An accreditation program for American Muslim charities hopes to address donors’ fears of government reprisal that has lead to deceased donations. Partnering with the Better Business Bureau, Muslim Advocates started the Muslim Charities Accreditation Program (MCAP) in August 2008 to help charities comply with federal regulations and financial rules. On Aug. 25, 2009, Muslim Advocates announced three American charities were the first to complete the program and receive accreditation. 

A June 2009 ACLU report spotlighted increased federal scrutiny toward donors  as a major factor that has led  many American Muslims to  become apprehensive about giving to U.S. Muslim charities. This “chilling effect” has led to a significant decline in donations to Muslim charities. Akil Vohra, legal counsel for the Muslim Charity Works Campaign at Muslim Advocates, said, “The fear of giving was very real.”

The MCAP program was designed to address these concerns by creating a more open and accountable process for donors and charities. “The key part of this is transparency,” Vohra said. “Donors want to know the same thing: Where is our money going? Where is it being used?”

According to the Muslim Advocates press release, “MCAP provides American Muslim charities with legal guidance and one-on-one technical assistance to promote best practices in charity management and compliance with federal laws.” MCAP requires participants of the program to comply with 20 Standards for Charity Accountability that require a verifiable demonstration that they meet basic standards in:

  • how they govern their organization,
  • the ways they spend their money,
  • the truthfulness of their representations, and

  • their willingness to disclose basic information to the public.

Muslim Advocates has also uploaded a guidance video on YouTube for donors and charities. The video encourages viewers to make donations to reputable U.S. based charities. It also asks that donors to increase their own diligence to help steer their charitable donations toward their intended purposes.
 

Speaking about the accreditation program, the President & CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Art Taylor, said, “As an independent evaluator of charities, the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance believes that the organizations it has reviewed for the Muslim Charities Accreditation Program operate with a level of transparency and accountability that should give donors confidence in this time of giving.”

As of September 2009, 17 Islamic charities are enrolled in the program and nearly 150 groups have attended free legal and financial seminars hosted by Muslim Advocates and its partners around the country. From the Muslim Advocates press release, the three American Muslim organizations which have already completed the program are:

  • Islamic Networks Group (ING): Founded in 1993, San Francisco-based Islamic Networks Group (ING) promotes cross-religious and cultural understanding, respect and harmony through increasing religious and cultural literacy and facilitating inter-religious and cultural engagement and dialogue.
  • UMMA Community Clinic (UMMA): Opened in 1996, the UMMA Community Clinic is the first independent, free clinic in America started by Muslim physicians. UMMA serves the underserved community in South Los Angeles, providing free/low-cost primary care medical services such as immunizations, physical examinations, gynecology and HIV/AIDS testing.
  • Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN): Formed in 1995 by Muslim students, community residents and leaders on Chicago’s South Side responding to the pervasive symptoms of inner-city poverty and abandonment, the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) is driven by the spiritual ideals of community service, social justice and human compassion.