Through the vvork of missionary organizaions, American charity and philanthropy have had a long history in Turkey. Early in the tvventieth century, hovvever, charity and philanthropy vvithin the United States undervvent a dramatic change vvith the development of scientific philanthropy. Such efforts aimed, through investigation and careful use of financial contributions, to attack the heart of social ills rather than to relieve suffering or provide religious instruction. A host of Rockefeller philanthropies, the largest of vvhich vvas the Rockefeller Foundation RF-cstablished in 1913 , vvere in the forefront of scientific philanthropy in education, public health nursing and medical education, and support for scientific research. During the 1950s the Ford Foundation surpassed the RF in the size of its assets and soon rivaled the scope of its vvork internationally. This essay vvill examine the vvork of these tvvo American philanthropies in Turkey since the declaration of the republic. Among the questions to be addressed are the relationship betvveen private American foundations and the US and Turkish governments, the nature of philanthropic programs in Turkey and vvhether these changed över time, the cultural and political contexts to these philanthropic programs. Finally, the essay vvill assess vvhat impact the vvork of these foundations has had in Turkey