Mittetulundusühingut

Mittetulundusühingut, often abbreviated as MTÜ, is the Estonian term for a non-profit association. It is a legal entity established by two or more individuals or legal persons for a common non-profit purpose. The primary goal of an MTÜ is not to generate profit for its members, but rather to pursue social, cultural, educational, scientific, or other public benefit objectives.

The establishment of an MTÜ requires the adoption of its articles of association, which outline the organization's goals, membership rules, management structure, and other important operational details. An MTÜ must be registered in the Estonian Non-profit Associations Register. Its activities are governed by the Non-profit Associations Act and its own statutes.

Funding for an MTÜ typically comes from membership fees, donations, grants from public and private sources, and sometimes through undertaking economic activities that directly support its non-profit goals, provided these activities are not the primary purpose of the association. Any surplus generated from these activities cannot be distributed among members; instead, it must be reinvested into achieving the organization's stated objectives. MTÜs play a significant role in Estonian civil society, contributing to various sectors and addressing diverse community needs.