Its work has also attracted controversy by observers who have criticized it as a body held under the sway of the political ideology of the Turkish state, active in the denial of the Armenian genocide and other topics considered taboo, such as the condition of the Kurds in the country.
In a surprise move in late 2015, the Turkish government announced that it would cut all funding to the institute.
[5] The late Donald Quataert, former member of the institute's board of governors, stated that the trust's funds can be revoked by the Turkish government.
The principal purpose of the grant program is to support the development of research, and scholarship in the field of Turkish Studies.
The grant applications submitted to the Institute are evaluated by committees composed of the Board of Governors and Associate Members of the ITS.