YADA: Yaşama Dair Vakıf

What YADA: Yaşama Dair Vakıf does

YADA: Yaşama Dair Vakıf (YADA Foundation) is a Turkish non-profit foundation established in 2004 and headquartered in Kadıköy, Istanbul, with a team of approximately 10 staff. The organization was founded by a group of social scientists and project design experts with the stated mission of building a bridge between 'knowledge' and 'society', and it works to strengthen civil society's influence on citizens, public administration, and private sector decision-making in Turkey.

YADA operates through three core divisions — YADA Research (knowledge production through research projects), YADA Implementation (converting research into sustainable programs), and YADA Sustainability (bridging civil society knowledge with the private sector). The foundation has developed a distinct set of proprietary models, including Meydan (Square), a democratic dialogue and negotiation platform; Sivil Topografya Sınıflandırması (Civil Topography Classification), a system for categorizing civil society organizations; and Sivil Sayfalar (Civil Pages), a visibility and connectivity platform. Its research output spans 70+ projects covering civil society, democracy, youth, gender, aging, environment, and social inclusion, with methodologies including nationally representative surveys and Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping.

YADA's revenue model is grant-funded, with revenue generated through competitive research and implementation projects financed by international organizations (European Union, UN Women, British Council, UNDP, UNDEF, TÜBİTAK), bilateral donors (Swedish Consulate, British Embassy, Heinrich Böll Stiftung), private sector partners (AvivaSA, Temiz Hava Hakkı Platformu), and local government (Lüleburgaz Municipality). As a non-profit foundation, publications and tools are provided free of charge, with services delivered through project-based partnerships rather than commercial pricing.

Name

YADA: Yaşama Dair Vakıf

Legal name

Yaşama Dair Vakıf

Website

https://yada.org.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

YADA Foundation is a Turkish non-profit founded in 2004 that researches civil society, designs dialogue and capacity-building models, and delivers grant-funded programs for CSOs, government, and the private sector in Turkey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Society Research and Development

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (BPADAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Civil society research
• NGO capacity building
• Social impact assessment
• Policy research services
• Democratic dialogue facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Implementation Projects: YADA generates revenue through competitive research and implementation projects funded by international organizations, governments, and foundations. They transform knowledge produced through research into sustainable and impactful projects/programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

YADA Foundation conducts research on civil society in Turkey and develops practical tools and models to strengthen CSOs' capacity to influence decision-making. Through its three divisions (YADA Research, YADA Implementation, and YADA Sustainability) and frameworks (Meydan, Sivil Sayfalar, Civil Topography Classification), the foundation produces evidence-based knowledge and delivers dialogue facilitation, capacity building, and program implementation services for civil society organizations, government bodies, and private sector partners.

Product overview

YADA Foundation operates as a civil society research and development organization with three main divisions: YADA Research (knowledge production through research projects), YADA Implementation (converting research into sustainable programs), and YADA Sustainability (bridging civil society with private sector). The foundation also offers distinct models including Meydan (Square) for democratic dialogue and negotiation, the Civil Topography Classification system for categorizing CSOs, and Civil Pages platform. These products and models work together to strengthen civil society capacity in Turkey through research, dialogue facilitation, and practical implementation tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YADA Araştırma (YADA Research) A research division that designs and conducts research projects on civil society, developing collaborations with universities, European Union, United Nations, embassies, private companies, public and non-governmental organizations. Has carried out over 70 research projects and published numerous reports and books.
• YADA Uygulama (YADA Implementation) A division that transforms research findings into viable, sustainable, and impactful projects and programs, developing collaborations with European Union, United Nations, embassies, international, national and local non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
• YADA Sürdürülebilirlik (YADA Sustainability) A division that works with the private sector on social and environmental issues, making civil society knowledge visible for the private sector and contributing to bringing concepts, gaps, needs, risks and opportunities to the private sector agenda.
• Meydan (Square) A dialogue and negotiation platform developed to create democratic negotiation environments where civil society organizations from different backgrounds can discuss common issues without focusing on their differences. Named after the Turkish word for 'square'—an open space belonging to everyone.
• Sivil Topografya Sınıflandırması (Civil Topography Classification) A classification system developed by YADA to categorize and map civil society organizations based on various dimensions and characteristics.
• Sivil Sayfalar (Civil Pages) An online platform or model that provides visibility and connectivity for civil society organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 research projects completed with published reports and books
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Temiz Hava Hakkı Platformu (Clean Air Right Platform)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for the 'Türkiye'de Hava Kirliliği Algısı' (Perception of Air Pollution in Turkey) research conducted in 2022.
• Kürt Çalışmaları Merkezi (Kurdish Studies Center) and Rawest AraştırmamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Research collaboration on 'Kürt Gençler '20: Benzerlikler, Farklar, Değişimler' (Kurdish Youth '20: Similarities, Differences, Changes) with support from British Embassy and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Turkey.
• AvivaSAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Support for 'Türkiye'de Yaşlılık Tahayyülleri ve Pratikleri Araştırması' (Aging Envisagement and Practices in Turkey Research) conducted in the last quarter of 2018.
• United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Funding for 'Türkiye'de Sivil Toplum Diyaloğunun Güçlendirilmesi' (Strengthening Civil Society Dialogue in Turkey) project implemented between 2018-2020.
• British CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership to conduct Next Generation Turkey research as part of British Council's global Next Generation research series, working with Gelecek Daha Net (GDN) Gençlik Platformu.
• Lüleburgaz Belediyesi (Lüleburgaz Municipality)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Commissioned research on civil society organizations in Lüleburgaz city, analyzing strengths and weaknesses of the civil society sector and developing strategy recommendations.
• European Union (AB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Union is YADA's primary funding and strategic partner, supporting multiple projects including Sivil Diyalogun Güçlenmesi (Strengthening Civil Dialogue), Sivil Diyalogun Geliştirilmesi ve İzlenmesi (Enhancing and Monitoring Civil Dialogue), Civil Society Dialogue programmes, and AB İzleme Ağı (EU Monitoring Network). Multiple projects supported between 2014-2022.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UN Women on gender equality initiatives, including the 'Implementing Norms, Changing Minds' programme and WEPs (Women's Empowerment Principles) implementation guide development.
• TAV and İKV (Third Age Association and Economic Development Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in EU Monitoring Network Project (AB İzleme Ağı Projesi) for the 'Türkiye'de Sivil Toplum Sektörünün Etkisi' (Impact of Civil Society Sector in Turkey) research.
• AÇEV (Mother Child Education Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Erkeklik ve Babalık Halleri Araştırması' (Masculinity and Fatherhood Research) to reveal dominant fatherhood and masculinity perceptions in society.
• Kamusal Politika ve Demokrasi Çalışmaları Derneği (PODEM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on multiple research including '15 Temmuz'dan Bugüne Alevilerin Gündemi' (Agenda of Alevis since July 15th) and 'Eğitimde Çoğulculuk ve İnanç Özgürlüğü' (Pluralism in Education and Freedom of Belief).
• AMSED (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with French organization AMSED under Civil Society Dialogue programme for multiculturalism mapping study 'Türkiye ve Fransa'da Çokkültürlülük: Bir Arada Yaşam Birlikte Mümkün mü?'
• UNDP TurkeymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Gençlik Halleri Araştırması (Youth Status Research) to support UNDP's 2008 Human Development Report on Youth.
• İsveç Konsolosluğu (Swedish Consulate)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding support for 'Increasing the Advocacy Capacities of Women's CSOs' project and Social Impact Guide for CSOs.
• TÜBİTAKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch funding for multiple academic research projects including 'Türkiye'de Gönüllü Kuruluşların Sivil Topoğrafyası' (Civil Topography of Voluntary Organizations in Turkey) 2010-2012, 'Türkiye'de Gönüllü Kuruluşlarda Sivil Toplum Kültürü' (Civil Society Culture in Voluntary Organizations) 2007-2009, and PR research 2012-2014.
• Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi (Antalya Akdeniz University Faculty of Communication)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for 'Türkiye'de STK'ların Halkla İlişkiler Deneyimi' (PR Experience of CSOs in Turkey) research supported by TUBITAK 1001.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) at Sabancı University: Turkey-based think tank producing policy research on democratization, civil society, and social policy. Directly comparable in research-driven, evidence-based policy work in Turkey.
• STGM (Civil Society Development Center): Ankara-based capacity-building platform for Turkish CSOs, focusing on civil dialogue, CSO legislation, and EU-funded programmes. Competitor and frequent collaborator in the same EU Civil Society Dialogue ecosystem.
• INTRAC (International NGO Training and Research Centre): British organization supporting CSO monitoring, evaluation, and learning via research and capacity building. Highly comparable in MEL services and CSO capacity-building mandate.
• PODEM (Public Policy and Democracy Studies Association): Turkish research and advocacy organization focused on democracy, gender, and social cohesion. Active YADA partner and direct thematic peer on pluralism and inclusion research.
• TÜSEV (Third Sector Foundation of Turkey): Turkish umbrella foundation supporting civil society infrastructure, legal environment, and philanthropy. Directly comparable in operating model and CSO development mandate.
• TESEV (Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation): Istanbul-based independent Turkish foundation producing policy research, governance, and civil society studies. Closest domestic peer in mission, funding model, and institutional positioning.
• ECNL (European Center for Not-for-Profit Law): Europe-based organization working on enabling environment for civil society, civic space, and CSO regulation. Comparable in international-development MEL/reform focus and EU funding model.
• TACSO (Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations): EU-funded regional programme providing capacity building, dialogue, and monitoring support to CSOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey. Direct peer in methodology and EU Civil Society Dialogue mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: Global grantmaker and operator supporting civil society, governance, and rights work. Operates overlapping themes in Turkey and adjacent regions at far larger scale.
• CIVICUS: Global civil society alliance producing the Civil Society Index and civic space research. Comparable mission and outputs at significantly larger global scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yadaetki

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about YADA: Yaşama Dair Vakıf