#MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast

Join AMCF Co-Founder Muhi Khwaja as he chats with Suzy Ismail, Founding Director of Cornerstone, a nonprofit, faith-based communication intervention organization with several locations around the world that focus on youth, family, marriage, identity, socioemotional wellness, and relationship rebuilding. More episodes can be found at amuslimcf.org/pod. The post Muslim Philanthropy Podcast with Suzy Ismail appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Muhi Khwaja interviewed Oussama Mezoui, a nonprofit consultant and expert, for the Muslim Philanthropy podcast.   Oussama shared his journey from growing up as a refugee in London to his career in nonprofit leadership, particularly in Muslim-led organizations. They discussed the challenges and opportunities in nonprofit work, including the importance of mentorship, professional development, and addressing “founder syndrome” in organizations. Oussama emphasized the critical need for better governance, talent development, and board leadership in Muslim nonprofit institutions. He also highlighted the importance of donors supporting these organizations and encouraged community members to get involved through volunteering or board service. The conversation covered Oussama’s current work as a consultant and his recent decision to take a more public role in advocating for stronger practices in the Muslim nonprofit sector. Listen to the Full Episode The full conversation with Oussama Mezoui is available on the #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast. Listen to the #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast Learn more about AMCFThe post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Oussama Mezoui appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Poetry Was My First Therapist: Zain Shamoon on Muslim Mental Health, Narratives of Pain, and Showing Up for Your Community There is a version of mental health advocacy that stays safely abstract — statistics, awareness campaigns, the occasional social media post reminding people that therapy exists. And then there is the version that Zain Shamoon has been living for the past two decades: showing up in community, creating spaces where people can be witnessed, and insisting that healing was never supposed to happen in isolation. In a recent episode of the #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast, AMCF co-founder Muhi Khwaja reconnected with a longtime friend: Zain Shamoon — marriage and family therapist, spoken word artist, co-founder of Narratives of Pain, and a core member of the Institute for Muslim Mental Health. What followed was one of the most honest conversations the podcast has hosted — about stigma, identity, art as healing, and what it actually means to show up for people who are struggling. Growing Up in a Family That Talked About the Things Nobody Talked About Zain grew up in Southeast Michigan, the son of a South Asian man who was, as he put it, “very uniquely” a manager of social services — a role that was rare in the community at the time. While his peers were navigating the ordinary silences of suburban Muslim life, Zain’s household was already talking about divorce, housing, substance use, and mental health. Not because it was comfortable, but because it was necessary. “You don’t even know you’re witnessing it because you’re just a kid playing,” he said. “But that became language. How do you remove people’s barriers?” His brother became a doctor. His sister, a social worker. And Zain became a marriage and family therapist — each of them, in their own way, continuing what their parents modeled. But before any of that, there was poetry. Growing up as a tokenized minority in what he described as a very “Mitt Romney-ish” suburb, Zain found that the mental health system wasn’t built for him. The therapists he encountered didn’t want to talk about his culture or his religion — or worse, they saw those things as impediments rather than sources of meaning. So he found something else. “My first mental health therapist that was culturally sensitive — and I want to emphasize the first that was culturally sensitive — was poetry.” That line landed like a thesis statement for everything that came after. The Private Struggle Behind the Public Performer Zain was a performer long before he was a therapist — doing shows across the Midwest, appearing at conferences and colleges. From the outside, he was thriving. Inside, he was fighting. He opened up about living with intense OCD symptoms, depression, and isolation during his early years. “You can be alone in a crowd of people you don’t feel you trust,” he said. “And so I struggled with that.” It was his sister who finally gave him permission to stop chasing a path that didn’t fit — telling him to take whatever classes he wanted instead of following peers into pre-med or law school. He discovered theater, human development, family therapy coursework. Things came naturally. A personal renaissance began. It was also around this time that he found a therapist willing to actually engage with his culture and religion — and the difference, he said, was everything. “We know that the biggest part of therapy that generates positive outcomes is a strong therapeutic alliance. And you can’t do that without broaching people’s cultural and religious backgrounds.” He says the problem hasn’t gone away. In 2026, too many Muslim clients still arrive at therapy and find providers whose cultural sensitivity is performative at best — anxious about getting it wrong, overcompensating, or simply avoiding the conversation. “It’s not the fault of the client who’s just trying to have a better life.” The Institute for Muslim Mental Health: For the Community, and for the Professionals In graduate school, Zain was drawn into the orbit of Dr. Hamada Talib and Dr. Abbasi — two figures who were quietly building what would become the Institute for Muslim Mental Health. He was twenty years old and already in the room. The Institute, which traces its roots to the Journal of Muslim Mental Health founded in 2006, operates on two parallel tracks. The first is community education — programs on ADHD, depression, domestic violence, autism, suicide prevention, and grief, designed for any Muslim who wants to understand these issues better. No professional credentials required. The second track is professional development for Muslim mental health practitioners themselves — the social workers, counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists who often find themselves isolated in their fields, waiting for an annual conference to feel like they’re not alone in caring about this work. The Institute has been building the infrastructure to change that: a membership community, a blog, meetups, speaking opportunities, and an ongoing commitment to making sure Muslim mental health professionals don’t have to wait a year to feel supported. “When you come to the conference, you don’t have to explain yourself,” Zain said. “There are other social workers, counselors, psychiatrists, and imams who care. But you deserve that type of professional support throughout the year — not just at a grand conference.” The Institute is currently running a fundraising campaign to expand its programming. Zain was direct: “The more that you can support us, the more these programs happen — for professionals and for the community at large.” Narratives of Pain: Healing Through the Telling and Witnessing of Stories If the Institute represents the clinical and professional side of Zain’s work, Narratives of Pain represents its soul. About eleven years ago, Zain and a close friend, Hammad Ali, created Narratives of Pain — a trauma-informed storytelling initiative built on a simple premise: the healing properties of therapy ought to be available in community, not just in a clinical office. The project launched at the Muslim Mental Health Conference in 2015. In the decade since, it has hosted nearly 100 events in Michigan, at Yale, in Palo Alto, Toronto, DC, and Seattle. The format is deliberately held. Participants — whether they sing, speak, recite poetry, or simply talk — share something they are going through and ask to be witnessed. The audience can step in or step out if they’re reminded of their own stories. No one takes video without consent. No one takes a story and makes of it what they please. And the host doesn’t riff or make jokes afterward — the emotional container is maintained with care. “Healing through the telling and witnessing of stories,” as Zain describes it. “People deserve not to just wait for their clinician or some magic medication to help them feel seen and heard.” For Zain, Narratives of Pain is personal in a way that goes beyond the professional. Poetry was his first culturally sensitive therapist. This project is his way of making sure others don’t have to wait as long as he did to find that. The Moskers Film Festival and What Muslim Artistic Community Actually Feels Like One of the most unexpected threads in the conversation was Zain’s experience at the Moskers Film Festival — where he performed his own work for the first time since 2017, two nights in a row, for an audience of Muslim artists who weren’t performing for an algorithm or a crowd or a record label. They were performing to be witnessed. He described the competitive toxicity he’d encountered earlier in his career — artists constantly evaluated against each other, proximity to mainstream success used as a measure of worth. Moskers was the opposite. “It didn’t matter if we didn’t perform perfectly. It was communal. Nobody was jockeying for the mic. It just felt equal.” He’s now working on a new musical project with fellow artists Umar Khan and Abbas — a community of musicians who care about gathering as much as they care about making. “I needed that for myself,” he said. “To be fully engrossed in being a community member who is being given that service.” Two Pieces of Advice Worth Holding Onto For anyone who wants to support someone who is struggling: “You do not need to be a mental health professional to affirm people’s mental health. You don’t have to subscribe to agree with what people are going through. You don’t have to subscribe to somebody’s lifestyle to wish them a better quality of life. Don’t underestimate your ability to show up — even if it’s just five minutes, even if it’s just connecting them to the right person.” For artists and creatives: “Let yourself make bad stuff. Do you like writing, or do you only like writing if you get the dopamine of feeling good about it? Do you like playing basketball, or do you only like the praise for it? If you love the art, you have to be willing to go through the garbage of it. Maybe your masterpiece is five garbage pieces away. Just make things.” Listen to the Full Episode The full conversation with Zain Shamoon is available on the #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast. If his work resonates with you, consider supporting the organizations he mentioned — and sharing this episode with a Muslim mental health professional in your life who needs to feel less alone in the work. Listen to the #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast Institute for Muslim Mental Health Narratives of Pain on Instagram Learn more about AMCF   The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Zain Shamoon appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

The meeting featured Zahra, a Muslim American attorney and coach, who shared her journey from growing up in Southern California to pursuing law school and eventually transitioning to coaching, while maintaining her focus on estate planning and community service. She and Muhi discussed the importance of strategic planning and wealth management in the Muslim community, highlighting historical examples of Muslim charitable practices and the need to overcome self-imposed limitations. The conversation concluded with discussions about philanthropy, the challenges and benefits of collaborative efforts, and the importance of building supportive communities to help individuals achieve their goals     The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast: Meeting assets for Connect with Zahra al-Jabri appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

The 2025 Annual Symposium in Muslim Philanthropy Awards was hosted by Muhi Khwaja, co-founder of American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF), who welcomed attendees and discussed the importance of zakat and charitable giving. The event featured presentations from various speakers, including Shazin Mufti, who provided insights about AMCF’s work and its year-end fundraising efforts. Technical issues were addressed regarding the visibility of ASL interpreters and speakers, with Lisa and Asma working to resolve these. The symposium highlighted AMCF’s mission to support the donor and nonprofit ecosystem through community-driven initiatives and emphasized the generosity of sponsors who make such events possible.     The post 2025 AMCF Annual Symposium & Muslim Philanthropy Awards appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

In this meeting, Muhi and Aneesa discussed plans for an upcoming podcast episode that would cover Aneesa’s professional journey, philanthropic work, and achievements as CEO of multiple manufacturing companies. Aneesa shared her background growing up in Yemen, her transition from family business to leading roles in manufacturing, and her experiences as a woman and minority in the workplace. The conversation concluded with Aneesa discussing her board memberships, philanthropic efforts through various foundations and organizations, and her approach to work-life balance while maintaining a commitment to making daily impacts and leaving a positive legacy. The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Aneesa Muthana appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

In this meeting, Ali shared his personal and professional background, including his journey from Pakistan to the US and his path into psychiatry, while discussing his experiences with mental health challenges and recovery. Ali explained the mission and services of the Khair Collective including their focus on Muslim mental health care and their work providing free workshops, training, and peer support services. The discussion covered the organization’s efforts to integrate Muslim peer specialists into community mental health support, addressing challenges around stigma and the need for culturally informed mental health services.   The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Khair Collective appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Dr. Sohail Masood shared his entrepreneurial journey from founding Crescent Healthcare to becoming the largest privately held home infusion company in the U.S., while discussing his receipt of various prestigious awards and his commitment to community work through his family foundation. Dr. Masood discusses his family’s philanthropic activities, including support for various nonprofit organizations, media projects, and programs for people with special needs, while emphasizing the importance of strategic giving and building relationships within the community. They highlighted their experiences with Muslim-led nonprofits and mainstream organizations, discussing the challenges of transparency and financial management in religious organizations, while emphasizing the value of starting local charity efforts and understanding community needs. The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Dr. Sohail Masood appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Join Muhi Khwaja and the Islamic Association of Raleigh Robotics team share more about how the youth are building, not only robots, but the culture of IAR. If there is a will, ITKAN.Islamic Association of Raleigh (IAR) allows us to ask for sponsors on their platforms and they themselves are a sponsor and we put their logo on our t-shirts in comps. They also are working on finding us a permanent space which is why we currently are working out of Yousuf’s garage. So, it’s literally a non-profit starting in a garage . Expenses are increasing due to winning states and going to Worlds. If someone wants to support ITKAN IAR 21836, they can donate here:https://raleighmasjid.org/roboticsIAR: $20k total, $8k left. If someone wants to support ITKAN Janktastrophe 24064 (from JIAR), our sister team:https://us.mohid.co/nc/durham/jamaat/masjid/online/donation/NkhFaUVZaDVUVmVxYzN0V0h6WDI3UT09JIAR: $20k total, $14k left.   The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with ITKAN IAR Robotics Team appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Khadija Deen from Should I Revert sharing her journey to Islam and how she began an online resource center for those considering to become Muslim. Muhi Khwaja hosts the Muslim Philanthropy Podcast. The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Khadija Deen: Should I Revert sharing her journey to Islam appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Join Muhi Khwaja and Sofia Haq as they talk about the importance of identity in the workplace, how to navigate challenges as Muslim professionals, and the great work being done by Muslim Women Professionals (https://muslimwomenprofessionals.org). Find more episodes of the Muslim Philanthropy Podcast at amuslimcf.org/pod. The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Sofia Haq: Muslim Women Professionals appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Shariq Siddiqui is an Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies and Director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Shariq has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Philanthropic Studies from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and a JD from the McKinney School of Law at Indiana University and holds a B.A. in History from the University of Indianapolis. Shariq joins Muhi to share more about his journey in this space. The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Shariq Siddiqui appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

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Tune in to hear Lisa Kahler, AMCF’s Giving Circle Fellow, share more about the American Muslim Giving CircleLearn more about the American Muslim Women’s Giving Circle and Join: amuslimcf.org/womensgcMore episodes... The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast with Lisa Kahler appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

Join Shazeen Mufti, AMCF Giving Circle Fellow as she shares more on our efforts around the American Muslim Women’s Giving Circle. Founded in 2021, the American Muslim Women’s Giving Circle... The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast: American Muslim Women’s Giving Circle Informational appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

With Ramadan’s arrival, we construct the link between this sacred month and philanthropy, shedding light on its significance and impact on nonprofits, with insights into how Muslims observe Ramadan and... The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast Exploring Ramadan & Philanthropy appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

The National Muslim Planned Giving Council hosts American Muslim Community Foundation for an informational on Donor Advised Funds. See why you should open a DAF and learn more about how... The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast – National Muslim Planned Giving Council Donor Advised Fund Informational appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

In this interview with Muhi Khwaja, co-founder and Chief Development Officer of the American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF), he discusses the foundation’s unique approach to faith-based philanthropy, shedding light on... The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast: Working With Faith and Philanthropy appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.

An Ask and Answer session of the Nonprofit Show, host Julia Patrick and guest expert Muhi Khwaja from American Muslim Community Foundation and Fundraising Academy, tackle questions sent in this... The post #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast Philanthropy Friday appeared first on American Muslim Community Foundation.