Istanbul Center is non profit organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has branches in several cities in the Southeastern United States. Istanbul Center is inspired by the works and actions of scholars, thinkers and activists like, among others, Fethullah Gülen, Rumi and Martin Luther King Jr. Established to promote better understanding and closer relations among the communities in Metro Atlanta and the Southeastern United States, the center focuses on four major areas: education, culture, dialogue and humanitarian works. It is a volunteer-driven, locally funded civic organization.