Türkiye Giving Report

Abstract

Türkiye is a nationalist, secular, parliamentary democracy, which has a unique geographic passageway between the continents of Europe and Asia. Türkiye is recognized as one of the leading donors of humanitarian aid when measured in proportion to its national income. The tradition of charity (almsgiving) is deeply rooted in society which inherited from its long and old glorious past, especially from the Ottoman empire. Moreover, Islam along other religions play crucial role in philanthropic endeavors. Foundations, charities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are considered formal forms of philanthropy in Türkiye, while informal philanthropy is based on community-based spontaneous acts charity. This report aims to understand charitable giving trends across major urban centers in the Republic of Türkiye. The survey was conducted in various urban cities with 1,210 adult respondents with a questionnaire focusing on demographic characteristics, charitable giving, zakat, and volunteerism. The report explores the motivations behind both general charitable giving and Zakat giving. The report indicates that the majority of giving is in-kind while a significant number of donors engaged in volunteering activities in time of disaster. The report also addresses the trust issues related to civil societies and charities among individuals.