Muslim women have always been architects of generosity, even when history overlooked their names. From the earliest days of Islam to today’s global humanitarian response, their giving has sustained communities, educated generations, and lifted families out of crisis. What is new is not their leadership, but the growing body of research finally documenting its scale, intention, and impact.
Muslim Women Today
According to the 2023 U.S. Muslim Women’s Philanthropy Report by the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, American Muslims give an estimated $4.3 billion annually in zakat, with Muslim women contributing approximately $1–1.75 billion of that total. Their giving is driven primarily by faith, compassion, and a deep belief in making a tangible difference; values rooted in zakat, sadaqah, and the Islamic ethic of social responsibility.
This generosity extends far beyond financial support. Research from Indiana University, Islamic Horizons, and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) shows that nearly 70% of Muslim women volunteer 20 or more hours per year for faith-based causes, with over half doing the same for non-faith-based initiatives. These women give time, leadership, and expertise, transforming charity into sustained community investment and long-term impact., transforming charity into sustained community investment and long-term impact.
Studies highlighted by Interfaith America and Philanthropy.com further reveal a powerful connection between Muslim women’s philanthropy and civic engagement. Nearly 87% of zakat given by Muslim American women comes from registered voters, who are significantly more likely to volunteer and lead community efforts here in the USA. In fact, just over 60% of women donors account for more than 90% of total zakat contributions, demonstrating how deeply engaged women are in driving most of the philanthropic impact within Muslim communities.
One of the most visible expressions of this leadership today is the rapid rise of Muslim women’s giving circles. As documented by Indiana University’s Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, these circles bring women together to pool resources, study community needs, and collectively decide where funds will have the greatest impact. Giving circles allow Muslim women to blend faith-based giving with collaboration, accountability, and strategy; transforming individual donations into shared power and sustained change.
Muslim Women in History
This leadership is not new; it is deeply historical. Muslim women have shaped philanthropy for centuries. Fatima al-Fihri, a 9th-century Muslim woman, used her inheritance to establish Al-Qarawiyyin University, one of the oldest centers of learning in the world. During the Ottoman era, women founded more than 1,400 charitable endowments (awqaf) that funded schools, hospitals, and public infrastructure. Today’s Muslim women donors are heirs to this legacy, blending faith with modern, strategic approaches to giving.
How Muslim Women Make a Difference with Us
At Zakat Foundation of America, this research comes to life through women-powered philanthropy that fuels real, transformative programs on the ground. Muslim women donors help sustain livelihood centers in Türkiye and vocational training programs in Jordan, India, and beyond, restoring economic dignity to women striving to support their families. Their generosity also advances education initiatives such as Jameatus Salihaat and RefuSHE, where girls and young women gain knowledge, confidence, and the tools to lead. Through refugee empowerment and life-rebuilding programs, ZFA supports women and families as they recover from displacement and loss, moving beyond survival toward self-reliance, stability, and long-term resilience.
Guiding this work is the Zakat Foundation Institute (ZFI), which advances research, education, and thought leadership on zakat and Islamic philanthropy. By grounding generosity in scholarship and ethical stewardship, ZFI helps donors, especially Muslim women, understand how to give with intention, strategy, and lasting impact. Together, Zakat Foundation of America and the Zakat Foundation Institute ensure that compassion is informed, faith is activated, and generosity becomes a legacy. When Muslim women give, they are not only sustaining lives; they are shaping the future.
Your generosity fuels a global movement creating opportunity, dignity, and resilience.
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