New Accreditation Plan for Muslim Charities

Ever since the events of September 11, 2001, many Americans have been suspicious of Muslims and of Muslim Charities.  Muslims in San Francisco are fighting back.

Yesterday, a watchdog group and a nonprofit legal organization announced a plan aimed at restoring donor confidence in Muslim charities, while at the same time protecting them from unfair government scrutiny.  According to a report appearing in Philanthropy Today:

The voluntary accreditation program — run jointly by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and Muslim Advocates — will vet aid groups, mosques, and other Muslim charities and help them meet the alliance’s standards of accountability.

Muslim Advocates, a legal and civic-education group in San Francisco, will look over a charity’s financial and legal records and offer advice to Muslim charity leaders in advance of review by the Better Business Bureau.

Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, views the program as a “smart, practical solution” to the current fear and reluctance among donors to donate to Muslim charities.  The group hopes to hold meetings in eight cities this fall to educate charity leaders about the new program. 

VEJ