Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 

A capacity assessment is an analysis of desired capacities against existing capacities which generates an understanding of capacity assets and needs that informs the formulation of a capacity development response. To support this process effectively requires identifying what key capacities already exist and what additional capacities may be needed to reach these objectives. 

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. The inter-governmental body sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society. As a policy-making body, the FATF works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.

With more than 200 countries (including Republic of Turkey) and jurisdictions committed to implementing them.  The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a co-ordinated global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism.

For more information about FATF and FATF Recommendations can be reached at FATF website

Where the relevant call for proposals allows for the work performed by volunteers to be considered as acceptable co-financing, such co-financing must be considered as eligible personnel costs in accordance with articles 181, 186 and 190 FR, and must take the form of unit costs.

These unit costs will be fixed by the contracting authority and provided in the call for proposal. The value of the volunteers' work may comprise up to 50% of the co-financing, the latter corresponding to the part not financed by the EU contribution.

This type of costs must be presented separately from other eligible costs in the estimated budget. The value of the volunteer's work must always be excluded from the calculation of indirect costs. Any eligible costs incurred by the beneficiary linked to the work of the volunteer, for example travel and accommodation, may be claimed separately as eligible costs.

For more information, please check out Companion

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.

Some of the methods applied in the assessment of organizational capacity are as follows;

• “Self-assessment”, in which the organization mobilizes its own resources ( such as teams, tools, methods and reports) for examining and evaluating organizational capacities and competencies,
• “Assessment”, is a process which the evaluation to be outsourced for the analysis of institutional situation and competence of the organization 
• “Participatory self-assessment”, in which external experts and facilitators are involved but institutional capacity is ultimately assessed by a team formed within the organization. In this method, the facilitators do not lead the process, but support it. In other words, “participatory self-assessment” can be described as a capacity building work itself.

According to article 33 of the Law of Associations No. 5253, the chairperson of the board of administration is accountable in person for the administrative fines imposed on the association. Administrative fines are not recorded in the chairperson's criminal record, as they are not based on a decision, adopted by the jurisdiction.

Pursuant to Article 27 of the Law of Misdemeanor, appeal against administrative fine decisions can be made by the legal representative or lawyer of the CSO within 15 days in which the date of notification of the administrative fine decision is issued.
 

Within the scope of direct management modality of the EU, FSTP mechanism is described as “FSTP is a financial mechanism whereby the EU provides funding to one organization as a grant applicant which, in turn, regrants funding to a number of smaller CSOs, grassroots or community-based organizations, even individuals.” in the European Commission’s publication, Enhanced Outreach to Civil Society Organizations: A Collection of Good Practices of Financial Support to Third Parties in the Neighbourhood and Enlargement Countries, TACSO, 2021.
 
You can reach above-mentioned publication from here.

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.

The intervention logic provides a description to summarize how the intervention is expected to work that should lead to the intended change. An intervention is often a solution to a problem or challenge. The intervention logic is also a tool which helps to explain the different steps and actors involved in the intervention.

The Logical Framework Matrix (LFM) is a tool that demonstrates the internal consistency and integrity of the intervention with the designed project. A “logical framework matrix” presents results (encompassing Outputs, Outcomes and Impact), assumptions, indicators, targets, baselines, and sources of verification related to a project.

More information about Logical Framework Approach and Matrix, please have a look at:

• CONCORD Guideline on Logical Framework Approach
• STGM Brief Presentation on Logical Framework Approach and Matrix
• Introduction to Results And Monitoring on the EU External action Wiki website
• Project Cycle Management Guideline. European Commission, 2004
• UNDG RBM Handbook

Information on the Law No. 2860 on Aid Collection is available on the website of the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior. As stated in the Law, if the aid collection campaigns cover more than one city, the permission is obtained from the governor of the province where the association that carries out aid collection activity is located.