Turkish-American Associations In the United States

In alphabetical order:

American Association of Teachers of Turkic Languages (AATT)
AATT members are teachers of Turkic languages; universities, including language schools in government services; and other related educational institutions.  AATT is dedicated to the enhancement of study, criticism, and research in the field of Turkic languages, literature, and linguistics.  It seeks to improve and advance the teaching methods of modern and historical Turkic languages.  AATT develops guidelines and standards for proficiency-based teaching of Turkic languages, publishes bibliography of teaching materials, and organizes workshops for teachers.

American Friends of Turkey (AFOT)
Founded in 1982, AFOT is based in Washington, D.C.  It is a charitable organization with programs and activities to promote greater public awareness and understanding of Türkiye’s history, culture and modern day society; and in doing so, to build bridges between the American and Turkish peoples.

American Research Institute (ARIT) – U.S. Office
ARIT is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to promoting North American and Turkish research and exchanges related to Türkiye in all fields of the humanities and social sciences.  ARIT provides support for these scholarly endeavors by maintaining research centers in Istanbul and Ankara, and by administering programs of fellowships to support research in Türkiye at doctoral and advanced research levels.  In the United States, ARIT sponsors lectures in collaboration with the American Turkish Council, the New York chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America, and the University of Pennsylvania Museum.  ARIT institutional member, the University of Pennsylvania, houses the ARIT U.S. office in the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology in Philadelphia.

American Turkish Council (ATC)
ATC is a business association which is dedicated to effectively strengthening U.S.-Turkish relations through the promotion of commercial, defense, technology and cultural relations.  Its diverse membership includes Fortune 500, U.S. and Turkish companies, multinationals, non-profit organizations and individuals with an interest in U.S.-Turkish relations.  Guided by member interests, ATC strives to enhance the growing ties between the U.S. and Türkiye by initiating and facilitating efforts to increase investment and trade between the two countries.

American Turkish Society (ATS)
Founded in 1949, ATS is the oldest American-Turkish organization in the United States which aims to serve any corporations/individuals with an interest in Türkiye and U.S.-Turkish relations.  ATS aims to build an understanding and a positive image of Türkiye among Americans; serve the Turkish community in America; encourage tourism to Türkiye; support artists and their art; and share the history, culture and art of Türkiye.

Anatolian Artistans (AnARt)
Based in Washington Metropolitan area with coordinators in Türkiye, AnARt is a small but growing organization supplemented by a network of expert consultants.  Raising awareness about the Turkish arts and culture is an integral part of AnARt’s activities.

Assembly of Turkish American Association (ATAA)
The founding principle of ATAA was the need to create cohesion and cooperation between the large numbers of social/cultural Turkish American organizations around the United States.  The main objectives of ATAA are two-fold: One is to create an informed national Turkish American community that can help foster U.S.-Turkish relations and take an active part in promoting a balanced and truthful picture of Türkiye in the United States. The other is to educate Americans in government, the media and the public at large about Türkiye and issues that concern Turkish Americans. In pursuit of its mission and objectives, ATAA undertakes a number of activities including educational workshops, seminars and conferences on a variety of political, social and economic issues facing Türkiye, and cultural events to promote Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage, as well as educational seminars for American teachers. See also: ATAA Component Associations.

Atatürk Society of America (ASA)
Founded in Washington, D.C. in 1995, ASA is an independent non-profit organization with the objective of promoting Atatürk’s political legacy as a contribution to universal freedom and peace.  Given this objective, the ASA organizes scholarly lectures, grants research fellowships, maintains a resource and reference center, and makes representations regarding the benefits of Atatürk’s political principles for world’s prosperity and peace.

Bridge to Türkiye (BTF)
Bridge to Türkiye Fund was established in 2003 by Turkish Americans driven to make a difference, to improve life and to cultivate social change for the common good.  BTF’s commitment to these ideals stems from our basic desire to Give-Back to our native land for the many opportunities we have gained from her.  BTF’s capacity building programs in Türkiye, provide opportunities for the Turkish-Americans and Friends of Türkiye to reconnect with their roots and ties in Turkey, while encouraging global civic responsibility.

Institute of Turkish Studies (ITS)
Founded in 1982, ITS is located at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service of the Georgetown University.  As the oldest and largest school of international affairs in the country, ITS is the only non-profit, private educational foundation in the United States. that supports the development of Turkish Studies in American higher education. Its major objectives are: To support individual scholars, especially younger members of the academic profession in the United States for advanced research on Turkish history and culture, as well as contemporary political, social, and economic developments in Türkiye; assist American universities in developing their library resources, programs of study, scholarly conferences, and outreach activities in the field of Turkish Studies; support publishing of books and journals that contribute to American scholarship on Türkiye and broaden the understanding and knowledge of Turkish history, society, politics, and economics in the United States, and promote better understanding of Turkish politics, economy, and society through conferences and lecture series.

Intercollegiate Turkish Students Society
Founded in 1997 as a volunteer students organization, ITSS aims to increase communication and cooperation among Turkish student associations in the United States and Canada.  Its major aims are to provide an exchange of information, experience and resources; support students before-during-after their school education; better implement lobbyist activities; better promote peaceful relations among societies with the motto of “Peace at home, Peace in the world.”

Turkish American Alliance for Fairness (TAAF)
TAAF is a non-profit organization dedicated to promote public understanding and fair treatment of issues of concern to Turkish-Americans, public education, and other civil activities in related matters.  TAAF aims to promote, advocate, and advance issues and viewpoints of importance to Turkish-Americans; promote fairness in media, education, community affairs, government activities, and public opinion in regard to issues relating to Turkish-Americans and others with a Turkish heritage; counter incorrect, biased, and prejudiced statements and activities aimed at, or defamation of, those of Turkish heritage, arising either from race, religion, color, language, ethnic identity or from malicious intent; and promote/advocate equality as well as harmonious relations between those of Turkish heritage and other ethnic groups in the United States.

Turkish American Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Maritime Trade® (TACCIM®)
Founded in 2000, TACCIM is a non-profit organization which promotes opportunities to increase business, trade and investments between the United States and Türkiye.  It provides information and assistance to members of the business communities in both countries about trade, industrial cooperation, investment, tourism and other opportunities in their respective market areas.  TACCIM offers to organize support and conduct research, educational, social and cultural programs and developmental activities.  It cooperates with other public organizations, governmental bodies, and public/private educational institutions in the creation and promotion of such educational, social and cultural programs and developmental activities.

Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association (TASSA)
TASSA is an independent, non-profit, and non-political organization with the aim of increasing the communication and co-operation among its members and their counterparts.  It will also initiate or participate in specific programs to improve the educational advancement opportunities, scientific exchange, and fellowship between the United States and Türkiye.

Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF)
Founded in 2000, TCF aims to promote and preserve Turkish culture and heritage worldwide, through original programs and cooperation with like minded organizations.  TCF is a U.S. tax-exempt public charitable organization supported entirely by private donations, with offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Istanbul.

Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF)
Founded in 2007, TPF was created by a group of individuals who recognized the importance of assisting donors eager to give back to Türkiye.  TPF is the first diaspora organization of the Turkish-American community that employs the community foundation model, which is an application of one of the oldest traditions in human history: Helping your neighbor.  At its most simple, TPF’s donor centric model allows donors to give “through” rather than giving directly to TPF.

U.S.- TÜRKİYE RELATIONS

U.S.-TÜRKİYE RELATIONS

The U.S.-Türkiye friendship dates to 1831, when the United States established diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire. After World War I and the founding of the Turkish Republic, the United States established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Turkey in 1927.  The Economic and Technical Cooperation agreement – signed July 12, 1947 between the United States and Turkey – advanced the relationship further.  The agreement implemented the Truman Doctrine and its policy “to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”  The United States condemned the July 15, 2016, coup attempt in Turkey, and the United States continues to emphasize the importance of the Turkish government’s adherence to policies and actions that build public trust in the country’s democratic institutions and the rule of law, as well as upholding human rights commitments.  Turkey is a key NATO Ally and critical regional partner, and the United States is committed to improving the relationship between our two countries.  It is in our interest to keep Turkey anchored to the Euro-Atlantic community.

Türkiye’s Membership in International Organizations

Türkiye hosted the G20 in 2015 and remains an active and engaged G20 member.  Türkiye is a member of NATO, the UN, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Council, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  Türkiye also is an observer to the Organization of American States, a Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and a sectoral dialogue partner of the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN).  Türkiye is a candidate for EU membership and continues working towards accession.  The United States is convinced that a Türkiye that meets EU membership criteria would be good for the EU, and that Türkiye’s efforts to meet those criteria are good for Türkiye.