This work can take many forms, from supporting emerging artists and making cultural heritage more accessible to creating opportunities for children and young people to shape the communities around them.

Join us for our next Voices of Partners webinar featuring City Detectives, EMART, and KADD. Through different approaches, each organization is using art, culture, creativity, and participation to bring people together and strengthen their connection to their communities.

Together, we will explore how creative expression can build belonging, deepen engagement with cultural heritage, and create new opportunities for participation, and what philanthropy can do to help these ideas and organizations grow over time.

Featured Speakers: 

Gizem Kıygı, City Detectives (Şehir Dedektifi)
Serkan Şahin, EMART (Genç Yetenekleri Güçlendirme Vakfı)
Burçin İnan Özel, KADD (Karahantepe Araştırmalarını Destekleme Derneği)

We’ll be hosting a live Q&A session to answer your questions and provide deeper insights. We look forward to seeing you!

*This session will be in Turkish.

Tune in

About City Detectives:

City Detectives (Şehir Dedektifi) works to create more inclusive, child-friendly cities by putting children’s experiences, rights, and participation at the center of urban life. Through research, creative workshops, exploration, and participatory design, children are encouraged to discover their surroundings, express their ideas, and actively shape the places they call home.

About EMART:
EMART (Genç Yetenekleri Güçlendirme Vakfı) supports young artists and students pursuing arts education across Türkiye. Through scholarships, awards, exhibitions, and creative programs, EMART helps emerging artists develop their talents, make their voices heard, and access opportunities to pursue their artistic journeys.

About KADD: 
KADD (Karahantepe Araştırmalarını Destekleme Derneği) works to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of Karahantepe while supporting research and cultural heritage initiatives. By helping deepen our understanding of one of Anatolia’s important archaeological sites and making its history more accessible, KADD connects communities with the stories and heritage of the past.

Committed to raising awareness and strengthening community support for autism, we are once again proud to partner with MTS Logistics. Celebrating its 16th year, MTS Logistics is organizing an annual bike ride on June 13th. We will be riding together in solidarity, united by a shared commitment to inclusion and change.

In addition to raising awareness about autism, MTS Logistics—together with Spectrum Works—has helped create 25,000 job opportunities for young adults with autism, alongside workplace training and career preparation programs that open pathways to independence, dignity, and long-term employment.

You can be part of this impact by joining us on the ride or making a contribution to support this meaningful mission.

Learn More

Across every session, a clear message emerged: progress on its own is not enough. It needs direction, intention, and a deeply human lens. From leadership in a time of disruption to the future of human health, from designing technology for social impact to creativity in the age of AI, the conversations reflected a shared belief: innovation is no longer neutral. It is shaped by choices, by incentives, governance, and values.

Themes of responsibility, human agency, and equity ran throughout the day. As advances in AI, biotechnology, and data reshape entire systems, the question of who benefits and who is left out has become increasingly urgent. At the same time, the Summit highlighted that the future is not being built in silos, but at the intersection of technology, science, business, and society.

The closing conversations brought this into sharper focus, positioning AI as a structural shift in both power and possibility. The message was clear: the future is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the narratives we choose and the systems we decide to build.

As the day transitioned into the evening, one idea remained constant: even at the edge of innovation, human judgment, resilience, and instinct are irreplaceable.

As we move forward, we want to make sure these conversations do not remain in the room, but translate into action: through how we give, how we invest, how we collaborate, and how we open doors for others.

We are deeply grateful to our speakers for their contributions—not only for what they shared, but for how they showed up. They challenged us, engaged deeply, and reminded us that innovation carries responsibility. We are equally thankful to everyone who contributed to this day with their presence, energy, and intention.

Explore highlights from the Summit below! If you’d like to revisit the day or share it with others, you can explore highlights and full sessions on our YouTube channel.

TPF Summit 2026 Journal

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This opening conversation will explore what it means to lead and innovate in a rapidly changing world. In dialogue with Hanzade Doğan, the discussion will examine how leaders navigate uncertainty, build cultures of innovation, and respond to the societal implications of technological change. Drawing on her experience transforming organizations across media, technology, and entrepreneurship, the conversation will reflect on the opportunities and responsibilities that come with innovation today — and what it will take to shape a more resilient and forwardlooking future.

In this conversation, Prof. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, a leading scientist in metabolic disease research, and technology leader Ayşegül İldeniz explore how advances in biology, genetics, and technology are transforming our understanding of human health. Moving beyond the traditional model of treating illness after it appears, the discussion examines how scientific discovery, AI, and systems thinking are enabling a deeper understanding of disease at the cellular level, opening the possibility of earlier prevention, more personalized treatments, and entirely new approaches to health. Together, they reflect on the opportunities and responsibilities that come with this new era, where science, technology, and innovation converge to reshape the future of medicine.

As technological innovation accelerates, the question is no longer only what we can build, but how we ensure these advancements serve humanity and the planet. This forward-looking conversation brings together leaders from technology, research, venture capital, and climate strategy to explore how digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, mobile ecosystems, and climate innovation can be guided by responsibility and human values. Together, they will examine how technology and capital can be aligned to expand opportunity, strengthen resilience, and help shape a more equitable and sustainable future. Featuring: Umur Çubukçu, Aykut Karaalioğlu, Ece Kamar, PhD, Yasemin Koloğlu. Moderated by: Didem Altop

As artificial intelligence enters the creative process, artists, technologists, and storytellers are rethinking the boundaries of imagination. This conversation explores how human–machine collaboration is transforming art, music, film, and design, raising new questions about authorship, originality, and cultural responsibility. Through real-world examples, panelists will demonstrate how emerging tools are reshaping creative industries while expanding access to storytelling in unprecedented ways. Featuring: Grimanesa Amorós, Pınar Seyhan Demirdağ, Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, Mary Solomon. Moderated by: Ülkü Rowe

This conversation brings together leaders in biotechnology, neuroscience, finance, and global health to explore the shift from treating illness to preventing it. As advances in precision diagnostics, AI-enabled data analysis, neurotechnology, and neuroscience transform our understanding of human health, new opportunities are emerging to detect disease earlier and personalize care in unprecedented ways. At the same time, these breakthroughs raise critical questions about affordability, access, and how health systems must evolve to ensure innovations benefit people globally. Featuring: Hasan Ayaz, Arda Ural, Ercüment Tokat. Moderated by: Wafaa El-Sadr

Artificial intelligence is reshaping economies, institutions, and societies at unprecedented speed. But the deeper question is not only about technological advancement — it is about how societies position themselves within this transformation. In this closing conversation, Faruk Eczacıbaşı, President of the Turkish Informatics Foundation, joins journalist Stacey Vanek Smith to reflect on the emerging technological paradigm. From the risks of a widening digital divide to the role of networks, diaspora, and new narratives, the discussion explores how countries and institutions can help shape a more inclusive technological future.

In his closing remarks, TPF Board Member Ahmet Bozer reflected on the Summit’s central themes, emphasizing the importance of leadership in guiding rapid technological and social change with humanity, purpose, and responsibility. He highlighted discussions around health, education, inclusion, and innovation, underscoring the need to balance progress with ethics, humility, and collaboration.

He closed on a hopeful note by speaking about the power of creativity, renewal, and human connection, reminding guests that the future is shaped not only by technology, but by the values and partnerships that help people thrive together.

At TPF, we believe that supporting children means supporting the whole child. Through extracurricular activities, creative engagement, and social-emotional learning, children gain more than knowledge—they build confidence, discover their strengths, and develop the resilience needed for life. These experiences not only complement academic learning, but also shape who they become as individuals and future adults.

Join us for our Voices of Partners webinar featuring Güneşane, PAYDA Derneği, and Okul Destek Derneği. Together, these organizations are creating opportunities for children to learn beyond traditional education—through safe spaces, creative programs, and holistic support that nurtures both personal and academic growth.

Together, we’ll explore how approaches grounded in creativity, exploration, and emotional well-being help children. 

Register

Featured Speakers:

Dilbeste Alameddine, PAYDA

Zeynep Nisan Günç, Güneşane Vakfı

Yakup Yıldırım, Öğretmen Ağı 

We’ll be hosting a live Q&A session to answer your questions and provide deeper insights. We look forward to seeing you!

*This session will be in Turkish.

Ahead of the 2026 TPF Innovation & Social Impact Summit, we spoke with the Summit’s leadership about what makes this gathering distinctive, why these conversations matter now, and what participants can expect from a day designed for reflection, dialogue, and cross-sector exchange.

The Summit features voices from technology, science, philanthropy, and the arts. How did you think about curating the speakers?

Ayşegül İldeniz: For the lineup, we focused on folks who are actively innovating in their own fields and impacting how society is shaping. We invited folks who are mavericks in their field to building tomorrow.

The biggest changes are coming through work across disciplines. Bringing voices from different fields allows conversations to move toward broader questions about responsibility, impact, and the future we are designing. Artificial intelligence is affecting creativity, biotechnology influences public health systems, and philanthropy increasingly engages with all systems. We hope you will get a glimpse of how they are tackling the future.


The first Summit in 2024 sparked strong dialogue. How will this year’s gathering build on that experience?

Zeynep Bilimer: The 2024 Summit showed us that there is real appetite for conversations that cut across sectors. For 2026, we wanted to create even more opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

So the format places greater emphasis on exchange: smaller conversations, opportunities for participants to engage with speakers, and moments where ideas can be explored together rather than simply presented. The intention is not only to inspire new thinking but also to allow participants to reflect on how these ideas might translate into real-world work.

One example is the networking lunch, which is designed around curated tables organized by themes connected to the Summit’s discussions. Each table brings together participants who share an interest in areas such as AI and society, biotechnology and wellbeing, creativity in the age of machines, or the role of capital and philanthropy in shaping responsible innovation.

Rather than being a traditional networking break, the lunch becomes another space for dialogue, a chance for participants to exchange perspectives, explore collaborations, and continue the conversation in a more informal but still intentional setting.

Some of the themes, such as AI and human collaboration or biotechnology and equity, return this year. Why revisit them?

Ülkü Rowe: Because these are not conversations that can happen only once. The pace of change is simply too fast.

Each year brings new developments in technology, new ethical questions, and new perspectives on how these systems influence society. Revisiting these topics with different voices allows us to deepen the conversation and examine how ideas are evolving over time. It’s less about repeating themes and more about continuing the dialogue as the landscape shifts.


We’re living through a period of extraordinary technological change. Why is this the right moment to bring leaders from different fields together to reflect on innovation and its impact?

Didem Altop: We are at a moment when technological progress is moving faster than our ability to fully understand its societal implications. Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital platforms are reshaping how we work, create, and interact with one another. These developments are incredibly exciting, but they also raise important questions about responsibility, governance, and long-term impact.

No single field can answer those questions alone. Technologists may understand the capabilities of new systems, scientists may understand their broader implications, entrepreneurs may see how they scale, and philanthropists may think about their social consequences. Bringing those perspectives together creates a much richer conversation.

That is why gatherings like this matter. They create space not only to talk about what innovation can do, but also to reflect on what it should do, and how different sectors can work together to ensure that progress benefits society as a whole.

Who do you imagine being in the room at the Summit?

Senay Ataselim Yılmaz: One of the things we care about most is the composition of the room. The Summit brings together founders, executives, investors, academics, and social innovators, people who are directly shaping decisions in their fields.

But it also includes younger participants and students, because the future we’re discussing ultimately belongs to them. The goal is to create an environment where different generations and perspectives can interact. When that happens, conversations become richer and often lead to unexpected insights.


Is there a session or conversation you are personally looking forward to?

Ayşegül İldeniz: I’m particularly looking forward to the conversations around Innovation. I’ll be speaking with Hanzade Doğan and Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, both of whom approach innovation from very different but complementary perspectives.

What excites me about these discussions is that they move beyond abstract ideas. They explore how leadership, science, and technology can expand opportunity, wellbeing, and possibility for people. Ultimately, innovation matters most when it creates the conditions for others to thrive.

Ülkü Rowe: I’m particularly looking forward to the conversation on Creativity in the Age of AI. I might be biased as it is the session I will be moderating. It’s a fascinating moment because technology is not only transforming industries, it is also reshaping how we think about creativity, authorship, and human expression.

What makes this session exciting is the diversity of perspectives in the room. We’ll have artists, technologists, and cultural creators discussing how human imagination and machine capabilities interact. Rather than framing it as a competition between humans and technology, the conversation explores how collaboration between the two can open entirely new forms of storytelling, art, and design.

For me, the most interesting question is not whether AI can create, but how human creativity evolves when new tools expand what is possible. Those intersections often reveal something deeper about both technology and ourselves.


The Summit also includes conversations about capital and philanthropy. Why is that an important part of the dialogue?

Zeynep Bilimer: Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Behind every breakthrough there are systems of support: capital, institutions, and communities that make it possible.

What I find particularly interesting today is how philanthropy and investment are increasingly intersecting. We are seeing more leaders think not only about financial return, but also about long-term societal impact. That shift opens up new possibilities for how resources can be deployed to support innovation that is both ambitious and responsible.

The conversation we are having at the Summit is really about how capital can help enable ideas that serve society, whether through entrepreneurship, scientific discovery, or social innovation.

The Summit also includes conversations about capital and philanthropy. Why is that an important part of the dialogue?

Zeynep Bilimer: Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Behind every breakthrough there are systems of support: capital, institutions, and communities that make it possible.

What I find particularly interesting today is how philanthropy and investment are increasingly intersecting. We are seeing more leaders think not only about financial return, but also about long-term societal impact. That shift opens up new possibilities for how resources can be deployed to support innovation that is both ambitious and responsible.

The conversation we are having at the Summit is really about how capital can help enable ideas that serve society, whether through entrepreneurship, scientific discovery, or social innovation.


What do you hope participants take away from the experience?

Ulku Rowe: My hope is that people leave with new perspectives. Perhaps a question they hadn’t considered before, a new way of thinking about their work, or a connection that sparks future collaboration.

When people from different sectors spend time in genuine conversation, they often begin to see challenges and opportunities through a different lens. Those exchanges can lead not only to new ideas, but also to relationships that continue long after the Summit.

Sometimes the most meaningful outcome of gatherings like this is the unexpected connection: a scientist speaking with an entrepreneur, an artist exchanging ideas with a technologist, or a philanthropist discovering a new way to support innovation. Those moments can become the starting point for collaborations that shape what comes next.


Why is Turkish Philanthropy Funds hosting a convening like this?

Senay Ataselim Yılmaz: At Turkish Philanthropy Funds, much of our work has focused on connecting people and ideas to create meaningful impact. Over time, we’ve seen that many of the challenges societies face today cannot be solved within traditional boundaries.

Innovation increasingly sits at the intersection of multiple fields: technology, science, culture, and philanthropy. But as innovation accelerates, another question becomes just as important: how do we ensure that it is guided by the right principles?

That idea of principled innovation is very much at the heart of the Summit. It’s about asking not only what is possible, but also what is responsible. How do empathy, equity, integrity, and reflection shape the systems we build and the technologies we deploy?

The Summit reflects this philosophy. It creates a space where people who normally operate in different worlds can come together and explore how innovation can be both ambitious and responsible, and how collaboration across disciplines can help ensure that progress ultimately serves society.


For someone considering attending, why might this be a conversation worth joining?

Didem Altop: We are living through a moment when decisions made in technology, science, and capital markets are shaping societies in profound ways. Yet those conversations often happen in separate rooms.

What makes this Summit valuable is that it brings together people who approach innovation from very different perspectives: entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, and philanthropists. When those perspectives meet, the conversation becomes much richer.

For anyone interested in how innovation intersects with society, it offers a chance to step outside one’s own field and engage with ideas and people that can broaden how we think about the future.

Explore TPF Summit 2026

At TPF, we believe that recovery is not only about rebuilding infrastructure—it is about rebuilding lives. By supporting community-led initiatives that restore daily routines, strengthen social bonds, and create sustainable livelihoods, we help communities move beyond survival toward long-term well-being.

Join us for our Voices of Partners webinar featuring Dayanışma İnsanları Derneği, World Human Relief, and YÖRET. Together, these organizations are working across the earthquake region to provide essential services, promote psychosocial recovery, and support inclusive community development—laying the foundation for a stronger, more hopeful future.

Together, we’ll explore how rebuilding efforts grounded in solidarity, local leadership, and resilience are helping communities heal, regain stability, and build forward after a major disaster.

Featured Speakers:
Irem Cansever, Project Officer, World Human Relief
Sibel Erenel, Social Resilience Program Director, YÖRET
Feride Öztürk, General Coordinator, Dayanışma İnsanları Derneği
Seda Özdemir, Earthquake Fund Lead, TPF

We’ll be hosting a live Q&A session to answer your questions and provide deeper insights. We look forward to seeing you!

*This session will be in Turkish. 

About Dayanışma İnsanları Derneği:
Dayanışma İnsanları Derneği works to strengthen social solidarity and community resilience in disaster-affected regions. Through psychosocial support, community programs, and grassroots collaboration, the organization helps individuals and families rebuild trust, connection, and a sense of normalcy after disaster.

About World Human Relief:
World Human Relief provides humanitarian assistance and long-term recovery support to vulnerable communities affected by disasters. By addressing urgent needs while investing in sustainable recovery and community empowerment, the organization helps restore dignity and stability in times of profound disruption.

About YÖRET:
YÖRET focuses on strengthening local livelihoods, education, and community-based development in earthquake-affected areas. Through skills training, community programs, and inclusive economic initiatives, YÖRET supports families and youth as they rebuild their futures and create pathways to long-term resilience.

At TPF, we are committed to supporting initiatives that expand healthcare access and improve the well-being of women and girls across Türkiye. When women can access the care they need, it strengthens their ability to work, study, and plan for the future.

Join us on Wednesday, November 19th for our next Voices of Partners webinar, featuring Konuşmamız Gerek, KAMER,  and Türkiye Aile Sağlığı ve Planlaması Vakfı (TAPV). These dedicated organizations are advancing women’s health by promoting reproductive rights, providing essential health and preventive services, and supporting mental well-being and gender equality.

Together, we will explore how improving access to women’s health care creates ripple effects, strengthening families, supporting communities, and fostering a more equitable future for all.

Featured Speakers:

İlayda Eskitaşçıoğlu, Konuşmamız Gerek
Siibel Sakarya, TAPV
Nihal Çelik Ay, KAMER

We’ll be hosting a live Q&A session to answer your questions and provide deeper insights. We look forward to seeing you!

Opening Fireside Chat brought together visionary leaders Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani & Tent Foundation and Ahmet C. Bozer, Former Coca-Cola International as they discussed the transformative power of entrepreneurship in building a sustainable and inclusive future.

The Role Of Corporations In Social Impact Panel brought together Didem Altop, Treeo VC (Moderator); Ümran Beba, Former PepsiCo, August Leadership; Emine Sabancı Kamışlı, Esas Sosyal, Esas Holding; Sinan Uzan, Tekfen Ventures to discuss how can businesses play a pivotal role in integrating social responsibility into their business models and driving innovation in the process. Our panelists shared their insights, best practices, innovative concepts, strategic approaches, and visions for contributing to a more sustainable future.

Disaster Resilience Through Innovation Panel brought together Ülkü Rowe, Google Cloud (Moderator); Can Cömertoğlu, Google; Tammy Glazer, Microsoft AI for Good Lab; Ayşe Hortaçsu, AppliedTechnology Council; Jeff Schlegelmilch, Ph.D., Columbia University to discuss how innovative technology and sustainable practices can revolutionize our approach to disaster preparedness. Experts discussed the use of advanced predictive analytics for early warning systems and explore strategies to strengthen community defenses against future disasters. Rather than merely addressing disaster response, the panel explored reimagining disaster preparedness, striving towards a safer and more resilient world.

AI for Social Good brought together Aylin Uysal, Oracle (Moderator); Cenk Sidar, Enquire AI; Murat Sönmez, trusted.ai; Timur Cüceloğlu Yarnall, Neutronian, Amazon Web Services to discuss how AI is driving innovation and social impact to improve education, healthcare, disaster response, environmental conservation, and more. They also delved into ethical considerations, responsible AI use, and the role of AI in creating a more equitable and sustainable future.

Closing Fireside Chat: Can Tech Accelerate Social Impact? features Zeynep Tüfekçi, Ph.D., Princeton University, New York Times and Ayşegül İldeniz, Global Tech Leader how can technology accelerate social impact.

PHOTO GALLERY

On June 19, 2024, Turkish Philanthropy Funds brought together its partner organizations in Istanbul for a full-day convening focused on deepening collective understanding and practice of impact measurement. The event, titled “Why Is Impact Measurement Important for Trust, Transparency, and Transformation?”, was designed as a space for connection, learning, and practical skill-building among civil society organizations from across Türkiye. 

As part of Turkish Philanthropy Funds’ ongoing commitment to strengthening the capacity of its partners, the convening had four core objectives:

• To build a shared understanding of what impact evaluation is—and what it is not;
• To introduce practical, scalable tools that organizations can implement to measure and report their impact;
• To encourage peer learning through real-world case studies and small-group discussions;
• And to support organizations in drafting their own Impact Evaluation Action Plans, setting the foundation for long-term, data-informed growth.

The day brought together diverse perspectives, real conversations, and actionable tools—all rooted in a shared vision for stronger, more transparent, and more effective civil society. This gathering marked not only a key milestone in TPF’s partner engagement efforts, but also a powerful reminder of what is possible when organizations come together with purpose.