“We support social development for a more equitable and sustainable future”

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We believe that equality is the foundation of sustainability and that true social transformation is only possible through this understanding. Our goal is to develop scalable, sustainable, and measurable solutions to overcome systemic barriers that deepen inequality.

We focus our efforts on four key areas:

Quality and inclusive education, gender equality, climate change and disaster response, and participation in social and cultural life.

To amplify our impact in these areas, we also work to strengthen civil society and support the production of reliable and transparent equality data.

Focus Areas

We support individuals, institutions, innovative ideas, and communities

Quality and Inclusive Education

We acknowledge that education is a fundamental pillar of social development and strive to ensure equal opportunities for all to access quality and inclusive education

Gender Equality

We support women and girls in having equal opportunities in all areas of life

Tackling Climate Change and Building Disaster Resilience

İklim değişikliği farkındalığını artırmak ve kırılgan gruplar başta olmak üzere toplumsal dayanıklılığı güçlendirmek için çalışıyoruz

Participation in Social and Cultural Life

Belirtiniz. We work to preserve cultural heritage, support artists, and promote equal participation for everyone in these areas

Strengthening Civil Society

We support civil society that advance equality and produce effective solutions, while strengthening their institutional capacity

Reliable and Transparent Equality Data

We support reliable and inclusive data ecosystems that make it possible to track progress in equality, make inequalities visible, and develop effective solutions

Driving progress in social development areas for a more equitable and sustainable future

flower The Sabancı Foundation works to drive progress in social development areas for a more equitable and sustainable future.

flower Focuses on areas where social development lags behind, such as education, gender, climate, social/cultural participation, and addresses the needs of disadvantaged groups most impacted by inequality.

flower Generates impact through scalable, sustainable, and measurable solutions to address systematic barriers to equality in these areas.
(Complex, recurring problems requiring multiple stakeholders in areas of deepening inequality.)

flower Supports individuals, institutions, innovative ideas, and communities to achieve this impact. Prioritizes building best practices that enhance solidarity and confidence among solution contributors.

HACI ÖMER SABANCI

Born in Akçakaya, a small village in Kayseri in 1906, Mr. Hacı Ömer Sabancı left his village at the age of fourteen, to try his fortune in life. He traveled a 450-km distance to Adana, a hub of cotton trading, and found a job there as a laborer in cotton plantations.

He began his new life in Adana as a laborer in the cotton plantations but after only one or two years he had saved enough to set up a modest commercial enterprise. His remarkable initiative, far-sightedness and unflinching resolution added one link after another to the chain of successes built up over the years. He was responsible for the foundation of enterprises such as MARSA, AKBANK and BOSSA, companies which constituted the first steps towards the creation of the Sabancı Group, now the largest private holding in Turkey.

Married to Ms. Sadıka in 1928, Mr. Hacı Ömer Sabancı was the father of six children: İhsan, Sakıp, Hacı, Şevket, Erol and Özdemir.

Mr. Sabancı passed away on February 2, 1966.

SADIKA SABANCI

Born in 1910, Mrs. Sadıka Sabancı married Mr. Hacı Ömer Sabancı in 1928, and eventually gave birth to six boys.

Having provided very valuable and significant contribution to the progress and rise of Sabancı family on their way to the current position, Mrs. Sadıka Sabancı raised her children in a family atmosphere where “sharing what was earned” was the noblest virtue.

With their indispensable investments in various fields, the Sabancı family was adding much to the economic development of Turkey. At the same time, they were actively involved in charity work and yearning to bring social and cultural institutions to life. Charitable donations given by Mr. Hacı Ömer Sabancı and his wife on every possible occasion, in particular, on religious festivals such as Ramadan, coupled with the investment of personal wealth in various social endowments, resulted in the establishment of the Sabancı Foundation, a family tradition. After she lost her husband in 1966, Mrs. Sadıka Sabancı devoted herself more whole-heartedly to philanthropic activities.

In 1974, the Sabancı sons established the Hacı Ömer Sabancı Foundation (Sabancı Foundation) in order to institutionalize their philanthropic activities. They received the greatest support from their mother, Mrs. Sadıka Sabancı, who donated the whole of her personal wealth to the Foundation. There is no doubt that this generous and unconditional support played a major role in that Sabancı Foundation was able to attain the successful position it holds today. Mrs. Sadıka Sabancı was proclaimed as the Mother of Year in Turkey in 1975 thanks to her outstanding contributions.

Mrs. Sadıka Sabancı passed away on June 6, 1988.

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Meet Our Impact Team

We are a dedicated team committed to driving progress toward a more equitable and sustainable future. At Sabancı Foundation, every role has a purpose, and every team member contributes value. Let’s shape the future—together.