Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) was founded to provide relief and development while treating the people it serves with dignity irrespective of gender, religion, or race. It empowers individuals, families, and communities, giving them a voice in the world. Working with the vision of freeing the world from poverty, IRUSA is guided by timeless teachings and values provided by the Quran and prophetic example. Committed to excellence in its operations and conduct, the organization tackles poverty and suffering, driven by sincerity and a need to fulfil our obligations to society.
IRUSA donors can see how their money is being spent, gaining a behind-the-scenes view of all the organization’s activities and the work of its dedicated volunteers striving every day to get donations where they are needed most. Supporters can see how their gifts are being used to create a better world, from school renovation projects to rebuilding homes for displaced individuals.
IRUSA strives to ensure that every penny is spent in the most impactful way possible, recognizing its responsibility to its donors, people in need around the world, and its accountability to Allah (SWT). The organization’s Follow Your Donation video series provides supporters with insights into IRUSA programs, enabling them to see for themselves the impact that their donations have made. The videos also provide a peek behind the scenes and a look at the diverse group of volunteers, staff, and partner organizations who make IRUSA’s lifesaving work possible.
Here’s a sample of some of the programs and initiatives that IRUSA donations support.
Collaboration with other organizations
IRUSA programs include those designed to feed children in need and help them access educational opportunities. Committed to sharing wealth, knowledge, and skills, IRUSA works at home and abroad serving underrepresented and impoverished communities. US projects include the Iman Health Center in Chicago, a facility established by IRUSA in partnership with the Inner-City Muslim Action Network. The Iman Health Center was designed to protect both physical and mental health, as well as providing food access provisions for people from the neighborhood.
Working with other non-profit organizations such as Project CURE, Medshare International, and MAP International, enables IRUSA to multiply its donations. For example, when Islamic Relief sent a 40-foot shipping container filled with medical supplies to one of the countries it operates in, it partnered with a like-minded organization. By doing so, Islamic Relief was able to distribute half a million dollars in humanitarian aid for a fraction of the cost, effectively turning every $1 donated into $10 worth of aid.
Partnering with some of the biggest companies in the United States, IRUSA also operates a gift matching program. In addition, IRUSA’s overseas affiliates receive institutional funding that further increases the power of donations. The organization is also heavily reliant on a vast network of dedicated, hard-working volunteers who give their time to stretch dollars even further and achieve an even greater impact around the world.
Where the money goes
IRUSA donations support some of the most vulnerable, at-risk populations around the world, including orphaned children. IRUSA prioritizes these children’s needs by assessing five main criteria, namely vulnerability, health, housing conditions, family size, and financial need. Families with the greatest needs, such as those in dire financial circumstances and larger families, are prioritized for IRUSA sponsorship schemes. The organization and its donors are currently helping to change the lives of displaced Somali orphans living as refugees in Kenya. In addition, IRUSA also supports Syrian orphan refugees in Türkiye, Lebanon, and Jordan, and Palestinian orphan refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.
In East Africa, the El Nino weather phenomenon has resulted in torrential rains and flash flooding since mid-2023. Reports suggest that over 350 people have been killed, with more than a million displaced across the region. In the Somalian city of Beledweyne, a staggering 85 percent of the city was submerged due to flooding. In the aftermath, aid agencies report surges in waterborne diseases such as acute diarrhea and cholera due to damaged sanitation infrastructure and a lack of access to safe drinking water.
Since early 2023, Islamic Relief has increased its on-the-ground operations in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, relaunching its emergency appeal due to continuing need from vulnerable families across the region. Donations help provide access to immediate aid, while sponsorships and continued support enable Islamic Relief to expand programming designed to provide long-term solutions for flood and drought-prone regions.
To keep supporters updated on how their donation dollars are working, IRUSA provides regular news and information updates throughout the year. The organization’s flagship publication, Partnership, helps supporters to learn more about IRUSA’s global operations and partnerships with like-minded organizations.
IRUSA’s mission
Launched with the belief that the wellbeing and protection of every life is of paramount importance, IRUSA is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that collaborates with other humanitarian organizations to respond to suffering created by poverty, injustice, and disasters. It is the largest Muslim faith-based nonprofit in the US. IRUSA directs a range of programs to help those in need, both domestically and around the world, including programs focused on orphans and children, women, water and sanitation, Islamic giving, health, education, disaster response, food aid, refugee aid, and microfinance.
To learn more and to find an IRUSA campaign you’d like to support, see donate.irusa.org/campaign/565013/donate.