Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV)

Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV) is a network organization that aims to strengthen the legal, fiscal, and operational infrastructure of civil society organizations in Turkey. Established in 1993, TUSEV has grown to support over 100 associations and foundations to create a more enabling environment for the third sector. TUSEV works under four main program areas, including civil society law reform, social investment, international relations and networking, and research and publications.

The Civil Society Law Reform program is TUSEV's core competency, and it aims to promote an enabling environment for CSOs in Turkey. The Social Investment program seeks to inform stakeholders about strategic and effective practices, create an enabling infrastructure for social investment and philanthropy, and introduce new mechanisms to enable the flow of resources to CSOs. The International Relations and Networking program creates common platforms for cooperation between Turkish civil society organizations, their international counterparts, and donors. Lastly, the Research and Publications program conducts critical research on issues regarding the third sector and generates useful data and reports that inform practitioners and promote dialogue.

TUSEV's main objectives are to promote a legally and fiscally enabling environment for nonprofit organizations, encourage strategic and effective giving, facilitate partnerships across the public, private & third sectors, support and engage the international community in learning about and collaborating with the Turkish third sector, and conduct research on the sector's role, needs, and dynamics to serve as a basis for civil society strengthening initiatives. TUSEV is a member of various international organizations, including the European Foundation Centre, CIVICUS, International Society for Third-Sector Research, and WINGS. TUSEV's funding sources include donations from network members, interest gains on endowment, and project funding from foreign donors.

The Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV) was established in 1993 with the objective of strengthening the legal, fiscal and operational infrastructure of civil society organizations (CSOs). It was founded by Turkey's leading civil society organizations, including associations and foundations. Since its inception, TUSEV has been working to create a more enabling environment for civil society and providing solutions to common and emerging problems of CSOs with the support of its members.

TUSEV's early work focused on analyzing the legal framework for CSOs in Turkey and advocating for reforms to create a more enabling environment for the sector. Over time, its work expanded to include promoting strategic and effective philanthropy, facilitating partnerships across the public, private, and third sectors, and conducting research on the sector's role, needs, and dynamics.

In 1997, TUSEV organized the first-ever National CSO Congress, bringing together representatives from across the sector to discuss the challenges facing CSOs in Turkey and develop a common agenda for advocacy. Since then, TUSEV has organized numerous congresses and conferences on topics ranging from CSO sustainability to social investment and philanthropy.

In the early 2000s, TUSEV played a key role in advocating for the passage of new laws governing foundations and associations in Turkey, which were eventually enacted in 2004 and 2006, respectively. TUSEV also established a network of community foundations in Turkey to support the development of local philanthropy and social investment.

In recent years, TUSEV has focused on strengthening CSOs' capacity to engage in advocacy and policy dialogue, developing new models of social investment and philanthropy, and promoting international cooperation and exchange. Today, TUSEV is recognized as a leading voice for civil society in Turkey and a key actor in efforts to strengthen the sector's legal, fiscal, and operational infrastructure.

TUSEV's main goals are to strengthen the legal, fiscal, and operational infrastructure of the third sector in Turkey. It aims to achieve this by promoting non-profit law reform, researching civil society and philanthropy, encouraging social investment and social justice philanthropy, and facilitating partnerships across sectors and borders.

One of TUSEV's main purposes is to support and network over 100 associations and foundations in Turkey that share its vision. It seeks to improve the legal, fiscal, and operational environment for these organizations, enabling them to operate with greater ease and effectiveness. TUSEV also works to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations by providing them with funding, management skills, and support.

TUSEV has played a significant role in the development of civil society in Turkey, especially during the turn of the millennium. It has organized events, facilitated international financial support, and advocated for EU accession reforms with regards to civil society. These developments have brought about important changes in the way Turkey frames the work of foundations and CSOs, leading to a more enabling environment for their operations.

TUSEV has had a significant impact on the development of civil society in Turkey over the past few decades. Since its establishment in 1993, it has grown into a network of over 100 associations and foundations that share a vision of strengthening the legal, fiscal and operations infrastructure of the third sector in Turkey. Its main objectives include non-profit law reform, research on civil society and philanthropy, promoting social investment and social justice philanthropy, and facilitating partnerships across sectors, as well as across borders.

TUSEV has played a crucial role in catalyzing events that have helped develop civil society in Turkey. For instance, it was the main organizer of the United Nations Habitat II Conference Foundations Forum in 1996, which helped raise awareness around civil society. It also facilitated international financial support for earthquake relief after the catastrophic 1999 Marmara Earthquake, which created significant demand on CSOs. Furthermore, it was an advocate of EU accession reforms with regards to civil society, which marked important changes in the way Turkey frames the work of foundations and CSOs from an operational, legal, and fiscal perspective.

TUSEV has been a leader in improving civil society laws, generating research and policies for the sector's future, and encouraging dialogue and cooperation among private, public and third sector actors for the past 15 years. With the growth and expansion of Turkey’s third sector over the past two decades, civil society organizations have taken on a new role as a critical element in an emerging democratic society. The number of CSOs being formed continues to grow and they operate at increasing sophistication. TUSEV's programmes, including Civil Society Law Reform, Social Investment, International Relations and Networking, and Research and Publications, provide support to these organizations in terms of funding, management skills, and creating an enabling environment.