Muslim women in philanthropy are reshaping the landscape of charitable giving. When I first began exploring Islamic philanthropy, I viewed myself as just a donor—someone who calculated her zakat during Ramadan and wrote checks to local organizations. Like many Muslim women, I didn’t see myself as a “philanthropist.” That word conjured images of billionaires and their massive foundations, not an ordinary Muslim woman trying to make a difference in her community.
My perspective shifted dramatically when I connected with the American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF). Through AMCF, I discovered the power of collective giving and the importance of strategic philanthropy that aligns with both Islamic values and social impact. Opening a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) at AMCF was a transformative step in my philanthropic journey. I named it after my mother and mother-in-law—the Razia & Asghar Foundation—honoring the women who first taught me about generosity despite having limited means themselves.
The DAF allowed me to be more intentional with my giving while avoiding capital gains taxes on appreciated stock—meaning more of my wealth could go directly to causes I care about. But beyond the tax benefits, AMCF opened my eyes to the broader landscape of Muslim philanthropy. Through their giving circle, I joined other Muslim women in making collective funding decisions, amplifying our individual contributions into meaningful grants for community organizations.
This experience helped me recognize that Muslim women have always been philanthropists—from Khadija (RA), who supported the early Muslim community, to countless women throughout history who established awqaf (endowments) for education, healthcare, and community development. We stand in a long tradition of Muslim women who used their resources, whether abundant or modest, to serve others.
As I detail in my new book Prosperity with Purpose: A Muslim Woman’s Guide to Abundance and Generosity, we need more Muslim women to see themselves as philanthropists and take control of their financial futures. Research shows that by 2030, women will control $30 trillion in financial assets in America. Muslim women need to be part of this transfer of wealth—not just as beneficiaries, but as active participants who can direct resources to our communities’ needs.
AMCF plays a crucial role in making this vision possible by providing the tools, education, and community for Muslim women to grow in their giving. Whether through DAFs, giving circles, or other vehicles for collective philanthropy, AMCF helps us move from ad hoc charitable giving to strategic, impactful philanthropy aligned with our values.
My hope is that more Muslim women will recognize their power as philanthropists and find community in organizations like AMCF. Together, we can build on our rich heritage of Muslim women’s philanthropy while creating new models of collective giving for the future. When we combine our resources—our time, talent, and treasure—we multiply our impact far beyond what any of us could achieve alone.
Nausheena Hussain is a Research Fellow at the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and author of Prosperity with Purpose: A Muslim Woman’s Guide to Abundance and Generosity. She is a DAF holder and Giving Circle member at AMCF.
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