Turken Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Expenses: $2,800,822 (2023)
• Total Assets: $99,212,722 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Housing subsidies and scholarships - specific amounts vary
• Geographic Focus: United States (primarily New York, Washington DC, Boston, Virginia, Syracuse)

Contact Details

Address: 300 E 41st St, New York, NY 10017

Phone: 646-585-4510

Website: https://turkenfoundation.org/

Application Portal: https://turkenfoundation.org/housing-application/

Overview

Founded in 2014, Turken Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established jointly by two major Turkish foundations: TÜRGEV (Turkey Youth and Education Service Foundation) and Ensar Foundation. With total assets exceeding $99 million as of 2023, the foundation's mission is to provide Muslim students in the United States with safe, culturally appropriate housing; cultural, social, and educational opportunities; and to promote cross-cultural relationships and understanding between Muslim and American cultures. The foundation operates student housing facilities in multiple U.S. cities and provides educational grants and scholarships to support Muslim students' academic success. Currently serving approximately 50 students through eight student houses across New York, Washington, Boston, Virginia, and Syracuse, the foundation has demonstrated significant growth since its inception, with revenues growing from under $19,000 in 2022 to approximately $2.5 million in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Educational Scholarships and Grants: Financial aid provided to Muslim students based on financial need and/or academic merit
• Housing Subsidies: Subsidized student housing with faith-friendly accommodations (specific subsidy amounts not publicly disclosed)
• Institutional Grants: Limited grantmaking to other organizations (e.g., $492,000 grant to Albanian Islamic Cultural Center in 2016 for educational housing)

Priority Areas

• Student housing with culturally and religiously appropriate accommodations (including halal food service, gender separation, and prayer facilities)
• Educational support for Muslim students pursuing higher education in the United States
• Cultural and social awareness programs promoting cross-cultural understanding
• Leadership development programs aimed at producing "morally strong, ethically correct, mentally democrat" social leaders
• Youth Bridges program facilitating cultural exchange (hosting American students in Turkey)
• Academic excellence and cultural adjustment support

What They Don't Fund

Specific funding exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's focus is exclusively on:

• Muslim students studying in the United States
• Housing and educational support programs
• Cultural programs related to Muslim-American understanding

Organizations or individuals outside this scope would not be eligible.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

• Behram Turan - Chairman of the Board
• Memis Yetim - Treasurer
• Zulkarneyn Vardar - Director
• Esra Albayrak - Director
• Melike Kabatas - Director
• Mustafa Ilbeyli - Director
• Selim Cakir - Director
• Omer Faruk Albayrak - Director
• Ahmet Bayraktutar - Director
• Fehmi Bilge - Director

Key Organizational Information

The foundation operates with 0 listed employees as of 2023, suggesting volunteer-driven governance or contracted operations. All listed board members show $0 compensation in tax filings, indicating unpaid volunteer service. The foundation maintains strong ties to its parent organizations, TÜRGEV and Ensar Foundation, which provide significant financial support for operations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Turken Foundation operates primarily through direct housing programs with a specific application portal rather than a traditional grant application process.

For Housing Applications: Students can apply through the online housing application form at https://turkenfoundation.org/housing-application/. The application requires:

• Personal information (name, email, phone, gender, citizenship, religion)
• Academic details (school name, program, expected graduation year)
• Contact information (home address, country)
• Preferred move-in and move-out dates
• Preferred unit/room type (single/double studio, 2-bedroom units)
• Social media/LinkedIn profiles
• Description of yourself as a potential roommate

For Scholarships: Specific scholarship application procedures are not detailed on the public website. Prospective students should contact the foundation directly at 646-585-4510 or through their website.

For Institutional Grants: There is no public application process for organizational grants. The foundation has made limited grants to other organizations (such as the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center), but these appear to be strategic partnerships rather than open competitive grants.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Students should contact the foundation directly for information about application review periods and notification schedules.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. The foundation currently serves approximately 50 students through its housing programs across five cities.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Prospective applicants should inquire directly with the foundation about reapplication procedures and any waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not publish detailed guidance for applicants, based on their mission and programs, the following factors appear important:

Target Population Alignment:

• Must be a Muslim student pursuing higher education in the United States
• Demonstrate financial need and/or academic merit
• Show commitment to academic excellence and personal development

Cultural and Values Alignment:

• Interest in maintaining Islamic values and cultural identity while studying in the U.S.
• Desire to participate in cross-cultural understanding initiatives
• Willingness to engage in community-building activities with other Muslim students

Academic Standing:

• Enrollment in an accredited U.S. educational institution
• Good academic standing at their school
• Clear educational goals and career aspirations

Geographic Considerations:

• Students attending schools in or near cities where Turken Foundation operates housing (New York, Washington DC, Boston, Virginia, Syracuse) may have increased access to programs
• The foundation's flagship Turken House in New York (with grand opening in May 2025) will expand capacity

Program Participation:

• Interest in participating in the foundation's cultural programs, including Ramadan iftars and Youth Bridges initiatives
• Willingness to contribute to the residential community as a responsible roommate

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly Specific Focus: This foundation serves exclusively Muslim students in the United States - organizations or individuals outside this demographic will not be eligible
• Direct Service Model: The foundation primarily operates its own housing facilities rather than awarding grants to other organizations, making it an atypical funder for most grant seekers
• Limited Public Application Process: Unlike traditional grant-making foundations, Turken Foundation has a targeted application process primarily for housing and individual scholarships
• Significant Assets: With nearly $100 million in assets, the foundation has substantial resources but deploys them primarily through direct programs
• Strong Parent Organization Support: Backed by two major Turkish foundations (TÜRGEV and Ensar), ensuring financial stability and continued operations
• Expansion Phase: The foundation is growing, with a new flagship Turken House opening in May 2025, potentially expanding capacity for student support
• Not Suitable for Most Traditional Grant Seekers: Organizations seeking grants should note this foundation makes very limited grants to other organizations - their 2016 grant to Albanian Islamic Cultural Center for educational housing appears to be an exception rather than the norm

References

1. Turken Foundation Official Website. "Who We Are." https://turkenfoundation.org/who-we-are-2/ (Accessed January 14, 2026)

2. Turken Foundation Official Website. "Turken House." https://turkenfoundation.org/turken-house/ (Accessed January 14, 2026)

3. Turken Foundation Official Website. "Housing Application Form." https://turkenfoundation.org/housing-application/ (Accessed January 14, 2026)

4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Turken Foundation Inc - EIN 471421022." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/471421022 (Accessed January 14, 2026)

5. Cause IQ. "Turken Foundation | New York, NY." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/turken-foundation,471421022/ (Accessed January 14, 2026)

6. Charity Navigator. "Turken Foundation Inc." https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/471421022 (Accessed January 14, 2026)

7. TÜRGEV. "TURKEN Foundation." https://www.turgev.org/en/s/turken-foundation (Accessed January 14, 2026)

8. Candid (Foundation Directory). "Turken Foundation Inc | Foundation Directory." https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=1093375 (Accessed January 14, 2026)