CEKUL Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage

What CEKUL Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage does

ÇEKÜL Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage (Çevre ve Kültür Değerlerini Koruma ve Tanıtma Vakfı) is a Turkish non-profit foundation (vakıf) established in 1990 and headquartered in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, with a secondary research and education center — ÇEKÜL Birgi Çevre Kültür ve Sanat Evi — in Ödemiş/İzmir. The foundation operates an interconnected portfolio of programs covering afforestation (7 Ağaç Ormanları Programı, launched 1994; cumulative ~5 million seedlings planted), Anatolian heritage research (Anadolu Araştırmaları), an Information Document Center housing Prof. Dr. Metin Sözen's personal collection and a 10,700-item Middle East postcard archive, the Future Academy (Gelecek Akademisi, est. 2009) for heritage training, a children's education program (Bilgi Ağacı) with publishing partner Doğan Egmont, field programs (ÇEKÜL Saha), and the Birgi regional center. Its digital surface includes the AI-supported OrtakBellek collective memory platform (20,000+ digitized items) and the interactive RotaMiras cultural heritage mapping platform, both launched in 2026-07.\n\nÇEKÜL serves individual donors, corporate partners seeking CSR/afforestation programs, municipalities needing heritage conservation training and documentation, and researchers accessing the archive. It works closely with the Turkish General Directorate of Forests on afforestation, co-pioneered the Tarihi Kentler Birliği (Historic Cities Union), and is a founding signatory to the TÜSEV-led Turkey National Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change backed by Sabancı Foundation. The commercial subsidiary ÇEKÜL Vakfı İktisadi İşletmesi runs the ÇEKÜL Dükkan e-commerce store, selling publications and nature-friendly design products whose proceeds fund the afforestation and Bilgi Ağacı education programs.\n\nRevenue is sourced from individual and corporate donations (including productized monthly tree donations via the Fonzip platform and 7 Fidan bundles), sales of publications and merchandise through ÇEKÜL Dükkan, and training/seminar fees from Gelecek Akademisi. Financials are not publicly disclosed. Operating with 36 employees, ÇEKÜL runs a hybrid go-to-market combining digital channels (website, newsletter, digital archives), event-driven engagement (seminars, workshops, field programs, anniversary events on the Bosphorus), and community-led delivery through volunteer representatives and municipal partnerships across Turkey's seven regions.

Name

CEKUL Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage

Legal name

Çevre ve Kültür Değerlerini Koruma ve Tanıtma Vakfı

Website

https://cekulvakfi.org.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ÇEKÜL Foundation, a 1990-established Turkish non-profit, protects natural and cultural heritage through afforestation, archival research, education, and AI-powered digital platforms, serving individual donors, municipalities, and researchers across Turkey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Cultural Heritage Conservation

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAMAJAK

Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Forest Management, Reforestation & Carbon Forestry Services

SECONDARYEDAAAFAB

Community Center Education Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation services
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Afforestation programs
• Heritage education training
• Archival research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Tree Planting Contributions: Monthly tree donation program (7 Ağaç Ormanları) where donors contribute to afforestation efforts. Donors receive certificates and e-cards for special occasions. Individual donations for cultural heritage protection are also accepted.
2. ÇEKÜL Store (Dükkan): Sale of nature-friendly design products and ÇEKÜL publications including books on trees, Istanbul's natural plants, cultural heritage, and children's educational materials. Proceeds support the 7 Ağaç Forests and Bilgi Ağacı education programs.
3. Corporate Donations: Corporate donations for afforestation (Kurumsal Ağaçlandırma) and cultural heritage protection. Organizations can create custom campaigns and support specific initiatives.
4. Training and Seminar Revenue: Gelecek Akademisi offers educational programs including seminars, workshops, and field trips on topics ranging from climate crisis to archaeology, biodiversity to gastronomy. Both individual and institutional participation is supported.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ÇEKÜL Foundation is a non-profit civil society organization that protects Turkey's natural and cultural heritage through multiple program areas: afforestation (7 Ağaç Ormanları program with ~5 million trees planted since 1994), Anatolia heritage research, an information/document archive center, education and training seminars (Gelecek Akademisi), children's environmental education (Bilgi Ağacı), field programs in Anatolian villages, and a regional center in Birgi. It supplements these physical programs with digital platforms (AI-powered OrtakBellek archive and RotaMiras heritage mapping) and an e-commerce store (ÇEKÜL Dükkan) selling publications and nature-friendly products.

Product overview

ÇEKÜL Foundation operates as a platform of interconnected programs and digital platforms focused on natural and cultural heritage protection in Turkey. The core programs include the 7 Ağaç Ormanları (afforestation), Anadolu Araştırmaları (Anatolia Research), Bilgi Belge Merkezi (Information Document Center), Gelecek Akademisi (Future Academy), Bilgi Ağacı (Information Tree), Saha (Field), and the Birgi Çevre Kültür ve Sanat Evi (Birgi House). These are complemented by two major digital platforms: OrtakBellek (AI-powered collective memory center with 20,000+ digitized items) and RotaMiras (interactive cultural heritage mapping platform). The foundation also operates an e-commerce store (ÇEKÜL Dükkan) for publications and nature-friendly products. The programs work synergistically, with physical programs generating research and archives that feed into the digital platforms, while the store provides funding for afforestation and education activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 7 Ağaç Ormanları: Afforestation program launched in 1994 to prevent deforestation and promote tree planting, in collaboration with Forest General Directorate
• ÇEKÜL Anadolu Araştırmaları
• ÇEKÜL Bilgi Belge Merkezi
• ÇEKÜL Gelecek Akademisi
• ÇEKÜL Bilgi Ağacı
• ÇEKÜL Saha
• ÇEKÜL Birgi Çevre Kültür ve Sanat Evi
• ÇEKÜL OrtakBellek
• ÇEKÜL RotaMiras

Products and services

• ÇEKÜL 7 Ağaç Ormanları Programı (7 Trees Forests Program) An afforestation program that plants 7 trees per donor to compensate for the average annual tree consumption per person. Operates in collaboration with the Forest General Directorate across Turkey and has planted approximately 5 million seedlings since inception. Available to individuals and corporations through one-time, monthly, and special occasion donations with certificates and e-cards.
• ÇEKÜL Anadolu Araştırmaları (Anatolia Research) A research program that develops strategies for protection and rehabilitation of natural and cultural heritage in Anatolian cities by bringing together experts from local governments, NGOs, professional chambers, and universities to create protection plans suited to each city's texture and living practices.
• ÇEKÜL Bilgi Belge Merkezi (Information Document Center)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 5 million seedlings planted through the 7 Ağaç Ormanları Program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, key, regional and minor.

• Orman Genel Müdürlüğü (General Directorate of Forests)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with the Turkish General Directorate of Forests for afforestation activities. This partnership enables the 7 Ağaç Ormanları Program to operate within official forestry frameworks and ensures proper implementation of tree planting activities across Turkey.
• Doğan EgmontkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partnership that produced the 'ÇEKÜL Bilgi Ağacı Kitaplığı' (Tree of Knowledge Library), starting with the children's book 'Evini Arayan Ardıç Tohumu'. Doğan Egmont handles publication and distribution while ÇEKÜL provides content expertise.
• Tarihi Kentler Birliği (Historic Cities Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerÇEKÜL played a pioneering role in establishing the Historic Cities Union, which now holds 10,700 items in its Middle East Postcard Collection archived at ÇEKÜL. The partnership focuses on protecting historic urban areas and promoting good practices.
• TÜSEV (Third Sector Foundation of Turkey)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTÜSEV serves as the implementing organization for the Turkey National Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change, with ÇEKÜL as one of the founding signatories.
• Şehitkamil Belediyesi (Şehitkamil Municipality)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with ÇEKÜL on the 'ÇEKÜL Kültür Elçileri: Şehitkamil Kentimin Öyküsü' (Culture Ambassadors) education program, training 21 teachers to educate 559 students on cultural heritage.
• Kadıköy Belediyesi (Kadıköy Municipality)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Yeldeğirmeni Urban Renewal Project, resulting in the alternative urban renewal approach documented in the 'Yeldeğirmeni Deneyimi' book.
• Çamurdan OrmanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolidarity project bringing potters and nature lovers together. ÇEKÜL serves as an intermediary for tree donations tied to ceramic product purchases.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Türkiye Eğitim Gönüllüleri Vakfı (TEGV): Major Turkish education-focused foundation running supplemental education and youth programs nationwide. Comparable operating model: volunteer-driven programs, multiple regional centers, and donor-supported mission delivery.
• TEMA Foundation (Türkiye Erozyonla Mücadele, Ağaçlandırma ve Doğal Varlıkları Koruma Vakfı): Turkey's most prominent environmental foundation, focused on erosion control, afforestation, and natural heritage protection. Closest direct peer to ÇEKÜL given overlapping afforestation, public awareness, and educational missions within Turkey.
• Sabancı Foundation: Major Turkish philanthropic foundation funding education, culture, and social development. Comparable as a domestic grant-making foundation and an actual partner of ÇEKÜL on climate philanthropy initiatives.
• TÜSEV (Third Sector Foundation of Turkey): Umbrella foundation supporting civil society organizations in Turkey. Peer in foundation management and grant-making capacity, and an actual programmatic partner with ÇEKÜL on national climate philanthropy commitments.
• Doğa Derneği (BirdLife Turkey): Turkish NGO focused on biodiversity conservation, habitat protection, and environmental education. Comparable to ÇEKÜL's natural heritage and community-based field work.
• Tarihi Kentler Birliği (Historic Cities Union): Union of Turkish municipalities focused on historic urban conservation, of which ÇEKÜL is a co-founder. Directly comparable mission around protecting and rehabilitating historic urban fabric and heritage sites.

Regional players

• Açık Radyo (Open Radio) Foundation: Istanbul-based independent radio foundation running cultural and environmental programming and public education events. Comparable as a small, mission-driven Turkish foundation combining cultural content, education, and community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (TNC): Global conservation organization with science-driven forest and ecosystem programs. Comparable on afforestation, ecosystem services, and corporate partnership models, though at vastly larger scale and scope.
• WWF-Türkiye (World Wildlife Fund): Global conservation organization's Turkey office, focused on biodiversity, forests, and environmental policy. Operates at larger scale and broader thematic scope than ÇEKÜL but competes for the same donor and corporate partner pool.
• Greenpeace Mediterranean: Global advocacy organization operating in Turkey on environmental and climate issues. Adjacent to ÇEKÜL on environmental advocacy and donor pool, but differs in using campaign-driven rather than education-and-field-driven models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cekulvakfi

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CEKUL Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage