MISSION STATEMENT
The Muslim Women’s Giving Circle (hereafter “MWGC”) is comprised of a group of Muslim women, active in their community, pooling their resources to invest in and stimulate philanthropic giving by women to benefit the Muslim community in the San Francisco Bay Area. MWGC encourages women to invest in the social fabric that holds their community together.
OVERVIEW
MWGC will fund non profit organizations that focus on issues related to women, the arts domestic violence, civil rights, secular education, elimination of poverty and support the preservation of families. The MWGC may also fund non-profits that do not fit in these categories but benefit the Muslim Community.
MWGC is composed of a non-denominational, non-sectarian group of women from all ethnic and sectarian backgrounds who identify themselves as Muslim. Women of all sectarian backgrounds are encouraged to join.
What is a Giving Circle?
A giving circle is composed of like-minded volunteers who pool their resources, time, expertise and creativity to fund non-profit organizations that benefit their community. They collectively perform the duties of fundraising, communications, event logistics, programming and governance. They educate their members on needs in the community so donors are better informed.
The Muslim Women Giving Circle is a member of the AAPIP National Giving Circle Network.
Why Create a Muslim Women’s Giving Circle?
Historically, philanthropic giving by Muslim Women has been channeled through religious institutions and places of worship in their communities and abroad. Less then 1% of philanthropic dollars go to non-profit organizations working in Muslim communities.
Traditionally, philanthropic dollars have been given to religious institutions to support community based giving. MWGC shifts the consciousness of the community on philanthropic giving. Member’s give directly to community based organizations regardless of whether they are affiliated with a particular religious institution.
Who We Are?
We are a group of Muslim women, active in our community, who come from different ethnic and sectarian backgrounds. We have women of all different age groups. The average age range is mid 20’s to early 40’s.We encourage women of all different sectarian and ethnic backgrounds to join. We are open to all women who identify themselves as Muslim.
Why A Muslim Woman Led Giving Circle?
Traditionally, Muslim women have not played a formal or active decision making role directing philanthropic dollars in their community. These decisions have typically been made jointly with their families by giving abroad or to their place of worship. MWGC allows women to invest in organizations in their community.
How the Muslim Women Giving Circle Got Started?
After the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 the Muslim community in the United States became socially and politically marginalized as anti Muslim sentiment grew. A number of non-profit organizations that received donations from the Muslim community were labeled by the Secretary of State as giving material support to terrorist organizations. The Muslim community was thrown into a tailspin. The community no longer knew which organizations carried the “terrorist” label and donations dropped off significantly.
The Muslim Women Giving Circle is a member of the AAPIP National Giving Circle Network. AAPIP is a San Francisco based non-profit organization that helps build innovative programs to encourage the growth of community-based philanthropy in Asian American Communities.
**AAPIP is no longer housing giving circles. We are in the process of searching for a new fiscal host.
How Does the Giving Circle Work?
Each member of the giving circle commits to raising $1000 per year for the common pool of funds. The members can give the money themselves or raise the money through family and friends.
The money can be raised monthly, quarterly or through a one-time donation. We meet once a month. The members must commit to attending as many meetings as possible in a calendar year. The members identify which non-profits exist in the bay area and invite them to give a short presentation on what they do, what their funding structure is currently and why MWGC should support them. The members then democratically choose which organizations they want to donate to and how much they want to donate.
In 2012 the MWGC will no longer receive matching funds from the San Francisco Foundation but will be empowered to continue growing as a Circle and raising funds for our community.
What Do We Invest In?
The MWGC will fund non-profit organizations that serve the Muslim Community of the San Francisco Bay Area primarily. We may also fund organizations located outside of the Bay Area and/or California. However, our preference is to support our local community.
The non-profit organization does not have to be Muslim organization. The only requirement is that the organization has a program or programs that benefit the Muslim Community.
A “non-profit” is defined as an organization with a 501(c)(3) public charity exempt status from the IRS. Unincorporated organizations will be eligible for grants if they have a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent.
What is the Governing Structure of the Circle?
The MWGC has two committees. One is the Steering Committee which makes all governing, membership and organizational structure decisions for the Circle. It is comprised of anywhere from 4 to 6 members. The other is the Advisory Committee that advises the steering committee on general decision-making, vision and growth of the Circle. The Advisory Committee’s power is limited to advising the Circle. They do not have power to make decisions for the Circle.
What are the Benefits of Being a member of the MWGC?
The Bay Area MWGC is the first of its kind. There are no such circles in the United States. It is unique because the primary decision makers are the women who donate.
To be a part of the MWGC is to change the dialogue in our community around Muslim Giving. Instead of giving money abroad, we are giving money to our local community. Instead of giving to our religious institutions and through our family we are giving directly to community based non-profits of our choice.
There is no national Muslim Women’s Fund focused on giving to non-profits in the United States, the Muslim Women’s Giving Circle is potentially a seed for such a fund.
Funding Restrictions?
The Muslim Women’s Giving Circle will not fund
- Religious institutions (e.g. Mosques) for religious purposes.
- Islamic Schools
- Grants to individuals
- Scholarships or Fellowships
- Political parties, candidates or political action committees
- Government or municipal organizations.
