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PROGRAMS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Memberships

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Our Approach

We are active members of numerous international networks to strengthen global collaboration in philanthropy, increase experience sharing, and develop joint solutions. This enables us to showcase successful practices from Turkey at the global level, closely follow international developments, and make our foundation’s work more effective.
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Philanthrophy Europe Association (Philea)

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Philea is the European network of philanthropic organisations, representing over 11,000 foundations and donors across more than 30 countries. It connects, strengthens, and champions the philanthropic sector to create positive social change across Europe and beyond. Philea came into existence in December 2021, when Dafne and EFC – Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe and the European Foundation Centre – converged to form a strong, united voice for European philanthropy. The European Foundation Centre (EFC) was established in Brussels in 1989 to create supportive legal and financial environments for foundations in Europe, strengthen the infrastructure of the third sector, and encourage cooperation and partnerships between foundations and other actors operating in the field.
Sabancı Foundation, a member of the EFC since 1991, was elected to the Board of Directors of the EFC for three-year terms in 2011, 2014, and 2020. The foundation actively participates in annual meetings and conferences, contributes as a speaker in panels, and engages with thematic networks such as the Disability Thematic Network and Gender Equality Thematic Network established under the Center’s umbrella.
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The Sabancı Foundation is a founding member of Philea’s Disability Thematic Network, formerly known as the European Consortium of Foundations on Human Rights and Disability. Established in 2009, this platform aims to create synergy between donor foundations and other stakeholders to promote the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Among the founding members, Sabancı Foundation is the only one based in Türkiye; other members include foundations operating in Spain, France, Portugal, and Ireland.

Managed by Philea’s European Center for Foundations and the Essl Foundation (Austria), the Network’s goal is to support the ratification of the UN Convention by European countries and encourage its effective implementation. Members are expected to share knowledge, experience, resources, and best practices.

In 2020, Sabancı Foundation contributed to the report titled “How Do They Do It? EFC Members Share Good Practice on Organising Accessible Events,” prepared by Thematic Network members, particularly sharing the accessibility standards applied in its Philanthropy Seminars.

For the full report, please click here:
How Do They Do It? EFC Members Share Good Practice on Organising Accessible Eventshttps://philea.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/How-Do-They-Do-It-EFC-Members-Share-Good-Practice-on-Organising-Accessible-Events.pdf
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The Sabancı Foundation is one of the founding members of the Philanthropy Europe Association’s Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Network, established in 2014. As the only founding member invited from Türkiye, the Sabancı Foundation joined other prominent members including the “la Caixa” Foundation, Calala Women’s Fund, Chanel Foundation, King Baudouin Foundation, and Laudes Foundation.

The network aims to facilitate mutual learning and deepen understanding of gender issues, promoting the integration of a gender lens throughout the work of foundations. It also works to advance gender equality perspectives within other philanthropy-focused institutions through reports and publications.
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The Council on Foundations (COF) is a U.S.-based nonprofit membership association that supports philanthropies in advancing the common good. With a 75-year legacy, the Council serves over 900 member organizations across the United States and around the world—helping to build trust in philanthropy, broaden pathways to giving, embrace diverse perspectives, and co-create solutions for a better future.

The Sabancı Foundation has been a member of COF since 1987.
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Sabancı Foundation is the first and the only organization from Türkiye to be included in the Foundations 20 Platform (F20), which is a network of more than 60 foundations and philanthropic organizations from different parts of the world, mainly from G20 countries.

Established after the G20 Summit in 2017, the platform aims to establish a bridge between civil society, private sector, think tanks and politicians in sustainable development, climate change and renewable energy issues, and to enable experience sharing and cooperation. F20 Platform also works on the implementation of the 2030 agenda, Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Members of the platform include important foundations such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Mercator Foundation, WWF, Robert Bosch Foundation, and the European Climate Foundation.
The Global Philanthropists Circle (GPC) was founded in 2001 by Synergos Founder Peggy Dulany and her late father, David Rockefeller Sr., as a global community for leading philanthropic individuals and families to collaborate, learn from one another, and reimagine solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

GPC members exchange ideas, explore poverty-related issues, and share both the successes and challenges of their philanthropic journeys. Rooted in Synergos’ commitment to building a more just, equitable, peaceful, and regenerative world, the GPC fosters trust and reflection—creating a brave space where members can grow alongside the evolving role of philanthropy.

Since 2010, Ms. Güler Sabancı, Chair of the Sabancı Foundation, has been a member of this vibrant community, which now includes over 400 philanthropists and social investors from more than 30 countries.
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