Muslim Women Launch Grant Making Organisation
02 May 2021
MEDIA STATEMENT
Muslim women launch international not for profit grant making organisation
Nisa Global Foundation (NGF) was launched today by four Muslim women, Shaista Gohir OBE, Nazmin Akthar, Dr.Iram Sattar and Fozia Uddin. Its name was inspired by the fourth chapter of the Quran, An-Nisa (The Women) because the Foundation will focus on enabling women and girls to change their world by funding health, education, livelihoods and gender-based abuse projects. Although the vast majority of its initiatives will involve working with women led groups in developing countries at a local level, it will also fund some work in the UK, particularly helping domestic abuse victims.
The grant giving organisation, which has applied to the Charity Commission for registration as a charity, aims to provide British Muslims with more choice when it comes to their charitable giving. It is understood that Muslims in Britain give over £250 million annually to charity with an estimated £100 million donated in the month of Ramadan alone. Majority of these donations tend to be made to UK based Muslim charities which operate internationally. However, Muslim donors are increasingly becoming dissatisfied with them.It is this erosion of trust that led to NGF being established. When the founders conducted research last year, criticisms included misogyny, aggressive and unethical marketing tactics (which included lack of dignity as to how beneficiaries were portrayed), problematic recruitment processes, lack of accountability and transparency as well as concerns regarding safeguarding, governance and financial management.
Muslim charities form one of the fastest growing areas in the charity sector.Muslim charitable giving is likely to continue increasing because of the growth in the Muslim population and the rising numbers of young Muslims, particularly Muslim women joining the labour market. However, existing and new donors are now starting to ask more questions and are no longer willing to put blind trust in charities simply because they claim to operate with an Islamic ethos.
Founder, Shaista Gohir OBE, who came up with the idea for NGF said: “We feel that for too long the established Muslim charities have been taking donors for granted, especially women, who we understand often make up two thirds of their donors. It seems as if most of these charities are run like ‘Muslim men’s clubs;’ the presence of Muslim women in senior decision-making positions, such as director, CEO or board member, tends to be rare. There is no reason why women cannot occupy these positions. Given the size of their contributions, it is time Muslim women used their financial power to start becoming more selective in their giving. Such action then has the potential to be transformative and lead to systemic changes in the sector.”
NGF will be listening and learning from donors and incorporating good practice in its policies and procedures and has already attracted donations from various supporters. Further information about its plans can be found on its website: www.nisaglobalfoundation.org
Ends
- Comments - contact us on info@nisaglobalfoundation.org
- Details of founders – three of the founders (Shaista Gohir, Nazmin Akthar, and Iram Sattar) are trustees of award-winning national women’s charity, Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK) and have been for around a decade.
- Shaista Gohir OBE – leading women’s rights campaigner and Co-Chair of MWNUK
- Nazmin Akthar – lawyer and Co-Chair of MWNUK
- Dr.Iram Sattar – GP and Treasurer and Safeguarding Lead at MWNUK
- Fozia Uddin - Partnership Relations Manager (UK and International) at the University of Bolton
