Muslim Charities Turn to Private Sector to Build Back Trust
Training midwives in Afghanistan. Fighting for women's equality. Lending money to poor people in Madagascar. These are among a number of honorable undertakings led by Muslim charities every day.
But following the September 11th attacks, many Muslim charities were accused of supporting terrorist groups and investigated by the U.S. government in what one critic called "a witch hunt."
"Government actions have resulted in program cutbacks and increased fear of speaking out on important public issues," said Kay Guinane with the watchdog group Office of Management and Budget Watch.
Nearly seven years later, many of these organizations have still not seen donations recover to pre-9/11 levels, and are turning to a private-sector charity validator to win back donors and restore a positive image.
The Wall Street Journal reports that seven major U.S.-based Muslim charities are voluntarily opening up their financial records to the Wise Giving Alliance, a charity-vetting service run by the Better Business Bureau. The organizations hope the BBB accreditation will "build trust among the public, donors and the U.S. government," said Muslim Advocates' Farhana Khera.
They'll need to do so in what is undoubtedly a tough giving climate. In 2006 and 2007 charitable giving rose only about 1 percent after inflation, reported the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and this year is predicted to be worse due to a sluggish economy. At the same time, many charities are seeing the demand for their services increase, forcing all service-oriented nonprofits — Muslim or otherwise — to do more with less.
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