Rana Tutcuoğlu Appointed as General Manager of Sabancı Foundation

Rana Tutcuoğlu, who has more than 25 years of experience in philanthropy, civil society, strategy and governance, has been appointed to the position of General Manager of Sabancı Foundation. Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, who has held the General Manager position since 2018, will hand over her duties to Tutcuoğlu as of September 14, 2026.

A change has been made in the General Manager position at Sabancı Foundation. Rana Tutcuoğlu, who previously held various positions within Sabancı Holding and Sabancı Foundation, will begin her duties as General Manager of Sabancı Foundation as of September 14, 2026.

Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, who has served as General Manager of Sabancı Foundation since 2018, will continue her work as Advisor to the Board of Trustees of Sabancı Foundation in the new period.

Güler Sabancı, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı Foundation, thanked Safkan in her remarks regarding the change of position, noting that she had contributed to the foundation's work and social impact-focused projects throughout her tenure.

Sabancı stated that she believes new General Manager Rana Tutcuoğlu will contribute to the foundation's work with her strategic perspective, in addition to her past experience within Sabancı Holding and Sabancı Foundation.

From left to right: Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, Güler Sabancı and Rana Tutcuoğlu

Rana Tutcuoğlu's experience at Sabancı Foundation in her career
Rana Tutcuoğlu, who graduated from Boğaziçi University Department of Business Administration in 1999, completed her master's degree in the MBA program at Yale University.

Tutcuoğlu began her career as a Senior Auditor at Arthur Andersen, and worked at EFG İstanbul Menkul Değerler between 2004 and 2009. Between 2009 and 2012, she took on managerial responsibilities within Sabancı Holding's Strategy and Business Development Group Presidency.

Tutcuoğlu joined Sabancı Foundation in 2013. Serving as Director of Programs and International Relations until 2019, Tutcuoğlu took responsibility for the foundation's work in the field of social change during this period.

Tutcuoğlu, who served as Secretary General of the Third Sector Foundation of Türkiye (TÜSEV) between 2020 and 2026, carried out work in the areas of legal reform in civil society, strategic philanthropy, research and cross-sector collaborations.

Tutcuoğlu, who has served on various national and international management and advisory boards, also served as a council member at the General Directorate of Foundations. She also held the position of Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee of Philea, one of Europe's philanthropy networks.

Nevgül Bilsel Safkan to continue as advisor
Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, who has served as General Manager of Sabancı Foundation since 2018, will continue her work as Advisor to the Board of Trustees of Sabancı Foundation after handing over the General Manager position on September 14.

With this change of position, Rana Tutcuoğlu will lead the management work of Sabancı Foundation in its new era.