Zakat Foundation of America has announced the creation of the Zakat Foundation Institute, an independent nonprofit graduate school aiming to professionalize Muslim charitable work and award masters degrees in humanitarian and development studies to candidates from the Islamic philanthropic sector.
The Institute plans to inaugurate its ambitious program this fall - in partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy - by offering 10 Muslim Philanthropy and Humanitarian Studies Fellowship awards to prospective students with a proven commitment of service to Muslim charities.
"Muslim charitable work has grown exponentially in the last two decades, as has the legion of people who have dedicated themselves to making that happen," says Halil Demir, founding executive director of Zakat Foundation and author of 9 Myths About Muslim Charities.