The Finnish Cultural Foundation has its origins in an informal meeting of young university people in 1937. They espoused the idea of supporting Finnish-speaking endeavours in the arts and sciences to counterbalance the traditional strength of Swedish-speaking culture in Finland. The prime mover and force behind the campaign was the historian L.A. Puntila, who became later the first Secretary General, then in turn Chairman of the Board and the Supervisory Board. At the beginning of 1937, he penned an article in a major weekly paper, in which the idea of a Finnish-speaking cultural foundation was published for the first time. The proponents were keen to turn the idea into reality as soon as possible, so the Association of the Finnish Cultural Foundation was formally established on Kalevala Day, February 28, 1937. The initial funds for the Foundation were provided by donations from a bank director, Mauri Honkajuuri, and a teacher, Juho Jäkälä.