Giving to educational causes is very close to Banu’s heart. She knows first-hand how life changing it can be. After all, she graduated from Robert College on financial aid. “It has opened a lot of doors for me, and played a big role in forming my personality and career,” said Banu during an interview with Turkish Philanthropy Funds. “With a relatively modest amount, you can make a big difference in a girl’s life.” She and her husband Moris supported educational causes in New York, such as the 92nd Street Y, but Banu was always looking for a way to give back to Türkiye. She was surprised how hard it was to identify direct scholarship giving opportunities in Türkiye, “online research can be cumbersome”, she explained.

“In the U.S. if you express interest in giving, people chase the donors. In Türkiye, I actually had to chase the organizations.” That’s when she was introduced to TPF.

 

There is also the added tax benefit of giving through TPF. For future contributions, Banu is also looking to add the benefit of her company's gift matching policies. Since TPF is a registered charity in the United States, U.S. companies can match the gift of their employees to TPF, doubling the value of the initial gift. After graduating from Robert College in İstanbul, Banu came to study economics and German studies in Massachusetts. She obtained her MBA at Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. Banu started her career as a strategic consultant and now works in investment banking. She and her husband live in New York with their three-year old daughter Ela.