SETA Foundation

What SETA Foundation does

SETA Foundation at Washington, D.C. is a 501(c)(3) independent, nonpartisan think tank established in 2009 that focuses on Turkish foreign policy and US-Türkiye relations, with affiliated research in Turkish society, culture, history, economy, politics, energy security, law, and education. The organization is headquartered at 1025 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 410 in Washington, D.C., and operates with 1-10 employees under Executive Director Kadir Ustun and Research Director Kilic Bugra Kanat.

The foundation's core outputs are knowledge products: academic books, policy reports, analyses, opinion pieces, and the peer-reviewed academic journal Insight Turkey. It supplements these publications with events programming, including private roundtables with high-level Turkish and U.S. officials, panel discussions, book launches, and participation in larger conferences such as the STRATCOM Summit and a 2026 Tokyo panel co-organized with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Recent content (2025-2026) demonstrates an expanded topical remit covering Iran, Gaza, U.S. grand strategy, and the Trump administration's Middle East policy, alongside the core US-Türkiye focus.

The business model is that of a non-profit research organization with no commercial products or paid services; outputs are provided free of charge and the organization is funded through donations, grants, and institutional support. The GTM motion is event- and community-led, distributing research directly to policymakers, academics, media, and the general public via its website (setadc.org), the Insight Turkey journal, and in-person convenings. The organization has no technology product, no API or software platform, and no disclosed AI capabilities.

Name

SETA Foundation

Legal name

SETA Foundation at Washington, D.C.

Website

https://setadc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SETA Foundation at Washington, D.C. is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan think tank that researches Turkish foreign policy and US-Türkiye relations, publishing books, reports, and the Insight Turkey journal, and convening policymakers and academics through roundtables and conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Think Tank / Policy Research

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Foreign policy research
• Think tank publications
• Policy analysis reports
• International affairs dialogue
• Geopolitical research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-profit organizational model: SETA Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, independent, nonpartisan think tank. The organization conducts academic and policy-oriented research and provides a forum for international dialogue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SETA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit think tank that produces policy-oriented research and analysis on Turkish politics, foreign policy, and US-Turkey relations. Its core offerings are research publications (books, policy reports, analyses, and opinion pieces), the Insight Turkey academic journal, and convening activities such as private roundtables, panel discussions, book launches, and conferences with policymakers, academics, and diplomats.

Product overview

SETA Foundation is a non-profit think tank offering a suite of research and knowledge products. Its core offerings include publications (Books, Opinions, Analyses, and Reports) covering Turkish politics, foreign policy, and US-Turkey relations; the academic journal Insight Turkey; and events including panels, roundtables, and conferences. The organization does not operate a software product or digital platform in the traditional sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Insight Turkey: An academic journal published by the SETA Foundation covering Turkish and regional affairs

Products and services

• Books Academic and policy-oriented books authored or edited by SETA researchers on topics including US-Turkey relations, Turkish foreign policy, and Middle Eastern affairs.
• Policy Reports In-depth policy reports analyzing Turkish domestic and foreign policy, regional developments, and US-Turkey relations.
• Analyses Shorter analytical pieces providing expert commentary on current events and policy developments related to Turkey and the Middle East.
• Opinions Expert opinion pieces and commentary from SETA researchers on contemporary political and foreign policy issues.
• Events Panels, roundtables, conferences, and book discussions featuring policymakers, academics, diplomats, and strategic experts on Turkish politics and US-Turkey relations.
• Insight Turkey An academic journal published by SETA Foundation covering Turkish politics, foreign policy, and regional studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributes to formation of common ground and informed decision-making on US-Turkey relations

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Sasakawa Peace FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Jointly organized a high-level programme in Tokyo titled 'The Developments in the Middle East and the Future of Türkiye–Japan Relations' on April 21, 2026. The event was hosted by Sasakawa Peace Foundation and brought together policymakers, academics, diplomats, and strategic experts to assess regional security developments and explore expanding bilateral cooperation between Türkiye and Japan.
• Presidency's Directorate of CommunicationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Presidency's Directorate of Communications co-organized the panel on Middle East developments and Türkiye–Japan relations alongside SETA and Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
• Penn State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Director Kilic Bugra Kanat serves as Assistant Professor of Political Science at Penn State University, Erie, creating an academic partnership linkage.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: One of the largest U.S. think tanks with substantive work on foreign policy and the Middle East. Comparable as a publication-driven, Washington-based research organization with deep government access.
• Heritage Foundation: A major Washington think tank with broad foreign policy coverage. Comparable as a policy-research organization with significant government influence and event-based engagement model.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A global think tank with extensive publications on U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East, including Türkiye. Comparable in mission and publication style, though far larger and more diversified in funding.
• Atlantic Council: A large, well-funded Washington think tank with programs spanning Eurasia, the Middle East, and Türkiye specifically. Comparative as a higher-resource competitor with overlapping Türkiye programming and similar convening function.
• Wilson Center: A Washington-based nonpartisan policy forum addressing global issues through research and convening. Comparable in its nonpartisan, research-and-events model and its focus on international affairs.
• RAND Corporation: A global policy research institution producing high-quality analysis on security and foreign policy. Comparable in policy-research mission and academic rigor, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Washington Institute for Near East Policy: A U.S.-headquartered think tank focused on U.S. policy toward the Middle East. Comparable to SETA Foundation in its dual focus on regional geopolitics and direct engagement with U.S. policymakers, though with a broader Middle East mandate.
• Middle East Institute: A Washington-based think tank dedicated to Middle East policy analysis. Comparable to SETA Foundation in its U.S.-based research-on-region focus, convening power, and publication-driven content model.
• Foundation for Defense of Democracies: A Washington think tank focused on U.S. national security and Middle East policy. Comparable in size, focus on foreign policy, and event-driven engagement with policymakers.
• Turkish Heritage Foundation: A U.S.-based organization focused on U.S.–Türkiye relations and Turkish heritage. The most direct thematic peer to SETA Foundation, competing for the same bilateral-policy audience and events circuit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/setadc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SETADC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seta-dc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SETA Foundation