The Open Society Foundation–Turkey seeks to aid Turkey's evolution toward an open society by providing financial and technical assistance in the areas of political reform and the European Union, media, gender, public health, and minority rights. It has also supported research on a wide range of social, economic, and political issues, such as impediments to women’s participation in the public sphere, the development of a local governance participation model, urban sustainability processes, and the use of information technology in democratization.

The foundation’s EU Turkey Working Group brings together a wide range of intellectuals and policy experts to facilitate constructive discourse on Turkey’s inclusion in EU enlargement. The working group also helps maintain positive European interest in Turkey and promotes reform within the country.

In its efforts to promote social inclusion and equality, the foundation supports activities that help vulnerable populations—such as people with mental health problems, people living with HIV/AIDS, and women facing gender-based violence—to organize and assert their rights. Its support for public health groups has led to increased treatment for HIV and has supported people living with HIV/AIDS around the country to advocate for better access to healthcare, increase their legal rights, and raise public awareness about the epidemic.

Similarly, the foundation is a strong advocate for promoting women’s rights and combating gender discrimination and violence. It is also a key supporter of increasing access to education and political mobilization among Roma.