Pillars Fund
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Pillars Fund
| logo = Pillars Fund Logo.svg
| type = Humanitarian aid
| key_people = Kashif Shaikh{{cite news| url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2017/7/25/in-a-fearful-moment-this-growing-fund-channels-muslim-philanthropy |publisher=Inside Philanthropy |title=In a Fearful Moment, This Growing Fund Channels Muslim American Philanthropy |date=25 July 2017 |accessdate=7 September 2017}}
Executive Director
| founded_date = {{Start date and age |2010}}
| founder =
| location_city = Chicago, Illinois
| location_country = United States
| area_served = United States
| product = Grants
| focus = Funding secular programs supporting American Muslims
| method =
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| num_volunteers =
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| homepage = {{URL |https://pillarsfund.org/ }}
}}
Pillars Fund is a grant-making organization and Muslim community foundation named in reference to the five pillars of Islam,{{cite news| url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahallam/pillars-fund-secret-weapon-in-the-fight-against-islamophobia|publisher=Buzzfeed |title=A Secret Weapon In The Fight Against Islamophobia |date=6 September 2017 |accessdate=6 September 2017}} the third of which is Zakat.
Pillars Fund is governed by a Board of Advisors, many of whom are prominent American Muslims. The organization makes particular effort to ensure that donations go to projects that would not elicit controversy. It is one of the largest funders of Muslim issues in the United States.
History
Founded in 2010 in the mold of United Way and Jewish Federations of North America, and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Pillars is focused on funding secular non-profit programs supporting American Muslims in media, public relations, and leadership development.
Pillars Fund was founded as a giving circle housed under the Chicago Community Trust in 2010 and became an independent entity in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/giving-circles-in-cross-cultural-context/ |title=Giving Circles in Cross-Cultural Context| publisher=eJewish Philanthropy| date=19 November 2013| accessdate=7 September 2017}} It raised a million dollars in 2016.
As of 2017, it had invested more than $2 million in a number of programs.{{cite web| url=http://cct.org/about/partnerships_initiatives/pillars-fund/| publisher=The Chicago Community Trust|title= Pillars Fund| accessdate=7 September 2017}} It typically awards fifteen of the hundreds of grant applications it receives each year.
Institutional funders
- Ford Foundation{{cite news|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/shia-kapos-pillars-fund-muslims-riverwalk-lester-lampert/|title=KAPOS: Chicago grantmaker is making national waves|date=7 August 2017|accessdate=7 September 2017|publisher=Chicago Sun Times}}
- Nathan Cummings Foundation
- Open Society Foundations
- W. K. Kellogg Foundation{{cite web|title=Pillars Fund|url=https://www.wkkf.org/grants/grant/2016/06/the-pillars-fund-p3034904|publisher=W.K. Kellogg Foundation|accessdate=7 September 2017}}
Spending
Pillars Fund funds a variety of approaches towards its stated goal of "amplifying the leadership, narratives and talents of American Muslims," with stated program areas of rights, wellness, understanding and leadership.
=Grantees=
- Auburn Theological Seminary's "Voices of Change, Voices of America" Program{{cite web|url=https://auburnseminary.org/voices-of-change/|publisher=Auburn Theological Seminary|title=Voices of Change, Voices of America|accessdate=7 September 2017}}
- Hartford Seminary's Islamic Chaplaincy Program{{cite web| url=http://www.hartsem.edu/2016/04/islamic-chaplaincy-program-receives-25000-pillars-fund-grant/| publisher=Hartford Seminary |title=Pillars Fund Awards $25,000 Grant to Islamic Chaplaincy Program |date=21 April 2016 |accessdate=7 September 2017}}
- Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
- Unity Productions Foundation
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://pillarsfund.org/ Pillars Fund website]
- [https://www.fordfoundation.org/library/multimedia/halal-in-the-family-challenging-hate-pop-culture-and-philanthropy/ Halal in the Family: Challenging hate—pop culture and philanthropy]
{{charity}}
Category:Social welfare charities based in the United States
Category:Islamic charities based in the United States