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I am that annoying person who stays behind at the end of a movie to watch all the credits. Being born in the UK and then living in Zambia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UK again before moving to the United States, I was always a minority. Movies and TV had only negative depictions of people like me. In the search for belonging, I looked to the margins or movie credits for names that sounded like mine.
When I started studying and working in philanthropy, I continued the practice. For over 20 years, I have spent a great deal of time searching grant announcements, foundation annual reports and news reports for Muslim-led not-for-profits in the list of grantees. For over 20 years, I have been largely disappointed.
It was with delight that I saw that the latest list of gifts by MacKenzie Scott included five Muslim-led not-for-profits out of the 376 organizations that received gifts. Scott is likely the first American philanthropist who has included Muslim-led not-for-profits within her quest for equitable philanthropy.
According to the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding, 1.1% 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, Arabs and Latinos making up the largest proportion of this small minority population. Muslim Americans have a lower average income than the average American.
Research suggests that Muslim American not-for-profits are very small. The average Muslim American not-for-profit has a budget of $200,000 and one staff member. This relatively small group not-for-profits is tasked with community development and meeting the needs of its constituents, while also dealing with a great deal of external scrutiny.
Recent research by the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy shows that Muslim American not-for-profit leaders and not-for-profits are under a great deal of stress and face a great deal of external prejudice and islamophobia. The Institute of Social Policy and Understanding Islamophobia Index also suggests an increase in levels of islamophobia, which shows an increased level of scrutiny on small, Muslim-led not-for-profits.
American philanthropy has largely failed when it comes to ensuring equitable investments in Muslim-led not-for-profits. American foundations and philanthropists should follow Scott’s lead in ensuring that at least 1.1% of their boards, committees and philanthropic investments include Muslim-led not-for-profits. Embracing diversity, equity and inclusion requires more than lip service or public statements. It requires innovation, courage and leadership.
Sadly, philanthropy and American foundations have failed in their quest to be more inclusive when it comes to Muslim-led not-for-profits.
Scott’s inclusion of Muslim Advocates, Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Pillars Fund, Unity Production Foundation and ACCESS is an important milestone.
I hope this will inspire other American philanthropists and foundations to push back against the idea that Muslims don’t belong in this country and are not part of mainstream society.
It is my hope that my children won’t have to wait until the end credits to see more Muslim names represented. This can happen only if American foundations and philanthropists step up to be more inclusive.•
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