named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship
Provides financial support to talented musicians of Turkish descent studying at The Juilliard School in New York City
Arif Mardin Fellowship
Supports emerging musical talent of Turkish descent, honoring the legacy of the Society's former vice-chairman
Moon and Stars Project (MASP) Grants
Offers competitive grants to support Turkish artists and cultural projects, including film post-production, exhibited in the U.S.
New York Turkish Film Festival
Cultural event showcasing Turkish cinema, supported through MASP grants and programming
SVA Summer Residency Scholarship
Funds a Turkish artist annually to participate in the School of Visual Arts’ Summer Residency Program in New York
The Promising Turks Fund
Supports Turkish students to represent Turkey in the U.S. in STEAM and international relations fields, co-founded with The Turkish-American Association
Young Society Leaders (YSL)
Leadership program for Turkish-American professionals in their 30s and 40s, fostering networks and engagement in U.S.-Turkey relations
activities · 8 groups
What they do
-
Arts Education Scholarships 2 activities
- Funding scholarships for Turkish artists at Berklee's Summer Performance ProgramProvides full-tuition scholarships, housing, and a living stipend for students of Turkish descent or nationality attending Berklee's Summer Performance Program.
- Funding scholarships for Turkish musicians at The Juilliard SchoolProvided $110,000 in multi-year financial support to six musicians of Turkish descent for studies at The Juilliard School.
-
-
Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Convening Turkish-American professionals through the Young Society Leaders programConvenes a select group of American-Turkish young leaders in their 30s and 40s through the Young Society Leaders program, providing networking, mentorship, cultural exchanges, and community engagement opportunities; over 200 members had been welcomed into the program as of 2024.
-
-
Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Funding the ATS Film, TV, and New Media Fund to support emerging and established media talentProvides grants through the ATS Film, TV, and New Media Fund to support students in media studies and independent film and media productions, including project-specific funding for travel and lodging; awarded grants to individual creators such as Cagla Demirbas and Lal Utun in 2025.
-
-
Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Organizing and managing the New York Turkish Film Festival and related cultural eventsTook ownership of the New York Turkish Film Festival in 2011 and engages volunteers to support major annual events including the festival and Gala.
-
-
Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognizing emerging Turkish talent through awards and recognition programsRecognizes and supports outstanding individuals through the Promising Turks Award, which evolved into the Promising Turks Fund.
-
-
Bilateral Trade and Business Relations 1 activity
- Strengthening U.S.-Turkey relations through cultural, economic, and business engagementWorks to strengthen business, economic, and cultural relationships between Turkey and the United States through ongoing programs and initiatives.
-
-
Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supporting Turkish artists through School of Visual Arts residency programsFunds one Turkish artist annually to participate in the School of Visual Arts’ online residency program, The Artist Residency Project, and the Summer Residency Program in New York since 2010; has sponsored Turkish artists’ participation in SVA residency programs annually since 2004.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Funding the Promising Turks Fund to support Turkish students in the U.S.Co-founded and awards grants through the Promising Turks Fund to support Turkish students in STEAM and international relations fields in the U.S., awarding grants to 5 students in 2023, 12 in 2024, and 11 in 2025.
- Supporting academic Turkish studies in the U.S. through institutional partnershipsEstablished the Center of Turkish Studies at Columbia University within the Near and Middle East Institute to support academic research and programming.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$876K
Contributions & grants$1.20M138%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$44K5%
Other revenue$-373K
expenses
Total expenses$655K
Program expenses56%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising31%
Salaries & benefits$139K
Grants paid out$232K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.79M
Cash$1.51M
Investments$0
Liabilities$23K
Net assets$1.76M
Liquid reserves27.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORCUN DOGANCALI | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $130K |
board members · 23
- AHMET OKUMUS — BOARD MEMBER
- ANDREW COHEN — BOARD MEMBER
- ARZUHAN DOGAN-YALCINDAG — BOARD MEMBER
- BANU BASAR — VICE CHAIR
- BARBAROS KARAAHMET — BOARD MEMBER
- CAN KENDI — BOARD MEMBER
- CEM TOPCUOGLU — BOARD MEMBER
- CENK ULU — BOARD MEMBER
- DR TAMER SECKIN — BOARD MEMBER
- EREN BALI — BOARD MEMBER
- ERTEM OSMANOGLU — BOARD MEMBER
- HAMDI ULUKAYA — BOARD MEMBER
- KEREM KAMISLI — VICE CHAIR
- LINDA WACHNER — CO CHAIR
- METIN NEGRIN — TREASURER
- MURAT OZYEGIN — BOARD MEMBER
- NEVZAT AYDIN — BOARD MEMBER
- PELIN AKIN OZALP — BOARD MEMBER
- SAAD TOMA — BOARD MEMBER
- SELIN GULCELIK — BOARD MEMBER
- SUZAN SABANCI DINCER — CO CHAIR
- YESIM PHILIP — BOARD MEMBER
- ZEYNEP YENEL — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Berklee College of Music Partner — Partnership to administer the Arif Mardin Fellowship, including joint selection and enrollment of scholars into the Summer Performance Program.
- Cagla Demirbas Partner — Recipient of a grant from the ATS Film, TV, and New Media Fund in 2025.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Collaborated with Binnaz Saktanber on concerts, film, performance, and visual art events.
- Earthquake Trauma Mental Health Service Program Partner — Collaborated on mental health services for earthquake survivors in Turkey.
- Film at Lincoln Center Partner — Collaborated with Binnaz Saktanber on concerts, film, performance, and visual art events.
- Idealist Partner — Hosts internship opportunities for The American Turkish Society on its platform.
- Lal Utun Partner — Recipient of a grant from the ATS Film, TV, and New Media Fund in 2025.
- Metropolitan Museum Partner — Collaborated on a Turkish Arts Exhibition for five American cities.
- Orcun Dogancali Partner — Executive Director of The American Turkish Society and contact for the Young Society Leaders program
- Promising Turks Award recipients Partner — Individuals recognized and supported by the American Turkish Society for their outstanding contributions or potential.
- School of Visual Arts Partner — Partners with SVA to offer scholarships for Turkish artists to attend its on-campus and online artist residency programs.
- The Juilliard School Partner — Collaborates with The Juilliard School to award the Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship to students of Turkish descent based on artistic merit and financial need.
- The Life Project Partner — Partnered to support earthquake victims in Turkey after the 1999 disaster.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Partner — Collaborated with Binnaz Saktanber on concerts, film, performance, and visual art events.
- The Museum of Modern Art Partner — Collaborated with Binnaz Saktanber on concerts, film, performance, and visual art events.
- The School of Visual Arts Partner — Partnership to fund Turkish artists in SVA’s Summer Residency Program.
- The Sister School Project Partner — Partnered to support earthquake victims in Turkey after the 1999 disaster.
- The Turkish-American Association Partner — Co-founded The Promising Turks Fund to support Turkish students in the U.S.
- Turkish Government Partner — Co-organized a Turkish Arts Exhibition in five U.S. cities.
- Yalova Elementary School Partner — Supported reconstruction efforts after the 1999 earthquake in Turkey.
- Yeni Mahalle Day Care Center Partner — Partnered on post-earthquake recovery and child care services in Turkey.
- Yetkin Yuce Partner — YSL Community Leader and contact for the Young Society Leaders program
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Building Through Shared Cultural Identity and Professional Networksmethodology: cultural-identity-as-assetBy creating platforms that leverage Turkish heritage as an asset and fostering connections among artists and professionals, the organization builds durable U.S.-Turkey relationships because shared identity and peer networks increase engagement, trust, and long-term collaboration.
- Cross-Cultural Grantmaking for Arts and Cultural Visibilitymethodology: cross-cultural exchangeBy funding projects that highlight Turkey's arts and culture in the U.S., the organization fosters two-way cultural exchange because increased visibility and engagement in creative fields build lasting people-to-people ties.
- Innovation-Driven Cultural Exchangemethodology: innovation-driven cultural exchangeBy promoting innovation in business, arts, and education, the organization strengthens U.S.-Turkey relations because shared innovation fosters mutual understanding and forward-looking collaboration beyond traditional diplomacy.
- Scholarship Support as Talent Development and Cultural Investmentmethodology: merit-and-need-based scholarship fundingBy providing merit-and-need-based scholarships and supplemental funding to high-achieving Turkish and Turkish-American students in music and STEAM fields, the organization invests in future leaders because reducing financial barriers enables talent to flourish and strengthens transnational professional and cultural networks.