental health support, adult education, and social housing services to nearly 300,000 people annually across Finland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social welfare and community services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Adult education programs
• Youth mental health
• Community development
• Social housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (STEA): Setlementtiliitto and its member settlements receive significant funding through STEA (Sosiaali- ja terveysjärjestöjen avustuskeskus) - the Finnish funding center for social and health organizations. This funding supports preventive welfare work, housing services, and community programs.
2. Service Fees and Housing Revenue: Setlementtiliitto is the main shareholder of Setlementtiasunnot Oy, a social housing company. Member settlements generate revenue through housing services, care services, and educational services provided to various target groups.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Support: The organization accepts donations and has sustainability partners (vastuullisuuskumppanit) and testament donors (testamenttilahjoittajat) who support the organization's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Suomen Setlementtiliitto ry is a national non-profit umbrella organization coordinating approximately 30 member settlement associations across Finland. It delivers a broad portfolio of social welfare, educational, housing, and community services including youth mental health support (Sekasin Chat and Sekasin Gaming), 13 civic institutes and 3 folk high schools for adult education, social housing through its majority-owned subsidiary Setlementtiasunnot Oy, plus programs in youth work, senior services, crisis intervention, violence prevention, peace education, equality work, and 30+ community houses. Services are funded primarily through STEA government grants and provided free or at low cost based on need.

Product overview

Suomen Setlementtiliitto (Finnish Settlement Union) is a national NGO and umbrella organization for the Finnish settlement movement (~30 member settlement organizations operating across Finland). It is not a technology product company; its portfolio consists of social, educational, and community services delivered through member organizations. The core offering is a broad suite of social welfare programs including: children's and youth work (Sekasin Chat, Sekasin Gaming, youth clubs), adult education (13 kansalaisopisto adult education colleges and 3 kansanopisto folk high schools), housing and residential support services (Setlementtiasunnot Oy), senior and elderly services, crisis and violence intervention work, peace education (Rauhanlähettiläsakatemia), equality work, civic engagement and community houses, and culture/gender-sensitivity programs. These services are provided directly by member settlements and coordinated nationally by the Union. The Union also engages in advocacy and policy influence. No commercial software product, API, or developer platform is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sekasin: Online mental health support service for young people, including chat and gaming community
• Setlementtiasunnot

Products and services

• Sekasin Chat A low-threshold anonymous online chat service providing emotional support to young people aged 12-29. Available around the clock during campaign periods; operated by Sekasin Kollektiivi with volunteer and professional support. Over 240,000 conversations conducted in 10 years of operation.
• Sekasin Gaming A Discord-based online peer support community for young people aged 16-29 facing mental health challenges. Operated via the Sekasin Kollektiivi network combining professional oversight with peer community engagement. 79% of users report making new friends through the service.
• People's Colleges (Kansalaisopistot) A network of 13 adult education colleges operated by settlement member organizations across Finland. Offerings include language courses, crafts, music, fitness, hobby instruction, and integration education. Finland's largest private operator of adult education colleges, delivering approximately 10% of all adult education instruction hours nationwide, with 45,000-75,000 students annually.
• Folk High Schools (Kansanopistot) Three folk high schools operated by settlement organizations: Rovala-Opisto in Rovaniemi, Vuolle Opisto in Oulu, and Koskela Opisto in Äänekoski. Provide both general and vocational education, integration training for immigrants, and short courses, united by over 100 years of settlement movement values: equality, non-discrimination, social justice, ecology, and community.
• Social Housing Services (Setlementtiasunnot) Social housing services offered through majority-owned subsidiary Setlementtiasunnot Oy for diverse groups including young people, people with disabilities, substance abuse and mental health rehabilitation clients, seniors, and general rental tenants. Features include social housing management, supported living, communal housing models, and 24/7 intensive care facilities.
• Children's and Youth Work A broad spectrum of youth services delivered across approximately 45 locations in Finland, including open youth activities, preventive youth work, and specialized youth work. Services range from after-school programs and hobby activities to crisis intervention. International activities via Erasmus+ and other cooperation programs are also part of the youth work portfolio.
• Senior and Elderly Services Wellbeing and participation services for older people, including community activities, housing and care services, meal and restaurant services, home care assistance, errand support, digital support, and caregiver support. Provided through multiple settlement member organizations across Finland.
• Crisis Work and Difficult Life Situations Comprehensive social crisis services including substance abuse rehabilitation, violence prevention and intervention, trauma support, mediation, crime victim support, and debt counseling. Addresses homelessness, loneliness, poverty, immigration and refugee support, and unemployment, plus multiple forms of violence (intimate partner, sexual, bullying, honour-based, child-perpetrated).
• Culture and Gender Sensitivity Services Services promoting cultural and gender-sensitive practices across all settlement activities. Coordinated nationally by Loisto Setlementti, these services aim to build a non-discriminatory and genuinely equal society by addressing intersectionality, supporting self-expression, and challenging harmful stereotypes.
• Peace Work and Peace Ambassador Academy (Rauhanlähettiläsakatemia) Peace education and youth peacebuilding programs including the Rauhanlähettiläsakatemia (Peace Ambassador Academy), a training pathway for young people aged 16-35 providing skills in conflict resolution, dialogue, and active citizenship. The program includes study credits, and graduates can work as trainers or lecturers. Over 300 young people are currently active in the peace work community.
• Civic Activity and Community Houses Community-building activities, low-threshold meeting places, and over 30 resident houses (asukastalo) maintained by settlement organizations across Finland. Activities include volunteer and peer support, network building, informal group activities, and community events. Community houses are open to all local residents.
• Equality Work Cross-cutting equality and equity work embedded across all settlement operations. Aims to identify individual starting-point differences and reduce barriers to participation. Tools include individual respect, appreciation of diversity, support for the most vulnerable, and trust in people and their resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300,000 people reached annually through the settlement movement
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Järjestöjen yksinäisyysverkosto (Organizations' Loneliness Network)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Network launched in October 2021 bringing together national organizations and foundations working on loneliness. Setlementtiliitto participates in the network which focuses on loneliness as a societal issue.
• Setlementtiasunnot OycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSetlementtiliitto is the main shareholder of Setlementtiasunnot Oy, a social housing company that provides rental housing for various target groups including youth, disabled persons, mental health recovery clients, and seniors. The company focuses on communal living with support services.
• Sekasin KollektiivicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSekasin Kollektiivi is a network providing online mental health support to youth through Sekasin-chat and Sekasin Gaming. Setlementtiliitto coordinates the initiative along with MIELI Suomen Mielenterveys ry, Suomen Punainen Risti, and SOS-Lapsikylä. The service has conducted over 240,000 conversations in 10 years.
• Rikosuhripäivystys (RIKU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRikosuhripäivystys (Victim Support Finland) provides support services for crime victims. The organization is jointly operated by several NGOs including Suomen Setlementtiliitto. Setlementtiliitto's CEO serves as chair of RIKU's board. Several settlements provide victim support services.
• IFS - International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFS is an international federation of settlement organizations with members in over 30 countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East. Setlementtiliitto and its 30 member settlements are members of IFS. IFS is an official cooperation organization of the UN and Council of Europe.
• MIELI Suomen Mielenterveys rycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization that co-coordinates Sekasin Kollektiivi with Setlementtiliitto, Suomen Punainen Risti, and SOS-Lapsikylä. Provides expertise in mental health services and suicide prevention.
• Suomen Punainen Risti (Finnish Red Cross)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Finnish humanitarian organization that co-coordinates Sekasin Kollektiivi with Setlementtiliitto and other partners. Provides volunteer support and emergency services expertise.
• SOS-Lapsikylä (SOS Children's Villages Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare organization that co-coordinates Sekasin Kollektiivi, providing youth services expertise to the mental health support network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Suomen Punainen Risti (Finnish Red Cross): Finland's largest humanitarian organization and Sekasin Kollektiivi co-coordinator. Provides a broader, more established umbrella for emergency response, youth programs and welfare services that overlaps materially with Setlementtiliitto's portfolio.

Direct peers

• Toynbee Hall: Historic London settlement house and the original model for the global settlement movement (founded 1884). Comparable as a community-based social-services and adult-education institution in the same international settlement family.
• Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL): Finland's leading child-welfare NGO, operating a national member-association structure with local branches delivering family services, youth programs and parental support, directly comparable to Setlementtiliitto's child-and-youth work and community-house model.
• SOS-Lapsikylä (SOS Children's Villages Finland): Finnish child-welfare NGO and fellow Sekasin Kollektiivi partner. Runs residential, family-support and youth services across Finland with a federated national structure, highly comparable to Setlementtiliitto's child-and-youth work portfolio.
• MIELI Suomen Mielenterveys ry: Finnish national mental-health NGO that co-coordinates the Sekasin Kollektiivi alongside Setlementtiliitto. Operates a parallel nationwide member-society structure delivering low-threshold mental-health services and suicide prevention, making it the closest comparable Finnish welfare umbrella.
• Kansanopistoyhdistys – Finnish Folk High School Association: National umbrella for Finland's folk high schools (kansanopistot) and civic institutes. Highly comparable as it represents the same education segment in which Setlementtiliitto operates 3 folk high schools and 13 civic institutes.
• Rikosuhripäivystys RIKU: Finnish victim-support organization jointly operated by several NGOs including Setlementtiliitto, whose CEO chairs RIKU's board. Comparable as a federated national social-services NGO delivering crisis and violence-prevention services in member settlements.

Regional players

• Studieförbundet Bilda: Swedish study association rooted in the Nordic settlement/folk-education tradition, offering adult education, civic and cultural activities. Comparable operating model and adult-education footprint across a neighboring Nordic market.
• Noregs Ungdomslag: Norwegian youth and settlement-style organization delivering cultural, educational and community programs to young people. Closest Nordic structural analogue to Setlementtiliitto's youth-work and folk-high-school portfolio.

Emerging players

• Settlement Association of New South Wales: Australian sister organization of the global settlement movement providing settlement, community, settlement-services and educational programs for migrants and vulnerable populations. Comparable as an IFS-linked federation member serving similar vulnerable cohorts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/setlementtiliitto
• Facebookfacebook.com/146486222053252
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suomen-setlementtiliitto
• Instagraminstagram.com/suomensetlementtiliitto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries17 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 Suomen Setlementtiliitto