A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Self-funding projects |
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| MIT |
| 05/18/05 at 06:17:19 |
| assalaamu alaikum Lets say you wanted to run a number of Islamic projects over the course of a year yet had a shoe-string budget which wouldn't cover the costs of organising the projects - how would you suggest that funds are raised? One such thing we did recently is to sell CDs with the profits going back into the "projects" account. Ticketed events is another. What other things have you done in the past? |
| fundraising |
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| traveller |
| 05/18/05 at 13:13:41 |
| [slm], We have done similar things--bake sales, selling Islamic calendars, etc. to raise money. It works, though it takes a lot of time and effort and volunteers. Other possibilities: Can you network with a friendly masjid with greater financial resources? It involves more finesse, diplomacy, and dealing politics, but we have found it to be useful in the past for running events and programs of benefit to the general community. Write up a specific and detailed proposal and present it to the executive of the masjid, detailing how the funds would be used and why. Doesn't have to be too detailed or exceptionally long, just detailed and clear. Having a fairly detailed proposal also helps you to keep more control over how you want to run things, since they will have agreed to things up front. Can you find one or a few wealthy individuals of like mind who are willing to be your financial backers? Sometimes this works quite well. Another possibility, which I think is underutilized by our communities, is to investigate funding from secular granting agencies. These could include government programs, for example in Canada there are funding programs in place to promote multiculturalism, or to fight racism. These may also include any number of private non-profit philanthropic foundations, which have endowments and collect charitable donations to generate funds, which they then disperse according to their particular interests and objectives. I was speaking to a sister who is a social worker in our city, and she mentioned that a lot of the secular non-profit social service agencies that provide many beneficial programs are supported through such funding. Any kind of social service type of programming geared toward the Muslim community--youth programs, anti-drug education, programs to help low-income families or recent immigrants, etc---would fit the bill, and are all things that we need in our communities. Want to start an Islamic community magazine, with a focus on Islamic art and literature? I am sure you can find similar sorts of foundations wishing to support the arts. Achieving grant funding for events and programs is very doable, but requires a lot more organization--you might need to have a formal organization, potentially with non-profit or charitable status, and you need to have people who serious and who will take the time and effort to research funding sources and write good grants, and be professional enough to be accountable in both spending the funds, and reporting back to the agency. Still, in the long term, I think we should be taking advantage of these types of funding as well, rather than relying solely on fundraising dinners at the mosque. It's out there, why not take advantage.? With a little creativity, we could do a lot. [wlm], Hope |
| projects |
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| MIT |
| 05/19/05 at 06:40:16 |
| Wow - jazakallahu khair for that detailed response. I'd originally asked the question with purely Islamic events in mind like bringing over a speaker to do a seminar/workshop, but the funding idea is really interesting because i think the Muslim community in our city has different da'wah needs to when i was growing up 5 or 10 years ago, and i've always thought it would be great to branch out into doing social projects which have a da'wah spin to them. I'll forward your comments to some friends of mine and see what we can do :) |
| hmm |
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| se7en |
| 05/20/05 at 13:33:23 |
| as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, hmm, this may not be a very polite answer, and I'm not sure how applicable this is in the UK.. but why not hit up the rich Muslims in your community :) seriously, there are often times Muslims with a ton of money just lying around. (I'm not joking -- look at how many doctors and professionals we have in our community. some of our bretheren are living large, masha'Allah) for example, there is a national organization of pakistani doctors in the U.S. that shall remain nameless :) that has a multi-million dollar endowment. for what?? I have no idea. for me, this is an example of people out there who have money, that they want to use for a good cause. we just need to take advantage of that opportunity, which often times we don't do because: a.) we are not professional - a nice brochure or business proposal would do wonders for people with a professional mind-set b.) we don't use the proper people to network. frankly just because someone is deeply religious does not necessitate that they are the best representative of your organization. it would be far better to get someone who smiles, dresses neatly, and believes strongly in what you're trying to do than the one who knows the most fiqh. c.) we mistakenly assume that just because some people are not religious or practicing, they will not want to help. there are many people out there who have a lot of attachment to Islam, but are still struggling or going through their own personal issues with the practice of Islam. We shouldn't deprive them of the opportunity to donate to Islamic causes; and in so doing, perhaps some baraka of that would be to awaken and renew eman in their hearts. just my two cents, w'Allahu a'lam. salaam, 7 8) |
| 05/20/05 at 13:41:24 |
| se7en |
| APPNA? |
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| bhaloo |
| 05/21/05 at 02:25:07 |
| [s;m] Se7en are you talking about APPNA? Se7en, these rich Muslims you are talking about, i.e. ones that don't drive a ford pinto or go to burger king, why would they donate? As you mentioned, most of them are not practicing and therefore not so involved with the community or know about it. That has to change. The community needs to embrace all Muslims make them feel like they belong, instead of announcing at every Eid (which is when these people go the masjid) , donate, donate, donate. |
| pro |
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| MIT |
| 05/21/05 at 09:40:47 |
| assalaamu alaikum Se7en i absolutely agree with you. Actually it reminds me of an email from a shaikh some years ago: "I remember one time on a flight, a peculiar thing happened. An elderly man approached me and noticing my beard inquired if I was a Muslim. When I said yes wal-hamdulillah. he asked if he could sit next to me. He then began to ask me a number of questions and finally asked me if I was <name withheld>. I replied indeed I was. He then began to pull out an album and showed me all those letters and replies that he had sent to the world's who's who (Princess Di, the Pope, Jimmy Carter). He told me that he is a very wealthy man and what he is doing in his retirement is that he attempts to meet with these so-called "dignitaries" and present Islam to them. He said, that he was on his way to see Jimmy Carter (or maybe it was Princess Di) and that he was going to see Emperor of Japan the following month and if I would like to come with him. Unfortunately, I never heard back from him. The point behind this incident is that there needs to be people who specialize in giving da'wa to the very wealthy Muslims. If some of them were to make tawaba on that da'iya's hands they can then be advised to use there wealth to build for the Muslims..." Each Muslim has his or her own speciality with which they can help the ummah. For some its their eloquence in writing, for others its in teaching, and for others its their charity. There are soooo many brothers without beards and sooo many sisters who don't wear hijab who love Islam and want to help out. They are a vast untapped resource which we need to... yep tap into ;) Did you know that the Earl of Winchester (or something like that) in the UK is a revert? |
| dawah |
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| jannah |
| 05/21/05 at 13:13:48 |
| slm, You can't discount apna like people.. there are alot of people who are not so practicing but do feel a sincerity towards islam and do donate quite a bit of money. There's this one muslim who owns hotels across a certain area, and doesn't really fall into my personal definition of a devout muslim, and he dropped 10 grand to build an inner-city mosque. I mean who knows, perhaps through his charity he has a better standing with Allah, than one of us who claims to be more devout. Secondly.. that whole giving dawah to the rich and famous... i mean do u remember Surah Abasa??? this is very clear quranic language to guide our dawah practices... There are muslims that are so in NEED of dawah. they are asking for dawah, i get emails from people every day NOT FOR $ but for help in learning islam, speaking at a school, church, organiz, finding resources, becoming better muslims, needing teachers, organizers, volunteers. they need help for so many things, and we're putting our efforts behind the rich and famous??? if it happens, it happens along the way but why that as our goal?? that just ain't right Surah 80 - 'Abasa HE FROWNED 080.001 (The Prophet) frowned and turned away, 080.002 Because there came to him the blind man (interrupting). 080.003 But what could tell thee but that perchance he might grow (in spiritual understanding)?- 080.004 Or that he might receive admonition, and the teaching might profit him? 080.005 As to one who regards Himself as self-sufficient, 080.006 To him dost thou attend; 080.007 Though it is no blame on thee if he grow not (in spiritual understanding). 080.008 But as to him who came to thee striving earnestly, 080.009 And with fear (in his heart), 080.010 Of him wast thou unmindful. 080.011 By no means (should it be so)! For it is indeed a Message of instruction: 080.012 Therefore let whoso will, keep it in remembrance. |
| 05/21/05 at 13:15:26 |
| jannah |
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