About Itla
The purpose of the Itla Children’s Foundation is to promote and support the wellbeing, equality and position of children and families living in Finland and contribute to building a good future for them. Itla can also promote and support parenting and children’s growth and education.

Itla’s operations consist of three entities – Early Intervention, Collective Impact and Leadership Training – as well as the “Samalta viivalta (From the Same Line) – solutions for poverty among families with children” programme. In addition, we are involved in various cooperation and research projects. ohjelmasta.

We produce and refine information on the wellbeing of children, young people and families, as well as communicate and discuss wellbeing issues. 

Learn more about Itla’s operating entities, projects and cooperation. Read more in our annual report. 

Cooperation with Itla 

Itla takes part in different networks, working groups and cooperation and research projects. For cooperation proposals, please contact CEO Katri Vataja or the directors of the operating entities: Petra Kouvonen, Early Intervention; Tiina Ristikari, Collective Impact and From the Same Line; and Marika Tammeaid, Leadership Training. 

Grants 

We give out grants through Itla’s Childhood Builders innovation and research fund. The fund is connected with the operations of Itla’s regional learning network, and its aim is to accelerate the reform of services for families with children in Finland. It provides funds for new trials and research arising from regional needs on current topics, which come up in the everyday work relating to supporting families with children in areas belonging to the network. 

Asset management

The purpose of asset management is to ensure Itla’s operations now and in the future. Itla has an asset management committee that is responsible for the foundation’s asset management complying with the Foundations Act and the good governance of foundations: it should be systematic, secure, profitable, considered and have long-term goals. Responsibility, intelligibility and transparency are important principles in our investment activities. 

Finances 

Itla’s operations are mainly funded through returns on the foundation’s capital. Operations can also be funded through external project funding, among other things. 

In 2024, the operating budget was approximately three million euros. 

Itla publishes an annual report every year, which contains an activity report and financial statements, as well as an auditor’s report. In addition, we publish information on purchase invoices by supplier and account every year. The purchases include value added tax. All documents can be found in the material bank. 

The story of Itla 

Itla was established in 1987. The Itla Children’s Foundation was established by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Central Union for Child Welfare when Finland was celebrating its 70 years of independence. The purpose was to provide financial support for scientific research, trial and development projects concerning children and child protection. 

For 25 years, Itla fulfilled its purpose by giving out grants and by participating in different projects.

In 2013–2017, the Children, young people and families in centennial Finland programme was realised. The programme aimed at bringing information to the heart of all operations and developing concrete tools and modelling for decision-makers and those working with children, adolescents and families. 

The goal was to offer children a socially, financially and ecologically sustainable future and equal starting points in life regardless of their material, health-related or social background. 

Research and impact 

The programme’s research section consisted of three sub-programmes: Sata lasissa, Sata investointia and Sata kohtaamista. The current Early Intervention activities were born from the Sata kohtaamista section. The programme’s impact section produced, among others, the Sata laulua Suomesta ja suomalaisuudesta song book for ninth graders and Lasten Suomi sata vuotta film, which was presented on Yle Areena and can be still seen on Itla’s YouTube channel. 

Cooperation partners in the programme included the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters, EHYT Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention, the City of Helsinki, the City of Hämeenlinna, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Central Union for Child Welfare, Finnish Association for Mental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare and health economics from the Department of Health and Social Management at the University of Eastern Finland.

The programme was funded by the Onni and Helmi Karttunen Foundation, Central Union for Child Welfare, Alko, Save the Children / Tiukula Foundation, Alli Paasikivi Foundation and Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. 

The Finnish Parliament’s decision in 2017 

In December 2017, the Finnish Parliament decided to donate EUR 50 million in capital to Itla and to appoint a delegation for Itla consisting of Members of Parliament. The Act on the Appointment of the Itla Children’s Foundation’s Delegation and the Foundation’s Capitalisation (1004/2017) was issued on 5 December 2017 in a plenary session celebrating the centenary of Finland’s independence. Itla’s by-laws were changed and the name was changed to Itla Children’s Foundation. 

One reason for making a donation to Itla mentioned in the legislative motion was that regardless of its modest financial resources, “By promoting parenting support based on scientific evidence and by networking operators in the industry, the Foundation has been able to create new competence in Finland, thus proving how important its work is for preventing children’s social exclusion and reducing their inequality.” 

Itla’s first delegation was selected in 2018.