Frequently Asked Questions

Planning generally plays an important role in collaboration with volunteers. An effective collaboration with volunteers in CSOs enables organizations to work with them in a long-term and mutually beneficial way. Collaboration can transform to a sustainable volunteering programme by strategic planning. At the planning phase, following topics are advised to be considered;

• Assess the organization's readiness to work with volunteers. Volunteer Program Assessment, developed by Betty Stallings can be utilized to find out the readiness of the organization for engaging volunteers.
• Goals of Volunteer Programme. Volunteering is a crucial resource and strategy for implementing the mission of the organization. So, measurable and achievable goals should be set for the impact that volunteers will create. Besides, resources that may be required for volunteers (table, chair, computer, etc.) should also be taken into consideration.
• Staffing for Collaboration with Volunteers. Success in collaboration is directly linked to effective coordination. One of the important elements of effective collaboration is to have a "volunteer coordinator" (professional or volunteer based, whose job description is related to the coordination of the volunteer task force).

A successful volunteer coordinator must have knowledge and experience on;

• Human Resources Management,
• Public relations/marketing,
• Communication,
• Resource development,
• Growth of Society
• Education, training and development.

Crowdfunding can be defined as one of the new generation fundraising methods which is a funding system based on financial and in-kind donations/contributions from a large number of individuals.  Individuals are able to provide financial or in-kind contributions by making donations via online platforms.

Some examples of online crowdfunding tools in Turkey can be seen in alphabetical order; Açık Açık, Adım Adım, destkle.org, Fongogo, İhtiyaç Haritası.

Campaigns can be described as a series of actions or activities aimed at a wide audience for building support to provide remedy to a problem or an issue. It can be carried out to influence decision makers with broad public support and participation. In other words, a campaign is also a set of activities in a certain period of time, aimed at both behavioral and policy changes by mobilizing the large masses for a specific advocacy purpose. 

Campaigns should have a decent planning, considering the implementation capacity and;

• The short and a clear message should be conveyed throughout the campaign,
• A call action needs be developed to mobilize the wide audiences,
• It is recommended to be creative and noticeable for the message, visual(s), applications and media of the campaign for attracting the attention of the broad public.

There is no need to issue an agreement/contract with the supplier/service provider. The payment of mentioned good and services may be realized against invoices and submission of VAT Tax Exemption Certificate.

In order to avoid unforeseen circumstances with suppliers/service providers, it’s advised to issue an agreement/contract for procurement activities which is less than 3,500 TL.

In consequence of the 85th Presidential Decree on 12/09/2018 and the 4th article of the "Decision No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency,", regulating service or work contracts in foreign currency and/or in foreign currency indexed amongst residents of Turkey had been prohibited for trading and locatio of all kinds of chattels, real estates, vehicles, financial leasing, except for the clauses to be designated by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

Then, in order to determine exceptions, two communiqués were published and through the last one, (Communiqué No: 2018) -32/52) the amendment is made to allow CSOs who have grant contracts abroad are able to issue contracts in foreign currencies, except human resources contracts.

Accordingly, the below table demonstrates usage of currencies, based on budget headings, are able to be applied in contracts of CSOs who have grant contracts abroad.

The key is to encourage people who have required skills for devoting their time and energy to an organization.

Moreover, benefits to be achieved by volunteers should be identified and those need to be conveyed to them in a structured way. For example, voluntary work would be an opportunity to get to know people from a different background and culture? Or build a durable relationship with a child? Or gaining updated information about communication? Etc.

CSOs that are successfully engaged with well-matched volunteers:

• are clear about the skills and background that is needed,
• to engage the entire staff, board and community in collaboration efforts,
• to use different means to outreach prospective volunteers such as on-line listings, newsletters, one-on-one contact, etc
• The "Volunteer Recruitment Toolkit"  will help to identify and attract volunteers as target audience.

The fundraising and resource development concept can be considered by CSOs in a broader perspective. In addition to financial resources, infrastructure, equipment, information and technology are also resources for CSO that are expected to be managed efficiently. Therefore, CSOs should not consider resources only in terms of money, and to plan them in a broader context. Here, volunteers should also be recognized as one of the significant resources in CSOs. Volunteers can take an active role in different areas, from accessing in-kind and financial resources to supporting the operations of the organizations.

Volunteers contribute to several different functions of CSOs in a wider range of areas, such as promoting community engagement and participation in the society and to popularize the success and operations of the organization. Besides, working with volunteers enhances the recognition of the organization, ensures that its operations and works are acknowledged by the society. They also serve as a bridge between CSOs and society and contribute to increase effectiveness of CSOs operations. Moreover, the support of volunteers enables a CSO to run activities easier and in a more effective way. All of these provide an advantage to CSOs in fundraising and resource development processes as well.

You can find more information about fundraising and resource development and volunteer management on Volunteer Management Guide, 501 Commons. For further information (in Turkish), please check out the Turkish version of this page.

Policy Proposal can be defined as making recommendations to change a law, regulation, or government service with the intention of offering a better life for people.

You may refer to the section titled "How to Benefit from STGM" located on our website.

Works and activities of STGM are announced on its website, social media channels and e-newsletter. Please remember to check our website and social media channels on a regular basis. You may also join our e-newsletter by just typing your e-mail address. You can find the registration part at the bottom of each page on our website.

STGM does not have any branch offices or representation offices outside of Ankara. However, STGM organizes various trainings and activities in all regions of Turkey. You may always reach us over the e-mail address at [email protected]

We, as STGM, admit interns from the official internship programs of universities. If you are a student in a university, you may have the opportunity to do an internship at STGM by having your school contact us in the scope of their official internship program.

You may check out the “Announcements” section on our website regarding available volunteer programme. If there is an open for voluntary work programme at STGM, please  assess the requirements of the programme first and then make your application, if you wish.

STGM organizes CSO-specific training or one-on-one activities with CSOs under the special programmes such as "Needs Based Training" or "Organizational Coaching" only. Please check out our website and follow up our e-bulletin to apply to open programmes of CSO-specific trainings or on-on-one activities.

You can contact  [email protected] for your further questions about our trainings 

You may access STGM Publications over the Publications section, download and share with others as you will. However, it is compulsory to give reference in case the publications are to be used in part or whole, and the copyrights of the publications belong to STGM. 

As a CSO, you may request the printed versions of the publications by contacting us via [email protected]. You may request only the publications from within the form to be provided to you because most of the publications are out of print. In the event you request so, the publications you requested will be sent to the address you indicated in the form, on Mondays, via our contracted shipping company, on collect call basis.

STGM publications are accessible to all and free of charge but the copyrights to the publications belong to STGM. You may download the publications over the Publications section and share with others as you will. However, it is compulsory to give reference in case the publications are to be used in part or whole. If they are to be used for commercial purposes, it is recommended to contact STGM.

As a CSO, you may request the printed versions of the publications by contacting us via [email protected]. Please be informed that most of our publications are currently out of print. Therefore, we regret to say that you may request only the publications on the request form which will be sent to you. Subsequent to your request, we will deliver the printed versions of our publications to you via our contracted courier company in the form of collect call.

As a principle, we, as STGM, provide neither fee based project development/project proposal writing services nor referring CSOs to paid services/persons and organizations.  Moreover, CSOs are kindly recommended to improve their organizational capacities in regards to project preparation and prepare their projects themselves. Regarding project development and writing, you may check out STGM resources on our website.

Salaries of staff within the scope of EU funded grant projects are budgeted under the “1. Human Resources” budget heading. Please note that salary payments to staff in the project should be made in accordance with the labor law in Turkey. In this regard, the entire cost of a staff member consists of;

• Net salary,
• Revenue and withholding taxes
• Social Security Premium (including both employee + employer shares)

When the entire cost of a staff member will be covered by the project budget, each personnel cost under the "1. Human Resources" should be considered as the "total cost" and should include all expenditures in relation with personnel.

Payroll prepared for a staff contains;

• Net salary,
• Revenue and Withholding taxes
• Social Security Premium (including both employee + employer shares)

Please also note that the total cost for project staff should be itemized in 3 different lines (as mentioned above) for each month in the detailed expenditure list -DBE- (excel table)

STGM carries out activities such as organizing trainings, conducting researches, campaigns, advocacy and lobbying activities for the strengthening participation and democracy in civil society, and building organizational capacities of CSOs. 

In this context, STGM does not run any scholarship programme.

However, you can visit the following pages for domestic and international scholarships. These pages belong to some public institutions as well as international organizations and private scholarship programmes that provide scholarship. Please also note that domestic and international scholarship opportunities are not limited to the list below.

• General Directorate of Credit and Hostels Institutions
• Higher Education Council
• General Directorate of Foundations
• Ministry of National Education of Turkey
• TÜBİTAK
• British Council 
• Jean Monnet Programı
• Fulbright Programı
• Türkiye Scholarships
• Scholarship