TEMA Foundation

What TEMA Foundation does

TEMA Foundation (Türkiye Erozyonla Mücadele, Ağaçlandırma ve Doğal Varlıkları Koruma Vakfı), founded on September 11, 1992, by Hayrettin Karaca and A. Nihat Gökyiğit, is Turkey's largest non-profit environmental civil society organization, headquartered in Şişli, Istanbul. The foundation's mandate covers combating soil erosion, desertification, and deforestation, alongside climate advocacy, biodiversity protection, rural development, and environmental education. Cumulative reported impact includes 45+ million saplings planted, 8+ million children reached through education programs, 700 million oak acorns planted, and 188 environmental lawsuit wins out of 326 cases filed since 1997. TEMA operates across all 81 Turkish provinces via a field representative network and holds international affiliations including IUCN, EEB, CAN-Europe, Drynet, MIO-ECSDE, plus UNCCD and UNFCCC accreditation, and received the inaugural UNCCD "Land for Life Award" in 2012.

The foundation runs a portfolio of programs and partnership products, including unit-priced sapling donations (175 TL per sapling with optional certificates), memorial forest creation (minimum 2,000 saplings for individuals / 10,000 for organizations), the Maximum TEMA co-branded credit card with İş Bankası (since 2010), the "81 Forests in 81 Provinces" reforestation project (2023-2028, 2.2 million saplings target with the Directorate General of Forestry), the Forest for the Future carbon-points program with İş Bankası (2021, 432,500 saplings planted in 6 provinces), the Climate TEMA Education Portal (iklimtema.org, 2022) with the Ministry of National Education, and Mini TEMA / Junior TEMA youth programs. TEMA's digital footprint consists of standard content portals (tema.org.tr, iklimtema.org, 81ilde81orman.com.tr) with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no proprietary models, and no app. Headcount stands at 623 paid employees supported by an estimated 1.3 million registered volunteers.

Revenue mechanics span individual donations and recurring monthly gifts ("Az Ver Hep Ver" at 50/100/200 TL tiers), volunteer membership fees (65 TL for ages 0-24, 225 TL lifetime for 25+), corporate partnerships with named enterprises including İş Bankası, Anadolu Sigorta, Garanti BBVA, Arçelik, Ford Otomotiv, LC Waikiki, Allianz, Koton, QNB Finansbank, and Anadolu Hayat Emeklilik, consumer products (wedding, baby, and circumcision invitation cards sold as donation vehicles), used-paper recycling revenue, and government/institutional contracts with the Ministry of National Education and Directorate General of Forestry. Current leadership includes Chairperson Deniz Ataç, Vice President Assoc. Dr. Pervin Olgun, and General Manager Başak Yalvaç Özçağdaş, with a new General Director announced in October 2024. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, Trustee Committee, and Science Board. Annual revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

TEMA Foundation

Legal name

TEMA, Türkiye Erozyonla Mücadele, Ağaçlandırma ve Doğal Varlıkları Koruma Vakfı

Website

https://tema.org.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

TEMA Foundation is Turkey's largest non-profit environmental organization, founded in 1992, that combats soil erosion and deforestation through reforestation, environmental education, legal advocacy, and corporate partnerships, supported by over 1.3 million volunteers across all 81 Turkish provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Environmental non-profit
• Reforestation programs
• Soil erosion prevention
• Environmental education
• Habitat conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: TEMA Foundation generates primary revenue through individual donations, regular monthly contributions (Az Ver Hep Ver program), and corporate sponsorships. Donors contribute through bank transfers, SMS, and online platforms.
2. Sapling/Tree Donation Sales: The foundation sells tree saplings at 175 TL per unit. Donors receive certificates for their contributions. Memorial forests require minimum donations of 10,000 saplings for organizations or 2,000 for individuals.
3. Products and Merchandise: TEMA sells environmental-themed products including wedding invitations, cards, magnets, and accessories. Proceeds support the foundation's environmental activities.
4. Corporate Partnership Programs: Partnership programs with companies like İş Bankası (Maximum TEMA Card), Anadolu Sigorta (100,000 saplings), and others where corporations donate based on customer transactions or direct contributions.
5. Used Paper Recycling: Collection and sale of used paper for recycling, with proceeds supporting environmental activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TEMA Foundation is a Turkish non-profit foundation that combats soil erosion, conducts reforestation (over 45 million saplings planted), runs environmental education programs reaching 8+ million children, and pursues environmental advocacy through litigation and policy campaigns. It generates revenue from individual donations, recurring monthly contributions, corporate CSR partnerships, sapling/merchandise sales, and volunteer membership fees, while mobilizing 1.3 million+ volunteers across Turkey through field representatives and digital platforms.

Product overview

TEMA Foundation operates as a non-profit environmental organization offering a portfolio of donation-based consumer products and environmental programs rather than a unified technology platform. Core products include sapling/tree donations (Fidan Başışı) and memorial forest creation programs, supplemented by branded consumer products (wedding invitations, baby cards, circumcision invitations) that generate donations. Financial products include the Maximum TEMA Card co-branded with İş Bankası. Educational offerings comprise nature education programs (Mini TEMA, Junior TEMA) and the Climate TEMA Education Portal for climate change education. Large-scale reforestation initiatives include the 81 Forests in 81 Provinces project and Forests for the Future carbon offset program. The organization also facilitates corporate social responsibility partnerships and volunteer programs for environmental advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sapling Donation (Fidan Bağışı) Tree planting donation program where individual supporters contribute to reforestation efforts at 175 TL per sapling; certificates are issued to donors for contributions of two or more saplings. The program funds the foundation's broader reforestation projects across Turkey.
• Memorial Forest Creation (Hatıra Ormanı) Memorial forest creation program enabling individuals and organizations to dedicate forests by funding minimum 10,000 saplings (organizations) or 2,000 saplings (individuals), with optional memorial plaques installed at the site.
• Maximum TEMA Card Co-branded credit card partnership with Türkiye İş Bankası where a portion of cardholder spending is directed to TEMA Foundation to support reforestation and environmental programs. The program has been continuously operating since 2010 and includes both consumer and corporate card variants.
• Nature Education Programs (Mini TEMA, Junior TEMA) Environmental nature education programs delivered to children including Mini TEMA and Junior TEMA, designed in cooperation with Türkiye İş Bankası and implemented in schools. Programs have reached 8+ million children with content focused on ecological literacy and nature awareness.
• Climate TEMA Education Portal (iklimtema.org) Online education platform developed in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education that delivers climate change and nature education resources, lesson content, and expert opinions to teachers and students across Turkey.
• 81 Forests in 81 Provinces Large-scale reforestation collaboration between Türkiye İş Bankası, Directorate General of Forestry, and TEMA Foundation to plant 2.2 million saplings across all 81 Turkish provinces over a 5-year period from 2023 to 2028.
• Forests for the Future (Geleceğe Orman) Carbon-point program where Türkiye İş Bankası customers earn carbon points through environmentally friendly transactions; İş Bankası plants saplings on behalf of customers through TEMA Foundation. 432,500 saplings have been planted in 6 provinces under the program.
• Youth and Adult Volunteering Programs Volunteer engagement program enrolling individuals into multiple categories (Organization Volunteers, Site/Field Volunteers, Support Volunteers, Young TEMA, and Graduated TEMA) with tiered membership fees by age. The program structures volunteer participation in reforestation, field coordination, and awareness activities.
• Corporate Social Responsibility Partnership Programs Custom environmental and reforestation projects designed for corporate partners under cooperation agreements, encompassing afforestation, environmental education sponsorship, and nature conservation initiatives. Active corporate partners include Türkiye İş Bankası, Anadolu Sigorta, Anadolu Hayat Emeklilik, LC Waikiki, Arçelik, Garanti BBVA, Ford Otomotiv, Allianz Sigorta, QNB Finansbank, and Koton.
• Regular Monthly Donation Program (Az Ver Hep Ver) Recurring monthly donation program where individual supporters commit to ongoing contributions of 50 TL, 100 TL, or 200 TL per month to sustain TEMA Foundation's environmental activities.
• Drought Masters Project Climate change adaptation project aimed at young farmers, focused on building drought resilience and sustainable farming capacity among the next generation of Turkish agricultural producers.
• Occasion Invitations and Accessory Merchandise Themed donation-based merchandise including wedding invitations, circumcision ceremony invitations, baby announcement cards, sympathy cards, magnets, and accessories. Purchases generate donations to TEMA Foundation's environmental work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45+ million saplings planted since foundation in 1992
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Anadolu SigortamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025100,000 saplings planted to mark the company's 100th anniversary in 2025.
• Türkiye İş BankasıcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Major partnership for 81 Forests in 81 Provinces project (2023-2028) with Directorate General of Forestry. 2,200,000 saplings to be planted in 5 years. Also partner for Mini TEMA, Junior TEMA, and Forest for the Future programs (432,500 saplings planted in 6 provinces).
• Genie FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Water Fellowship project supporting water conservation education.
• Anadolu Hayat EmeklilikmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021PPS for My Child program: donates portion of income to TEMA Foundation for children's nature education to strengthen ecological literacy.
• Help StepsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Steps turn into donations. Users donate steps to TEMA Foundation through the app, converted to saplings.
• KAFTminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019T-shirts Turn into Saplings collaboration. T-shirt designs donated to TEMA Foundation to raise awareness.
• İş Bankası (Maximum TEMA Card)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Maximum TEMA Card program since 2010. İş Bank supports TEMA Foundation through purchases made with the card. Also Maximum TEMA Corporate Credit Card transfers funds from corporate expenditures.
• European Environmental Bureau (EEB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization and Board member. EEB is the largest network of environmental NGOs in Europe.
• World Conservation Union (IUCN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of the World Conservation Union.
• Climate Action Network Europe (CAN-Europe)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of European Climate Network working on climate policy.
• DrynetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of NGOs working on dryland issues in 18 countries. TEMA Foundation served as Board Chair (2014-2017) and is current Board member.
• MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information Office)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member of MIO-ECSDE which has members from 28 countries. Focus on sustainable development in Mediterranean region.
• Directorate General of Forestry (OGM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for reforestation projects, afforestation sites, and 81 Forests in 81 Provinces project.
• Ministry of National Education (MEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Climate TEMA Education Portal (iklimtema.org) and nature education programs (Mini TEMA, Junior TEMA).
• TEMA K Volunteer Resource GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer group providing funds since 1999 through dinners, cultural trips, and events. Tens of thousands of children benefited from nature education programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ÇEV (Foundation for Environmental Education in Türkiye): Turkish foundation running environmental education programs (Eco-Schools, Green Key) often in partnership with the Ministry of National Education. Directly comparable in the education pillar of TEMA's mission.
• Arbor Day Foundation: U.S.-based nonprofit specializing in tree planting and reforestation. Directly comparable in its reforestation-product model (sapling donations, memorial forests) and large-scale planting partnerships with corporates.
• WWF-Türkiye (World Wide Fund for Nature): Turkish branch of the global conservation organization, working on forests, biodiversity, and climate in the same geography and donor pool. A directly comparable peer with international backing.
• Friends of the Earth Türkiye: Turkish affiliate of the Friends of the Earth network, focused on environmental justice and advocacy. Comparable as a membership-based CSO operating in Turkey on similar issue priorities.
• Doğa Derneği (Nature Society): Another major Turkish environmental NGO focused on biodiversity protection, sustainable development, and environmental advocacy. Directly comparable as a homegrown Turkish CSO competing for the same donor, volunteer, and government-partnership pool.
• Greenpeace Mediterranean: Active in Turkey and the Mediterranean on climate, biodiversity, and environmental advocacy. Comparable in advocacy and litigation-heavy operating model serving overlapping geographic and issue territory.

Regional players

• Türkiye Çevre Koruma Vakfı (TÜÇEV): Turkish environmental protection foundation focused on environmental conservation and public awareness. Comparable as a peer Vakfı (foundation) structure and mission overlap with TEMA's environmental mandate.

Emerging players

• Plant-for-the-Planet: Global youth-led reforestation initiative with large-scale tree-restoration goals and corporate partnerships. Comparable in the reforestation-product mechanism (sponsor a tree) and education-driven awareness model.

Others

• MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development): Network of 28 environmental CSOs around the Mediterranean of which TEMA is a board member. Comparable as an NGO-network entity and partner; not a direct competitor but a relevant counterpart for TEMA's international policy work.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits, with deep expertise in reforestation, land conservation, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in operating model and donor base, though with broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tema
• YouTubeyoutube.com/tema
• Facebookfacebook.com/tema.org.tr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/temavakfi
• Instagraminstagram.com/tema

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about TEMA Foundation