Pillars Fund
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pillars Fund is a grant-making organization and Muslim community foundation named in reference to the five pillars of Islam,[3] the third of which is Zakat.
 | |
| Founded | 2010[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Humanitarian aid |
| 81-0983087[2] | |
| Focus | Funding secular programs supporting American Muslims |
| Location | |
Area served | United States |
| Product | Grants |
Key people | Kashif Shaikh[1] Executive Director |
| Website | pillarsfund |
Pillars Fund is governed by a Board of Advisors, many of whom are prominent American Muslims. The organization makes particular effort to ensure that donations go to projects that would not elicit controversy.[3] It is one of the largest funders of Muslim issues in the United States.[1]
History
Founded in 2010 in the mold of United Way and Jewish Federations of North America, and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Pillars is focused on funding secular non-profit programs supporting American Muslims in media, public relations, and leadership development.[4]
Pillars Fund was founded as a giving circle housed under the Chicago Community Trust in 2010 and became an independent entity in 2016.[4][1] It raised a million dollars in 2016.[3]
As of 2017, it had invested more than $2 million in a number of programs.[5] It typically awards fifteen of the hundreds of grant applications it receives each year.[3]
Institutional funders
Spending
Pillars Fund funds a variety of approaches towards its stated goal of "amplifying the leadership, narratives and talents of American Muslims," with stated program areas of rights, wellness, understanding and leadership.
Grantees
- Auburn Theological Seminary's "Voices of Change, Voices of America" Program[8]
- Hartford Seminary's Islamic Chaplaincy Program[9]
- Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
- Unity Productions Foundation