The Corporate Development Training Program (KGEP) organized by the Civil Society Academy (STA) was successfully completed in Istanbul between July 9-11, 2025. Representatives from 30 different civil society organizations operating in Turkey participated in the intensive three-day program. The program provided participants with a rich learning environment that not only imparted knowledge but also encouraged mutual experience sharing and interaction.

The main objective of the training program was to develop the institutional capacities of NGOs, make management processes more efficient, and make the current social impact more sustainable. In this regard, participants were supported with comprehensive content that combined theory and practice.

The program began with an opening speech by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ILKE Foundation, Att. Ahmet Sait Öner. This was followed by the introduction of the Civil Society Academy with the participation of ILKE researchers and a get-together session. Throughout the training, participants had the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience on various topics organized under six main headings.

The first day opened with the lecture “Corporate Governance and Organization” presented by Prof. Dr. Nihat Erdoğmuş. This lecture covered the objectives, structures, and strategic management processes of civil society organizations in detail. In the afternoon, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Lütfi Arslan, under the title “Human Management and Volunteering,” made important assessments on the importance of balancing volunteers and professional employees, the sustainability of volunteering, and corporate volunteering policies.

The second day began with the “Digital Communication” session led by Kenan Dursun. This training emphasized that digital communication should not be limited to content sharing but should be approached as a planned, strategic, and measurable corporate activity. This was followed by Mesut Şen's “Resource Development” session, which addressed topics of vital importance to NGOs, such as resource creation methods, donor relations, revenue diversification, and tax advantages.

The third day continued with the “Advocacy” session conducted by Dilşah Nur Kanmaz. In this session, participants learned to distinguish the concept of advocacy from similar activities, develop appropriate strategies in different contexts, and evaluate through good examples. The closing session of the program featured a lecture on “Project Cycle Management” by Vildan Akdoğan Çetinkaya, which detailed topics such as the definition of the project concept, scope and operational distinctions, project initiation documents, and the responsibilities of the project manager.

At the end of the program, Dr. Erhan Erken was hosted in the experience sharing section, moderated by Davut Şanver, Member of the Board of Trustees of the ILKE Foundation. It was emphasized that the Corporate Development Training Program (KGEP) is not only an educational process aimed at knowledge transfer, but also creates a meeting environment that strengthens cooperation among NGOs and provides networking opportunities. Certificates were presented to participants who successfully completed the training, and the program concluded with a group photo.