Foundation Nordic Summer University

Donate to Foundation Nordic Summer University

Donate to support scientific democracy

Scientific projects developed in a community review process, debt education in the General Assembly and voted on by the participants. In order to maintain the democratic procedure for developing and evaluating new research projects we need autonomy of funds (that is, funds that are not pinned to particular projects controlled by an external funder).

Donate to support cultural and scientific explorations

Cultural and artistic projects that speak to and take part in the scientific work. In order to maintain the participation of the Nordic cultural sector and to experiment with the limits between science and culture we need autonomy of funds (that is, funds that are not controlled by the cultural politics of state funders). 

What is your donation used for?

Donate to support international collaboration

  • Travel support to people from Baltic states and from remote areas within Nordic region to attend the Winter Symposia and the Summer Session
  • Grants and scholarships for students, independent researchers and artists to attend NSU symposia, covering participation costs

Donate to support the voluntary organisation

Although 100% being run by volunteers, there are a lot of costs involved to make the work of Nordic Summer University possible

  • Travel and participation of the study circle coordinators to let them participate in the symposia they organise during the winter and summer
  • Travel and participation of the NSU board members so they can participate in the democratic decision making process during the Summer Session
  • Travel and participation for the organising committee of the Summer Session
  • Travel and participation for the Youth Leaders who organise the Children Circle during the Summer Session
  • Various overhead costs, like website, newsletter
  • Costs for accountants and auditors

Donate to support NSU’s long-term survival

The projects carried out within NSU have a proven long-term impact on science and on Nordic cultural collaboration. In order for that to be possible, activities need long-term stable funding. 

Funding Levels

(Note: This year, funding levels are in the common language of Nordic Summer Uni., the language where the organization is based, and the language of where our summer session was held).*In an aim to keep our funding platform Nordic-based, donations are in Swedish Krona.

500 SEK –  Shrimp | Räka | Katkarapu. 🍤
This funding level is roughly proportionate to funding a day of meals for a summer session participant.

1000 SEK –  Trout | Forell | Taimen. 🐟
This funding level is roughly proportionate to funding a day of accommodation in the summer session At this level, with donations of less than 100 Euro each, we only need 1000 people to donate. If each of our current members reaches out to 5 people, each of whom donate this amount, we’ll reach our goal!

2000 SEK – Salmon| Lax | Lohi. 🍣
This funding level is roughly proportionate to funding the travels of one study circle coordinator from a neighboring Nordic country to a summer session. 

3000 SEK – Eel | Ål | Ankerias. 🐉
This funding level reflects one travel grant for a student. 

5000 SEK – Sturgeon| Stör | Sampi. 🐬
This funding level is roughly proportionate to the total cost of one participant’s food and accommodation at a summer session. If just 200 people donate at this level, we reach our goal!

10,000 SEK – Greenland Shark | Håkäring | Koukku Rengas. 🦈
This funding level is roughly proportionate to the amount we currently have to support the total costs of each study circle for next summer’s session. If just 100 people donate at this level, we reach our goal!

For initial information on tax deductions and charitable donations in European countries, please see: https://efa-net.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/EFA-Tax-Survey-Report-Dec-2018.pdf

Who decides what happens to the donations?

The Board of the Foundation allocates money based on the aims as laid down in the statutes of the Foundation. The money allocated to Nordic Summer University can be spent according to the budget that is decided through a democratic process by the General Assembly of the Nordic Summer University.

Numbers please!

Annual support needed, based on the 2025 NSU and INSU budget:

  • grants, travel support and scholarships for summer symposia ~ 31.000 euro
  • travel & participation volunteers summer symposia ~ 25.000 euro
  • travel support & grants and scholarships for ten winter symposia organised in Nordic and Baltic region ~ 60.000 euro

More information?