Zakat Foundation of America

Zakat Foundation Provides Emergency Food Relief to the Starving Children of Niger

In June of 2010, Zakat Foundation began a four month campaign to tackle the mounting humanitarian… learn more »

Eastern Europe
Albania
Bosnia
Kosovo
Macedonia

Americas
Brazil
Haiti
USA

What is Zakât Foundation

Zakat Foundation strives to reach poor and underserved communities world wide, regardless of faith, race, or ethnic origins. We work in some of the most impoverished areas of the United States and the world, supporting communities in times of crisis with immediate aid, and through sustainable development programs that ensure access to water, food, shelter, education, healthcare and work.

As a US-based, Muslim-run charity organization that serves needy communities both at home and abroad, Zakat Foundation shows the inclusive beauty of Islam through programs that reach the destitute worldwide. We establish strategic regional offices and partnerships around the world to coordinate and oversee operations.

Zakat Foundation’s programs comply with the regulations established by the United States Department of Treasury Financing Guidelines and are subject to strict, yearly evaluation and audit procedures.

By keeping our administrative and fundraising costs low we have been able to consistently direct over 85 percent of our expenditures to program services every year since 2005. The last 2 years have seen over 90 percent of our expenditures directed to program services.

Zakat Foundation promotes the Islamic ideal of Itqan—care and excellence in everything that we do.

View our Annual Reports
Full audit reports available upon request »

Zakât

Zakât, or Zakât al-Mal, means obligatory “alms” or “alms upon wealth.” It stands as the Third Pillar of Islam, coming immediately after Salat, or the daily Ritual Prayer. Every Muslim possessing the designated minimal amount of wealth (called nisab) for a full cycle of a lunar year must, as a matter of worship, satisfy the duty of the Zakât-Charity.

Zakât-Charity is a sign of good character and a proof of one’s sincerity as a Muslim:

Truly, the believers shall realize [everlasting] success: The ones who attain humility in their Prayers; the ones, moreover, who [unfailingly] turn away from [any] vile talk [they hear]; the ones, moreover, who [unstintingly] give the [due] Zakât-Charity. (Al-Mu’minûn, 23:1-4)

Sadaqa

Literally, ‘sadaqa’ means “to speak the truth.” It is applied technically to “voluntary charitable giving” because when one gives of one’s wealth freely and of one’s own accord to others such an act “speaks the truth” about one’s “sincere” faith, the word ‘sincere’ being another connotation of sadaqa. Islam seeks to put people in touch with and strengthen the admirable qualities of the human soul. Sadaqa invokes our greatest character: Mercy. For it is mercy that calls forth from deep within us a sense of common identity with others. We see ourselves in them, and learn to want for others what we desire for ourselves. That is the highest state of man in society.