Latvia is a former Soviet country located in the Eastern part of Europe with a population of 1.8 million people and a GDP per capita of $21,779 in 2022 (according to the World Bank). It gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. After 50 years of Communist rule, the country faced challenges in... Read more ..read more

The American Muslim community continues to grow, as do the number of American Muslim nonprofits. Knowing and understanding American Muslim philanthropy is important to developing and better serving American Muslim civil society and the larger American civil society. This is why the research from the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) and other institutions is important. MPI... Read more ..read more

As a nonprofit professional, I discovered that the world of fundraising and philanthropy is filled with stories of everyday people making positive changes in their community and establishing a legacy that transcends their own lives. The Muslim Philanthropy Initiative published a study on Motivations of Giving, which dives into reasons why American Muslims are philanthropically... Read more ..read more

In Islam, the act of giving back is highly emphasized, especially during Ramadan. The holy month emphasizes the importance of zakat (required almsgiving) and sadaqah (voluntary charity), highlighting the deep generosity within the Muslim faith (MPI,2023). Zakat, a fundamental aspect of Islam, demonstrates the religion’s organized method of giving to those in need, with the... Read more ..read more

I’ve been studying philanthropy for the past few years, learning about its history in the United States, understanding its beginnings, and navigating the landscape. Every history book on philanthropy I was required to read either failed to mention anything about Muslim philanthropy or Islam’s influence on Western philanthropy or had one paragraph dedicated to it... Read more ..read more

The top 50 American individuals and couples who gave or pledged the most to charity in 2023 committed US$12 billion to foundations, universities, hospitals and more. That total was 28% below an inflation-adjusted $16.5 billion in 2022, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s latest annual tally of these donations. The Conversation U.S. asked David Campbell, Angela R. Logan and Michael... Read more ..read more

Institutional affiliation: Social Impact Alliance for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE Impact Foundation) The report “Unlocking Private Capital for Social Good in Central & Eastern Europe” published in September 2023 by the Social Impact Alliance for Central and Eastern Europe, is a comprehensive analysis of the research conducted between 2020 and 2023 in collaboration with... Read more ..read more

In December 2023 I traveled to Saudi Arabia with friend and colleague Jeannie Sager.  We had the honor of being two of three women presenters at the Eleventh Forum for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector.  While I have been privileged to travel personally and professionally many times, this was my first trip to the... Read more ..read more

“From Traditional Practices to Modern Trends and Challenges of Philanthropy in Nepal” Philanthropy is of great importance in Nepali society and reflects commitments deeply rooted in the country’s diverse religious and cultural landscape. Growing ownership and motivation of people to solve common societal problems has also been a key element for increased philanthropic activities in... Read more ..read more

Known for its long-lasting, mostly stable democracy, Ghana has long been considered a “donor darling” in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the mid-1980s, international donors and foreign governments have generously supported civil society organizations (CSOs) in the country. This has led to a robust civil society sector with a large number of organizations focused on everything from... Read more ..read more