Sabancı Foundation Accomplishes 40 Years in Philanthropy

- Sabancı: “In pursuit of our motto of “serving humanity”, we have always strived to respond to everyone’s needs across the nation without discriminating any region.”

- Sabancı: “Social development and progress is only possible through efficient collaboration of public and private sector and civil society- the concept referred to as the success triangle around the globe.”

- Sabancı: “We managed to position Sabancı Foundation as a pioneer and exemplary foundation that implements the international standards of the third sector.”

- Sabancı: “We have sought solutions to every issue within our realm, and we “talked” and “let others talk” for solutions. We are truly happy to have encouraged and set an example for several other foundations and private companies that also focus on women, people with disabilities, and youth.”

- Sabancı: “As Sabancı Group, we believe in the potential of this nation. We will go on with our work keeping our faith that our country deserves the best.”

- Sabancı: “Based on our understanding of the free market, as the private sector drives economic growth today, NGOs drive social development! However, rapid, balanced and healthy development in both fields is only possible by adherence to a well-functioning democracy, rule of law, freedoms, equality, and pluralism- the fundamental tenets of an advanced society.”

Assuming a pioneering role as an innovative actor of philanthropy in Turkey, Sabancı Foundation is celebrating its 40^th anniversary in philanthropy sector. During the press meeting held at Sabancı Center, the 40 years of the Foundation and its vision of philanthropy and future goals were shared with the audience. 

In her speech during the press meeting held on the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of the Foundation, Chairman of Board of Trustees of Sabancı Foundation, Ms. Güler Sabancı said that Sabancı Group and Sabancı Foundation work in full faith that Turkey deserves the best: “Our young population and their social and employment needs necessitate rapid growth process in Turkey. Unless we “trust in the future”, we may not realize such growth despite our extraordinary potential. We should never lose faith in the future of this nation. We should join hands for success. We should own up to the ‘we’ sentiment. This land is home to all of us! As Sabancı Group, we believe in the potential of our nation. We worked and continue to work with the belief that we all assume responsibility in the development and progress of our country, and that the private sector plays a significant role, without having to rely on the public sector every time. Based on this belief, we have always tried to create a major and measurable change in social development through our work at the Foundation, and we continue to do so. We will go on with our work keeping our faith that our country deserves the best.”

“We have built a strategic philanthropy approach on top of our legacy of philanthropy”

Reiterating that the tradition of philanthropy in Sabancı Family dates earlier than the inception of Sabancı Foundation, Güler Sabancı remarked that Sabancı Family’s philanthropy initiatives began in 1940’s by meeting road and water supply needs of villages, distributing zakat, and building schools. In 1974, upon establishment of the Sabancı Foundation the initiatives were transferred to an institutionalized platform: “In pursuit of the motto of “serving humanity”, we have always tried to respond to everyone’s needs across the nation without discriminating any region. We have been particularly sensitive towards girls and people with disabilities. We prioritized the building of girls’ dormitories and facilities for people with disabilities. We built Social Facilities, Culture and Art Centers, and Theaters adjacent to schools in many parts of Turkey.”

“We have created institutions worth 1.5 billion + USD through our social investments”

Emphasizing the restructuring of Sabancı Foundation in the beginning of 2000’s in line with social needs, Güler Sabancı said, “We updated our Foundation in parallel with the social changes and developments in Turkey and in the world. We built a strategic philanthropy approach on top of our philanthropy legacy.  This marks a new period, and the most important phenomenon during this period is “partnerships”. We cannot do everything on our own.Social development and progress is only possible through efficient collaboration of public and private sector and civil society. We also adopt this model, which is referred to as the success triangle”.

Asserting their focus on generating effective and long-term solutions to the problems of women, youth, and people with disabilities in the new term, Güler Sabancı said, “In order to generate solutions for social needs, we worked on contributing to social development by advocating for equal rights for youth, women, girls, and people with disabilities. We managed to position Sabancı Foundation as a pioneer and exemplary foundation that implements international standards of the third sector. With our social investments in 40 years, we created institutions worth 1,5 billion + USD. We have sought solutions to every issue within our realm, and we “talked” and “let others talk” for solutions. We are truly happy to have encouraged and set an example for several other foundations and private companies that also focus on women, people with disabilities, and youth”.

Underlining that Sabancı Foundation was the first of its kind to initiate grant programs for NGO projects in Turkey, Güler Sabancı noted, “We have significant contribution to an increase in the number of NGO’s as well as to an increase in their capacity. Based on our understanding of the free market, as the private sector drives economic growth today, NGO’s drive social development! However, rapid, balanced, and healthy development in both fields is only possible by adherence to a well-functioning democracy, rule of law, freedoms, equality, and pluralism- the fundamental tenets of an advanced society.”

“We must ensure that the elections take place in democratic terms”

Referring to the local elections of March 30 in her speech, Güler Sabancı made the following remarks: “We will be fulfilling one of the most important missions of democracy in the coming days by electing our local administrators.We need to overcome the election period without losing the “we” sentiment.We should keep in mind that we live together and depend on each other; that this land is the land of all of us. We should ensure a democratic election process not only for our political life but also for the sake of our economic and social life.”

“We play an active role in the solution of social problems. We are focused on lasting impact”

General Manager of Sabancı Foundation, Zerrin Koyunsağan shared information about the activities of the Sabancı Foundation. Emphasizing that Sabancı Foundation is one of the pioneers of the globally strengthening philanthropy (*) sector, Koyunsağan said, “We brought about a new approach to philanthropy in Turkey. We touched the lives of millions of people in all corners of Turkey with our focus on social development.”

Koyunsağan mentioned that they play an active role and focus on lasting impact through a strategic philanthropy approach: “We began to strive for equality of opportunity for women, youth and people with disabilities. We realized a first and brought in grant program examples from other parts of the world to Turkey. By offering grant support to projects with high impact, we play a role in the development of civil society. We explore how to solve a given problem and devise new methods. We have offered grant support to a total of 80 projects so far through the Social Development Grant Program and United Nations Joint Program for Promoting the Human Rights of Women”. Highlighting the importance of lasting investments as much as lasting impact, Koyunsağan said, “Sabancı University is the most prominent investment of Sabancı Foundation.”

Zerrin Koyunsağan stated that they “work for a better tomorrow” leveraging on past experiences, and added, “We aim at projects that will set an example for other foundations for the coming term. We will continue to develop new methods of philanthropy and to contribute to the NGO sector based on the best practices in social development. As one of the leading actors of social development both in Turkey and in the world, we will focus our efforts around our dream of a more just and equitable society.”

Sabancı Foundation in Numbers

- More than 120 institutions distributed across Turkey 

- More than 40 thousand scholarships to support education of youth

- More than 1000 awards to honor achievements in education, art, and sports

- Grant support for 37 projects through Social Development Grant Program (SDGP)

- Access to more than 370.000 people through SDGP and UNJP 

- A total of 8,5 million TL grant within the scope of SDGP

- 3,3 million USD support for promoting human rights of women and girls within the framework of UNJP

- Support for more than 100 individuals and institutions through Turkey’s Changemakers where stories of those who contribute to social development is shared; 2,5 million+ video viewership

- 14 international speakers in 7 years at the Philanthropy Seminar that features best practices in civil society

- Access to more than 80.000 art lovers each year through Sabancı International Adana Theater Festival

- Support for hundreds of young musicians through Turkey Youth Philharmonic Orchestra

- Access to more than 1 million children through Mehtap Ar Children’s Theater

(*) Philanthropy:The word “philanthropy”, which is used widely in international NGO sector, originates from Greek and means “love of mankind”. Sources define philanthropy as “work that aims at ameliorating human life” within the framework of a certain system and strategy. The word philanthropy is defined as “strategic benevolence” in Turkish language. Philanthropy or strategic benevolence is not merely about giving; it also encompasses effective donations for social development as well as measurement of the impact of the work done.