Models to Draw On

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. 

This article, and the chart supporting it, shows that due process procedures used in asset forfeiture proceedings for accused drug traffickers provide more protection than procedures afforded charities accused of supporting terrorism. These asset forfeiture procedures may be a model for developing new rules for charities.

In the United Kingdom (UK) the Charity Commission, an independent regulator for charities in England and Wales, uses a vastly different approach to the issue of charities and counterterrorism than the U.S. In March 2009 the Charity and Security Network interviewed David Walker, Head of Compliance Outreach and Development and Sarah Jane Digby, Regional Manager sub-Saharan Africa International Programs, in the Commission’s London office. Here is what we learned.