New study shows Muslim-Americans as vibrant contributors to American philanthropy

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Andy Ware

By Shariq Siddiqui, J.D., Ph.D. and Rafeel Wasif, Ph.D.

According to the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), 1.1 percent of the U.S. population is Muslim-American. Muslim-Americans are a highly diverse minority with no one ethnic group making a majority.

Muslim-Americans are largely a community of color with African-Americans, Asians, Arab and Latinos making up the largest proportion of this small minority population. Muslim-Americans have a lower average income than the average American.

Prior research by the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy shows that Muslim-American nonprofit leaders and nonprofits are under a great deal of stress and face a great deal of external prejudice and islamophobia.

Despite this external hatred of Islam and Muslims, a new report by the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, Muslim American Giving 2021, finds that Muslim-Americans are vibrant contributors to American philanthropy. Despite being only 1.1 percent of the population they make up about 1.4 percent ($4.3 billion) of individual giving. The report is funded by Islamic Relief USA.

The study investigated the opinions of Muslims and the general population regarding faith customs, donation practices and attitudes, volunteer work, COVID-19, uncertainty intolerance, financial well-being, and discrimination. The survey also looked at how Muslims made decisions about donations. SSRS surveyed from March 17 through April 7, 2021. Overall, the team surveyed 2,005 respondents, including 1,003 Muslim respondents and 1,002 general population adult respondents.

Despite islamophobic tropes suggesting that Muslim-Americans are more aligned to international causes, only 15 percent of their giving is focused on such causes while 85 percent of their gifts support American charitable causes. Despite being poorer than the average American household, Muslim-Americans participated in charitable giving and volunteering at higher levels than the average household.

The survey finds that Muslims give more towards both faith-based causes and non-faith-based causes than non-Muslims. Overall, Muslim-Americans gave $3,200 for charitable giving compared to $1,905 for the general population.

The strongest motivations for American Muslims are a feeling of compassion towards people in need (average 4.31 out of 5). On the other hand, among the non-Muslim population, the largest motivation was the willingness to help others who are less fortunate (3.93).

Compared to the general population, Muslims have a more positive image of the charitable sector (4.08 versus 3.58). The lowest motivations to give among both Muslims and non-Muslims were getting a tax credit, recognition, financial strain, and the belief that giving money to charities is wasted.

Overall, while the mean amongst Muslims is higher for most motivations, the rankings for motivations among Muslims and non-Muslims are pretty similar.

Finally, Muslim-Americans have been on the front lines of COVID-19. Muslim Americans make up only 1 percent of the national population, but they play a more significant role in the front lines of COVID-19. For example, 15 percent of physicians and 11 percent of pharmacists in Michigan are Muslim Americans.

In New York City, Muslim Americans make up 10 percent of the city’s physicians, 13 percent of the pharmacists and 40 percent of cab drivers designated essential workers. Muslim-Americans’ top recipients of charitable gifts other than houses of worship were domestic poverty relief, COVID-19 related charities and civil rights.

The survey revealed:

Muslim philanthropy for both faith-based causes and non-faith-based causes is higher than non-Muslims. Muslim-Americans gave $3,241.96 for charitable giving compared to $1,905.23 for the general population.
The findings of the survey also suggest that Muslims spend more hours volunteering every year when compared to non-Muslims. The volunteering comparison is also interesting, which suggests that generally American people spend 11.8 hours of faith-based volunteering and 13.72 hours for non-faith volunteering whereas Muslim-Americans spend 66.61 hours volunteering for faith-based causes and 45.93 hours volunteering for non-faith-based causes.

The study also shared important new information of where Muslim Americans donate.

Domestic relief equates to 12.70 percent of total Muslim charity in the U.S.
Civil rights protections for the members of their community is something in which Muslims spend quite generously. If we compare Muslim generosity concerning civil rights, Muslims pay approximately 10.14 percent of their contributions towards civil rights whereas this trend is 4.74 percent in the general public.
Muslims contribute 27.45 percent of their faith-based charity to houses of worship. In comparison, the non-Muslim population offers on average 51.28 percent of their faith-based charity towards the house of worship.
Muslim-Americans also gave a larger share toward COVID relief (14.26 percent) even for non-faith causes than the average population (6.65 percent).

The Muslim American Giving 2021 study also reveals interesting observations about Muslim philanthropy by race, gender, and age.

Males donate more than females towards faith-based causes ($3,444 vs. $976 for faith-based reasons, and $2,611 vs. $856 for non-faith causes).
Those 40-49 years of age give the highest average charitable giving.

Muslim-Americans are stepping up to play an important role in making our world and nation a better place despite facing prejudice, greater scrutiny and having fewer resources.

View the study

3 takeaways from Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott teaming up to fund women’s and girls’ causes

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Andy Ware

By Tessa Skidmore and Jacqueline Ackerman

Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott, two of the biggest U.S. donors, have joined forces by funding the Equality Can’t Wait Challenge.

The contest, intended to expand the power and influence of women in the United States by 2030, garnered more than 550 proposals. On July 29, 2021, French Gates and Scott announced the winners: Four initiatives will each receive US$10 million, and two more will get $4 million apiece. In addition to the women formerly married to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies is providing some of these funds.

It marks the first official donor collaboration between French Gates and Scott. The money will help boost support for caregivers, get more women and girls to embark on technology careers, support entrepreneurship among Indigenous women, counter intimate-partner violence and train more women to become political leaders.

As experts in women’s giving and giving to women’s and girls’ causes at the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, we believe that this new partnership is significant for three reasons.

1. There is a worldwide effort to increase gender equity

Both donors have previously made causes tied to women and girls a priority in their giving. For example, they signed on as the initial contributors to a Gender Fund, announced on June 28, 2021, that aims to raise $1 billion over the next decade to support organizations, mostly led by women, that operate in low-income countries.

This is, to be clear, an international effort that also includes foreign aid.

A United Nations conference held in Paris in June 2021 drew pledges from countries, individuals and foundations totaling more than $40 billion for causes such as ending forced marriage and bringing about greater parity in pay for women. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which French Gates continues to co-chair following her divorce, said it would contribute $2.1 billion from its coffers toward that global goal.

2. U.S. donors are underfunding these causes

While the $48 million being donated through this contest is a tiny sliver of the $40 billion pledged for these causes, it could send a strong signal to other U.S. donors.

Just 1.6% of philanthropic dollars in America support women’s and girls’ organizations, according to research we have done with our colleagues. This percentage didn’t budge from 2012 to 2017—the most recent year for which data is available—even though overall charitable giving has grown substantially, reaching $471.44 billion in 2020.

We have also found that organizations serving women and girls tend to be smaller than other charities, both in terms of the money they spend and the number of people they employ.

3. They can boost enthusiasm for giving to causes serving women and girls

French Gates and Scott have the potential to give far more than $48 million to causes like these in the future.

Scott has disclosed having donated at least $8.5 billion since 2020, an amount that represents an estimated 14% of her present net worth. But her wealth continues to grow at an even faster rate – leaving her with more funds to distribute.

The value of the assets French Gates has remains unclear, even now that her divorce is final. As of July 2021, she and her ex-husband had put $65 billion into the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. French Gates also engages separately in philanthropy, venture capitalism and policy-related activities through her own firm, Pivotal Ventures.

Together with our colleagues we have found that women and men alike pay attention when women give to women’s and girls’ causes.

That is, French Gates and Scott can do more to increase philanthropy for women and girls than by giving away large portions of their own fortunes. By drawing attention to these donations, they can encourage others—both those with great wealth at their disposal and those of more modest means—to support these causes.

Tessa Skidmore, Research Associate of Philanthropy, Women’s Philanthropy Institute; Doctoral student of Philanthropy, IUPUI and Jacqueline Ackerman, Associate Director of Research, Women’s Philanthropy Institute, IUPUI

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Patterson Foundation’s Fellows Program: Nurturing tomorrow’s dynamic leaders today

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Andy Ware

By Debra Jacobs, president & CEO, The Patterson Foundation

Our dynamic world calls for equally dynamic philanthropic leadership to help people, organizations, and communities chart their paths toward a stronger future.

As students of the first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy, graduates of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI are uniquely poised to provide this guidance to the mission-focused organizations and charitable foundations they will one day helm, along with the people and communities served through their vital efforts.

That’s why The Patterson Foundation has invested in their continued evolution through the Fellows Program, which is open to graduates of its Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies degree program. Since 2018, The Patterson Foundation has had the privilege of employing several of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s best and brightest for a year-long experience where they have worked within a diverse range of initiatives that drive tangible, sustainable change within our home region of southwest Florida and beyond.

Throughout the Program, The Patterson Foundation provides Fellows with experiences and connections stemming from more than a decade of work in philanthropy—giving them the spark for fulfilling and meaningful careers as powerful changemakers. Whether at the dawn of their post-graduate lives or following years dedicated to putting their learnings into practice, each Fellow has access to opportunities that are crucial to their growth as leaders.

Inaugural TPF Fellow Hannah Saeger Karnei, TPF Fellow 2020/21 Abby Rolland, and TPF Fellow 2020/21 John Ferguson share a glimpse into how the Fellows Program helped them evolve.

While the TPF Fellows are a tremendous asset to The Patterson Foundation during their time engaged with us, they remain assets to each other long after they have launched—each bound by a shared understanding of effective approaches to philanthropy, regardless of where the work takes place or the issue at its core.

Through our TPF Beyond network, current, past, and incoming Fellows remain connected to one another in their commitment to uplifting one another and the philanthropic sector as a whole.

Members of each cohort of Lilly Family School of Philanthropy M.A. graduates in the Fellows Program commit their passions, skill sets, and wisdom toward strengthening The Patterson Foundation’s diverse efforts while building their own capacity to generate good in our world.

As we look toward the year ahead with an eye for new opportunities to help people, organizations, and communities create a stronger future, The Patterson Foundation is searching for the next cohort of gifted leaders for the 2022-2023 Fellows Program.

If this sounds like the next stage in your evolution as a dynamic leader in philanthropy, The Patterson Foundation is eager to connect with you. It all starts with completing your application and sharing more about your goals and hopes for creating a better world—one we aspire to build together.

How to hire a successful grant writer

Posted on September 28, 2021 by Andy Ware

By: Kristi Howard-Shultz

Over the last 18 months many nonprofits have seen increased expenses. Material costs have risen, demand for services have grown, changing operations to comply with evolving health and safety needs during the pandemic, and many more factors have contributed to these increases.

At the same time, many agencies have cut staff in response to the dramatic changes in the way they conduct business. Lastly, many organizations have seen a decrease in event revenue, individual giving, and more. Your organization has likely experienced some combination of these challenges. You may be considering contracting with a professional grant writer to create more diverse and sustainable revenue.

You, your mission, and your grant writer can be successful using this guide.

Are YOU ready?

Know what kind of help you are truly looking for. Do you want to establish a relationship with a grant writer that will help you start to finish—prospecting, budgeting, applying, reporting, and every step in between? Are you looking for more of an a la carte option where an expert prepares just a portion of any of these things? This will help you determine how and where to place your ad.
Invest the time needed to make this endeavor successful. While hiring a grant writer will save time in the long run, there is a significant investment of time from your organization, particularly at the start. You will need designated and ample time to prepare the ad, interview candidates, prepare collateral, manage the relationship and meet with the grant writer on a regular basis.
Designate a staff member to manage the relationship. No matter the scope of your relationship with the grant writer, you will need a point person to regularly check in, provide outputs and outcomes, budgets, and other collateral for them to prepare your submissions. It is often a member of your program staff that is best suited for this role. They are in tune with the needs—material and staff wise—as well as the outcomes that your writer will be updating regularly.
Trust their expertise and take their advice. You are partners in resource development, but it is just that, a partnership. A good grant writer will rely on you in your area of expertise and, likewise, you will be most successful when you honor theirs. You know your mission and program. They know the opportunities and caveats.
Prepare your collateral. Funders frequently ask for the same set of documents with each application. Be sure your organization has up-to-date financial documents, annual report, board of directors list, case statements, etc.

Are THEY qualified?

A qualified grant writer will ask you just as many questions, if not more, as what you ask them. It is curiosity, in part, that makes them a good candidate.

It’s helpful to ask:

Do they have direct experience in your sector—animal welfare, education, etc.?
What’s their process?
Is it clearly outlined—discovery sessions, monthly meetings, calendar of proposals, etc.?
What can you expect in terms of communication, updates, etc.?
How long have they been writing grants?
How many clients are they currently working with?
Can they provide a sample of a grant application they have submitted and references?

Considerations

The proposal and interview process itself shows you the answer to many of the questions you have explored above. Once you receive written proposals, don’t select a grant writer based on their fees alone. Services are often apples to oranges. Some writers charge by the hour, others by the project, others on retainer or with a flat fee.

This can make it hard to compare and choose. You may have sticker shock to see rates of $150 an hour or $500 for a four-page proposal. No matter how they charge, it’s important to understand what the fees include.

Also, you get what you pay for, so if you go for the cheapest fees, you’ll get cheap grant proposals. Instead, to the best of your ability within your budget, prioritize who has experience in your sector and who you have confidence in.

Never counter a proposal with an offer to pay them a percentage of what you receive. This is unethical and any qualified grant writer will not agree to this arrangement.

Lastly, consider the lead time for the writer. Like any other contractor you hire, some are booking months out. At a minimum most contractors need four to six weeks from the time you reach an agreement to conduct discovery and spin up. From there, they can start submitting proposals.

Cautions

Use your and the writer’s time effectively. Don’t delay in getting information to your grant writer. It will waste time, money, and potentially jeopardize your proposal if your delays mean missing a funder’s deadline.

Don’t expect 100 percent approval. You won’t receive every grant you apply for. Foundations have a limited amount of funds to give away, and those funds will be distributed as the grantor sees fit. This is why an organized, clear, and expertly prepared grant proposal is so important.

Grants take time. They are not a way to raise money quickly. The application and approval process takes months. In most cases, funds aren’t sent out until nearly six months after approval. Be sure this is something you and your writer are tracking in your project management calendar.

Encouragements

The process to hire a grant writer is time-consuming, but it’s well worth the effort! Once you find the right writer, it’s likely that you’ll collaborate on grant proposals for years to come.

Hiring an expert is a wise investment because you will have better success rates with them than by piling proposal writing onto an overworked staff member as an “other duty as assigned.”

The materials you produce with your writer will be a work product you can continue to use and repurpose in appeals, newsletters, stewardship activities, and more. It’s a collaborative process where you have the opportunity to learn together and benefit your mission with sustainable and diversified revenue.

Learn more about fundraising from foundations and grant management

Kristi Howard Shultz, founder of Kristi Howard-Shultz Consulting, is a nonprofit executive that leads with head and heart. With 20+ years of experience working for nonprofits including nationally-known, time-tested institutions like The Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Boys & Girls Clubs, she has worked in nearly every capacity of fundraising throughout her career. She has a proven track record of success in board and fund development, campaign management, and capacity building. She has built a strong reputation within the community and is sought after for her industry expertise and thought leadership. Kristi is a natural relationship builder who loves to put plans into action. Championing “firsts” for organizations is her specialty.

A well-deserved honor for Professor Genevieve Shaker

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Andy Ware

By Gene Tempel

Dr. Maynard K. Hine was the first chancellor of IUPUI. In 1969, he left the deanship of the IU School of Dentistry to take on the task of creating a new university by bringing the IU and Purdue programs in Indianapolis together to form a new kind of institution.

He was no longer chancellor when I arrived to my first assignment on campus in 1983. But I came to know him well. He was a person of wisdom and humility and service. He constantly responded to calls for advice, service, and assistance. And he always responded. So it is appropriate that the IUPUI award for alumni leadership is named in his honor: the Maynard K. Hine Medal.

Genevieve “Gen” Shaker — Genevieve Shaker

And is also quite appropriate that Professor Gen Shaker be awarded the Hine Medal in 2021. She is accomplished (wise) but humble. When she was appointed a full-time faculty member in the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, there were no faculty offices available (this didn’t seem to phase her). So I offered her mine. Instead of accepting she said, “Why don’t we share it.” Humility. When new offices were constructed I suggested she ask for one of the new, larger offices. She said sharing was working fine for her. Humility.

She gladly accepts leadership opportunities but does not seek them, whether it is chairing school committees, or chairing the faculty, or taking the lead role in editing the fifth edition of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (thank you!). And perhaps more pertinent to the Hine Medal, representing IUPUI and the school on boards in the community from the Children’s Museum to Indy Talks.

She has served on board for seven years and most recently charged the governance committee of the board for the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Red Cross. She now serves as chair elect.

Of particular importance from my perspective is the quiet role she plays as a mentor to students and alumni, assisting them in both academic and practitioner job searches and careers. Work in this arena often is not reflected on faculty reports, and it often does not carry much weight in promotion and tenure. But it is important in our role as faculty and our roles as alumni no matter which institution we call alma mater. It is exactly the kind of service that the Hine Medal was organized to recognize.

So a hearty congratulations to our colleague Professor Genevieve Shaker on being named a 2021 recipient of the Hine Medal! The legacy of Maynard K. Hine lives on. Well done!

Gene Tempel is the founding dean emeritus of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. An internationally recognized expert on the philanthropic sector, he has four decades of leadership and fundraising experience. He helped found the school’s precursor, the Center on Philanthropy, and was its executive director for 11 years, transforming it into a leading national resource.