Grants

The American Muslim Community Foundation awards grants from its endowment, to nonprofit organizations working in partnership, with the Muslim community in one of the seven strategic initiatives outlined below. The funding cycles will be announced on social media platforms and our email newsletter, subscribe or follow us online.

AMCF is using a new grant portal, please register and apply for the grants below in this new system or click the image below. Each year, nonprofit organizations will be invited to apply for a grant through a letter of interest.

The current grants:

1. 2020 California Wildfire Relief Request for Proposals
   • Letters of Inquiry due Sunday August 15, 2021
   • Most funds will be between $1,000-$5,000. Some exceptions can be made for particular groups primarily affected by the wildfires.
   • Email grants@amuslimcf.org with subject “CA Wildfires” with any questions
   • Apply from the link above
   • Decisions will be made by Friday September 17, 2021 and funding will be done in October 2021
2. 2021 Starting Your Endowment Request for Proposals
   • Letters of Inquiry due Sunday August 15, 2021
   • Three organizations will be awarded $5,000 each in an endowment fund managed by AMCF
   • Email grants@amuslimcf.org with the subject “Endowment Grant” with any questions
   • Apply from the link above
   • Decisions will be made by Friday September 17, 2021 and funding will be done in October 2021

Strategic Initiatives

AMCF has determined the following seven strategic grant priorities:

1. 50 Mosques

   Mosques are the cornerstones of our community, and it is important to ensure they are actively engaging their youth, providing spiritual and communal connections for families, as well as providing women equal access to leadership, space, and resources. The American Muslim Community Foundation intends to eventually support one mosque in each state.

2. Artistry

   By supporting creativity in all mediums, we can share the beauty of Islamic influence in the arts. There is a rich history of Islamic art and culture, that cultivates beautiful design and techniques for the literary, performance (musical and theatrical), visual, and vocal arts.

3. Children of Abraham

   We are all daughters and sons of Adam and Eve. Our lives are connected to the cosmos and through promoting tolerance and understanding, we can move our communities forward. Interfaith and Intra-faith dialogue and collaboration will help break down barriers of resistance and help subdue generational tones of racism.

4. Civic Eloquence

   Community organizing and grassroots movements help mobilize people for the better. To make a difference, we need to increase our engagement in politics, media, and civil rights. If we do not stand up for the minorities whose rights are suppressed, we lose sight of what it means to be American. There are many deficiencies within our social structure, and this fund restores that balance to help bring an end to poverty, homelessness, and inequality. To save a life is to save all of humanity. Basic needs, education, and social services are vital to breaking the cycle of poverty. We must promote our foster care system, and empower the disadvantaged to succeed.

5. MUSLIM, Inc.

   The prison industrial complex is a never-ending cycle of misguided rehabilitative services. The US has the highest incarceration rate and over (as at 2011) 9% of the prison population is made up of Muslims.  We support initiatives that provide resources for Muslim sisters and brothers to better understand and practice their faith while they are in prison, and practical support such as food, employment opportunities, or housing post-release in order to reduce the rates of recidivism.

6. New Muslim

   It is often hard to navigate through a religion, learn it, commit to it, and find inner peace. It is hard to find relevant, insightful, and easy to understand information on Islam. We fund projects that are committed to caring for new Muslims, providing them with the resources to maintain their religious identity.

7. Seek Knowledge

   Our tradition teaches us to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. We want to empower and enhance educational structures to support their administration, students, and programming. Not only will this apply to schools serving kindergarten through college, it will also support nonprofits that provide continuing education and professional development.