Sylva ry

What Sylva ry does

Sylva ry is a Finnish non-profit association (yhdistys) founded in 1982 and headquartered in Helsinki that provides psychosocial support to children, young people, and young adults affected by cancer, along with their families and loved ones. The organization addresses the emotional, financial, and practical challenges that arise when a child is diagnosed with cancer — a cohort of approximately 150 newly diagnosed children per year in Finland, with roughly 3,000 in active treatment and follow-up, and an estimated 7,000 childhood/adolescent cancer survivors nationwide. Services are delivered free of charge and include peer support groups, professional counseling, family apartments near hospitals, supported holidays, art therapy, and online courses (such as the VOIMA-verkkokurssi for parents).

The organization operates through a portfolio of programs including the Vanhempien VOIMA-verkkokurssi (online parent course), Nuorten aikuisten VOIMA-viikonloppu (weekend course for 18–35 year-old survivors), Ääneen Laulettu (creative group process), Vertaistukijakoulutus (peer supporter training), and a membership magazine (Sylva-lehti). Its technology footprint is modest: a CMS-based website delivering online courses, peer support chat, the Omakeräys personal fundraising module, an e-commerce storefront, and a podcast channel, with no proprietary platform, mobile app, or disclosed AI infrastructure. Sylva-säätiö, an affiliated foundation, operates the research arm producing periodic Perhebarometri (Family Barometer) surveys and reports such as "Seitsemän lasta sadasta" on parental income and childhood cancer survival.

Sylva ry generates revenue through donations (one-time, recurring, testamentary, memorial collections, and milestone celebrations), annual membership fees, corporate partnerships (e.g., Nexetic donating 10% of new customer revenue), school and community fundraising (approximately €75,000 raised in 2024 via taksvärkki/päivätyökeräys), merchandise sales through its online store, and grants such as Pfizer-funded research. The organization holds a national collection permit (Keräyslupa RA/2024/2029, excluding Åland) and operates with a lean staff of approximately 5 employees plus an extensive volunteer and peer-supporter network. Distribution is omnichannel — website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X), newsletters, podcasts, events including SuomiAreena, healthcare-provider referrals, and partnerships with Syöpajärjestöt and 12 regional cancer associations across Finland.

Name

Sylva ry

Legal name

Sylva ry

Website

https://sylva.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sylva ry is a Helsinki-based Finnish non-profit association founded in 1982 that provides free psychosocial support — peer groups, counseling, courses, family apartments, and art therapy — to children, young people, and families affected by childhood cancer across Finland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Healthcare Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Peer support groups
• Family counseling
• Childhood oncology
• Nonprofit association

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The primary revenue stream comes from donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. This includes one-time donations, recurring donations, testamentary donations, memorial collections, and milestone celebrations (merkkipäiväkeräys).
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individuals who join Sylva ry to support the organization's mission and access member benefits.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners support Sylva through donations, cause marketing campaigns, and workplace giving programs. Companies like Nexetic donate a percentage of revenue.
4. School and Community Fundraising: Schools organize day work collections (päivätyökeräys/taksvärkki) where students work and donate earnings. In 2024, approximately 75,000 euros was raised through school fundraising.
5. E-commerce Sales: Online store selling merchandise, with proceeds supporting the organization's work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sylva ry is a Finnish non-profit association founded in 1982 that provides free support services to children, young people, and young adults affected by cancer, as well as their families. Its offerings include peer support, professional counseling, rehabilitation courses, art therapy, supported holidays, and family apartments. The organization also funds pediatric oncology research through its affiliated foundation, Sylva-säätiö.

Product overview

Sylva ry is a non-profit cancer support organization that provides a coordinated portfolio of psychosocial support services for children, young people, young adults affected by cancer, and their families. The offering includes peer support groups (vertaisryhmät), professionally guided courses (Vanhempien VOIMA-verkkokurssi, Nuorten aikuisten VOIMA-viikonloppu), art-based activities (Ääneen Laulettu creative groups, kuvataidetoiminta), peer supporter training, supported family apartments and vacations, and a membership magazine. The research arm, Sylva-säätiö, publishes periodic family barometers (Perhebarometri) and research reports on childhood cancer outcomes. Services are delivered through in-person events, online platforms, and published research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peer support Peer support groups and peer-to-peer networks for children, adolescents, young adults with cancer and their families, offered free of charge.
• Professional counseling Counseling services delivered by professionals to children and young adults with cancer and their families.
• Rehabilitation courses and camps Organized courses and camps for children, young people, and young adults with cancer and their families.
• Art therapy Therapeutic art-based activities for children and young people affected by cancer.
• Supported holidays Organized supported holiday experiences for families affected by childhood cancer.
• Family apartments Accommodation in family apartments provided to families whose children are undergoing cancer treatment.
• Pediatric oncology research (Sylva-säätiö) Research funding and activities in pediatric oncology conducted through the affiliated Sylva foundation (Sylva-säätiö).

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 150 children diagnosed with cancer each year receive support through Sylva's network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NexeticminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Nexetic, an IT security company, supports Sylva by donating 10% of new customer revenue during May without reduction. CEO Henry Liukko-Sipi also shares personal experience with cancer's impact on families.
• Satakunnan SyöpäyhdistysminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Satakunnan Syöpäyhdistys (Satakunta Cancer Association) co-hosts the Family Barometer publication event with Sylva at SuomiAreena in Pori. Collaboration for regional events and awareness.
• SatasairaalaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Satasairaala (Sata Hospital) participated in the Family Barometer publication event with Sylva. Healthcare provider collaboration for family support.
• Team RynkebycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Team Rynkeby is an international charity cycling team that raises funds for seriously ill children. The Finnish teams donate 70% of funds to Aamu Säätiö for cancer research and 30% to Sylva ry for psychosocial support. Teams cycle from various Finnish cities to Paris annually, with Sylva as a beneficiary.
• Syöpäjärjestöt (Cancer Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Syöpäjärjestöt (Cancer Organizations) collaborates with Sylva on peer supporter training and volunteer coordination. The joint training program prepares cancer survivors to support others facing similar experiences.
• Kela (Finnish Social Insurance Institution)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Kela and Sylva conducted research on family support needs when a child is diagnosed with cancer. The study examined how families experience social security support and identified challenges and gaps in the system.
• Nordic Healthcare GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Nordic Healthcare Group conducted the survey research on late effects of childhood cancer commissioned by Sylva-säätiö and Pfizer. The research involved 180 respondents.
• Regional Cancer AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Sylva collaborates with regional cancer associations including Etelä-Suomen Syöpäyhdistys, Keski-Suomen Syöpäyhdistys, Kymenlaakson Syöpäyhdistys, Lounais-Suomen Syöpäyhdistys, Pirkanmaan Syöpäyhdistys, Pohjanmaan Syöpäyhdistys, Pohjois-Karjalan Syöpäyhdistys, Pohjois-Savon Syöpäyhdistys, Pohjois-Suomen Syöpäyhdistys, Saimaan Syöpäyhdistys, Satakunnan Syöpäyhdistys, and Ålands Cancerförening. These are member organizations of Syöpäjärjestöt.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Global nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses including cancer — comparable to Sylva's 'supported holidays' and experiential family programming. A broader incumbent operating a related but distinct service model in the same beneficiary universe.
• Childhood Cancer International: Global umbrella network of childhood cancer parent and survivor organizations — comparable as the international federation in which Sylva-type national organizations participate, with overlapping advocacy and capacity-building functions.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Global nonprofit providing family accommodation and support near pediatric hospitals — directly analogous to Sylva's 'family apartments' service. Comparable as a larger incumbent operating the same 'family lodging during treatment' model at global scale.

Direct peers

• Aamu Säätiö (Morning Foundation): Finnish foundation focused on childhood cancer research and treatment development that co-receives Team Rynkeby proceeds with Sylva (70/30 split). Directly comparable as a Finnish childhood-cancer-mission nonprofit with similar donor base and partnership network.
• Barretstown: Irish charity providing therapeutic camps and supported holidays for children with serious illnesses including cancer. Directly comparable as a programmatic peer delivering supported family experiences with a volunteer-driven model.
• Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent): UK charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families through social, financial, and practical support. Closely comparable service portfolio — peer support, accommodation, financial guidance — for the same beneficiary type in a different national market.
• American Childhood Cancer Organization: U.S. nonprofit supporting children with cancer and their families through information, advocacy, and peer support. Comparable as a national childhood-cancer-specific support organization with a similar psychosocial-support mission and donor-funded revenue model.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: U.S. nonprofit funding childhood cancer research and family support — directly analogous mission and revenue model (donations, corporate partnerships, grassroots fundraising). Comparable as a single-disease pediatric cancer support organization with an affiliated research arm.
• Syöpajärjestöt (Cancer Organizations of Finland): Umbrella organization for Finnish cancer nonprofits, of which Sylva is a member and through which it co-delivers peer-supporter training. Directly comparable as the parent ecosystem providing overlapping psychosocial and support services to cancer patients in Finland.
• Lasten Syöpäsäätiö (Väre Finnish Children's Cancer Foundation): Finnish foundation supporting children with cancer and their families through research funding and family support. Direct peer operating in the same narrow Finnish childhood-cancer nonprofit space with overlapping donor and corporate-partner audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sylva_ry
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNV2SRVORb9pZZOU6ntC83A
• Facebookfacebook.com/sylvary1982
• Instagraminstagram.com/sylva_ry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sylva-ry

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sylva ry