Muslim Charities Accreditation Program Hosts First Seminar

Sent: November 19, 2008

Muslim Charities Accreditation Program Hosts First Seminar in San Jose, CA

On Saturday, October 25th, Muslim Advocates hosted its first Muslim Charities Accreditation Program (MCAP) educational seminar in the San Francisco Bay Area. The interest from the community exceeded expectations, drawing nearly 40 organizations including mosques, educational organizations, domestic violence and social service groups, and international relief organizations representing a cross-section of the Bay Area Muslim community, including Sunnis, Shias, Somalis, Arab, Muslim, South Asian and African American groups.

The seminar was hosted by the law office of McManis Faulkner in San Jose and received the generous support of Amana Mutual Funds and the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers.

The packed house of over 60 attendees learned about a range of issues affecting their institutions, including nonprofit governance, financial best practices for mosques and 501©(3) nonprofits, employment and immigration law, and a panel focused on international charitable transactions and operations. Attendees benefited from top experts, including the President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, a representative from the IRS, three CPAs, an employment litigation partner, a principal at one of the top nonprofit law firms in the U.S., and several nonprofit consultants.

The response from the Muslim community leaders was overwhelming with many attendees stating that the seminar fulfilled a significant unmet need for expert legal and financial guidance. They urged Muslim Advocates to hold a follow-up seminar soon. With a focus on encouraging best practices in the field of Muslim nonprofits, Muslim Advocates provided each attendee with workbooks, presentations and additional resources.

Earlier this year Muslim Advocates launched the Muslim Charities Accreditation Program (MCAP), a specialized program designed to help strengthen the Muslim American nonprofit community and protect the right of Muslim Americans to fulfill their religious obligations of zakat, or charity. The program includes free assistance by Muslim Advocates' full-time staff attorney, free evaluation and accreditation by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, a Muslim nonprofit best practices guidebook and online resource portal for nonprofits and donors.
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Reviews from organizations that attended this seminar:

"AMAZING!!"- Imam Tahir, South Bay Islamic Association (describing the Financial Best Practices for Mosques panel)

"Fantastic presentation and overviews covering the financial and legal issues facing non-profits. This is a must-attend program for all Muslim board members that serve in a leadership capacity."- Azfar Qureshi, Muslim Community Association of the San Francisco Bay Area

"This is one of the best programs I have ever attended. I am sure it will help improve our work and maximize benefit to the donors and recipients. My special thanks to Akil, Farhana and the whole team."- Manzoor Ghori, Indian Muslim Relief and Charities