The American Muslim community continues to grow, as do the number of American Muslim nonprofits. Knowing and understanding American Muslim philanthropy is important to developing and better serving American Muslim civil society and the larger American civil society. This is why the research from the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) and other institutions is important.
MPI has done research on Muslim Philanthropy in the US in a climate where there is Islamophobia. According to a study conducted by the ACLU, giving to U.S. Islamic charities has been equated to supporting terrorism. At this time, it is important to research where Muslim philanthropy is sent and how it is raised. Even within the Muslim community, there are myths about where and how Muslim Philanthropy is spent.
MPI’s Muslim American Giving 2021 research was groundbreaking, as it shattered many myths perpetuated in the Muslim community about American Muslim Philanthropy. This research was sponsored by Islamic Relief USA, which contributed to the questions that were asked of the recipients.
MYTH # 1
Most of the American Muslim Philanthropy goes overseas.
The MPI research showed that overseas relief and humanitarian causes comprised only 12.81% of faith-based overseas relief; most American Muslim Philanthropy is spent in the US. This myth may have developed due to the greater transparency associated with giving to an international cause or a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, compared to U.S. houses of worship. The former is required to publish their information in the IRS 990 tax filing while the latter is not. For many years, international Muslim relief organizations have held many public events, especially during crises, which may have given the impression that a lot of funds were going towards these causes. However, as MPI’s research shows, those funds comprised only 12.81% of American Muslim’s giving.
MYTH # 2
Mosques receive a large amount of American Muslim giving.
MPI’s research shows that Muslims contribute 24.75% of their faith-based charity to houses of worship. In comparison, the non-Muslim population offers, on average, 51.28 % of their faith-based charity towards the house of worship. MPI research also showed that American Muslims support houses of worship but donate most of their faith-based giving to Muslim faith-based charities outside of these mosques. This may be through local and international Muslim nonprofits for social, educational, civil rights, religious research, and other causes.
American Muslim civil society needs to be funded by donors belonging to this demographic. They need accurate information about where their money is being spent so they can make educated decisions about where it should be spent. They should not see the funding of overseas causes as detrimental to local causes. This comes from a Muslim theological view about supporting the ummah (Muslim community worldwide). MPI’s research reveals that when U.S. Muslims make their philanthropic decisions, most of the philanthropic resources stay in the U.S.
There is a need for more research so better decisions can be made for American Muslim Philanthropy. The Muslim American Zakat Report 2023 by MPI, which Islamic Relief USA also sponsored, had many key findings. This included that the largest percentage of Zakat is given informally and directly to individual causes and recipients. Zakat is viewed more as an act of philanthropy and charity rather than a tax. These and other key findings in this MPI research better equip those raising Zakat funds to understand the donor’s views and optimize their resources and the amount of funds raised.
As the Muslim American community grows, it is important for Muslim American civil society to grow. Muslim American philanthropy will thus be needed to support the growth of this community. Research that is utilized can help raise more resources, increase faith literacy, and show that much of that money helps in America and is part of American civil society. MPI’s research can help American Muslim Philanthropy to improve, and in turn help American Philanthropy to thrive.
ABOUT ANWAR KHAN
Anwar Khan is the Co-Founder of Islamic Relief USA and has been associated with the organization for over 30 years. He currently leads Islamic Relief USA as Deputy Chief Operating Officer.
He has over 30 years of experience working in the field of humanitarian and development assistance, leadership, strategic planning, organizational structure, and global philanthropy. His leadership, efforts, and initiatives have helped raise over $1 Billion in relief and aid to date.
Anwar grew up in the United Kingdom and came to America to start Islamic Relief USA. He was involved in community organizing, strategic planning, and has been committed to the mission of helping those in need here in the United States, and globally.
Before becoming President, Anwar held a variety of leadership roles at Islamic Relief USA, directing Islamic Relief USA’s program efforts, strategic planning, managing its fundraising offices and operations; and leading the organization as Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, the organization has galvanized thousands of volunteers around the country.
Anwar is the longest serving staff member in the organization. He also serves as Associate Faculty at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
He has also served on several boards such as Interaction, and was an advisor for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA), and the U.S. State Department’s Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group.
Currently, Anwar serves on the Boards of The World Food Program USA, The Joint Learning Initiative, and The Alliance to End Hunger. He is a member of the Advisory Council for Muslim Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University as well.
Anwar resides outside of Washington D.C. with his wife and children.
Leave a Reply