The subject matter of this paper is the organisation, classification and inspection of religious foundations in the Ottoman State. First, an overview is given of some of the evkaf organisations in general, then the organisation of evkaf in the Ottoman State will be scrutinised in detail before and after the establishment of the Ministry of Foundations (a private ministry for evkaf administration) in 1242/1826. Finally, detailed information will be given about the types of foundations in the 19th century with a cursory glance at the republican period of Turkey.