Although secular nonprofits account for a larger percentage of total donations in the U.S., religious organizations often have some of the most committed donors. According to a Gallup poll, 44% of American adults contributed to a faith-based organization in 2021. This figure is just shy of the nearly 47% of adults who belong to a church, mosque, temple, or synagogue. 

Essential Funding for Safety Net Services

In the United States, where 68% of people self-identify as Christian, most faith-based charities are Christian. Many of these organizations—such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Feed the Children, and Habitat for Humanity International—offer vital services to people struggling with poverty, hunger, homelessness, mental or physical health challenges, and addiction. However, the great diversity of the U.S. means that not all faith-based organizations are Christian—far from it. For example, Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) is the largest Muslim faith-based nonprofit in the U.S., and one of the largest in the world. It extends a variety of essential services to at-risk populations, both domestically and internationally, from food aid to healthcare, to emergency response and education.

Faith-based organizations account for approximately 40% of the funding for safety net services in the U.S., as noted in a 2021 report by The Bridgespan Group, which examined community funding across six major cities. Furthermore, religious providers in 11 cities featured in the study provided around 60% of the total emergency shelter beds available. Without these efforts, governments would struggle—even more than they already are—to fulfill basic needs for people at risk.

Disaster Response

Faith-inspired charities such as IRUSA play a crucial role in rebuilding communities after natural disasters by mobilizing resources, fielding disaster response teams, and working together to maximize their impact. Places of worship frequently act as gathering sites in affected areas, providing a range of immediate needs to communities impacted by such disasters, while religious leaders can provide spiritual comfort amid a crisis. 

IRUSA, Catholic Charities, and the Jewish Coalition for Relief represent just a few of the many religious charities dedicated to disaster recovery services. For its part, IRUSA is active in disaster relief efforts both nationally and internationally, and its roots lie in responding to calamities. It became the first Muslim partner of the American Red Cross in 2014 and has responded to several crises before and since, including the September 11 terrorist attacks, multiple hurricanes, and the Flint water crisis. Most recently, IRUSA mobilized volunteers to assist in cleaning homes damaged by Hurricane Helene across six states, including North Carolina and Florida.

The Importance of Collaboration 

People of faith have much in common, even when their beliefs differ. They believe in something beyond our material world, be it a “higher power,” divine force, god, multiple gods, or the spirits of ancestors, plants, animals, and the Earth itself. Almost all religions have an ethical system based on eschewing hate and treating our fellow humans with compassion. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam even share common figures in their sacred texts, notably Ibrahim/Abraham. With these strong commonalities and shared principles, it’s no wonder that faith-based organizations often come together to multiply their efforts. 

One example: IRUSA has worked with the Faith Alliance for Health—an interfaith organization that also includes Catholic Medical Mission Board, World Vision, Episcopal Relief & Development, Catholic Relief Services, and Nigerian Interfaith Action Association—to enhance health outcomes for pregnant women and children, particularly in countries where child mortality rates are high. IRUSA has also worked in other capacities with faith-based organizations like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Women, Faith, and Development Alliance, and other groups. 

The Connection between Faith and Philanthropy

In addition to providing crucial services and disaster relief, religious organizations in the U.S. have a significant role in encouraging volunteerism and charitable giving. Many people in the United States are inspired to donate money or time due to their affiliation with a faith-based organization or house of worship. 

Several studies have underscored the faith-philanthropy connection, including the 2021 report Muslim American Giving from the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The report showed that, despite Muslims only making up 1.1% of the U.S. population, they represented 1.4% of individual giving. And despite being lower-income than the average American household, Muslim-Americans participated in volunteerism and charitable at a higher rate. A separate study by North Carolina State University of 4,000+ volunteers involved in a Christian nonprofit service project came to a similar conclusion. Some 93% of the volunteers said that their faith was the primary motivation for their participation, and they were more likely to engage in future volunteer activities compared to their secular counterparts. 

Putting Beliefs into Practice 

Faith-based charities benefit people in need, but they also benefit the faithful who donate their time and resources. For a person of faith, supporting a faith-based organization is a way to live out the teachings and values of their religion. It’s a way to put belief into practice—and a way to connect with other people of faith and build community. Many volunteers, especially, note that coming together with their fellow believers helps deepen their faith. 

For these reasons, faith-based organizations are vitally important in the U.S. From proving safety-net services and disaster relief, to encouraging philanthropy and volunteerism, to empowering the faithful to put belief into practice, it’s clear that faith-based charities are doing an enormous amount of good across the country.

However, the challenge lies in presenting charity in an age-appropriate way that the child can understand. Here are some tips and methods that may help.

1. Start with Simple Concepts

While young children might struggle to fully understand the nuances of charity, they can comprehend the simple concept of lending a hand to others. Explain charity in terms of kindness and sharing, perhaps relating it to something they do, such as sharing their toys with their siblings, being kind to a friend who feels sad, or inviting a classmate who looks lonely to join in recess games. This helps in laying the foundational concepts that other people may need help, and that we should step up to help them. 

Tip: Include stories or books about kindness. Children’s literature is replete with characters who embody generosity, sharing, and compassion. These stories can generate meaningful discussions on why helping others is important.

2. Model Generosity

Children learn by observing their parents and caretakers, especially when they are very young. Perhaps one of the most effective means of teaching the importance of giving is modeling charitable behavior yourself. Let your children see that you donate money to causes, volunteer your time, or do other acts of kindness. Explain this to them in an understandable manner.

Children do what they see. If they get used to seeing their parents involved in community service, they’re more likely to grow up with a philanthropic mindset. If charity is part of the family culture, children are more likely to make this part of their lives.

3. Make It Tangible

Kids relate better to hands-on experiences. Include them in acts of charity where they can see the results almost immediately. For example, take a family outing to a local food bank to volunteer, or even simply let them pick out toys or clothes to donate to underprivileged kids.

Alternatively, create a giving jar in your house where your child can drop in coins or extra change. Then you can turn it into an event by donating the money to a charity, perhaps one you decide upon as a family. Such moments can leave a lasting impression that emphasizes the importance of lending a helping hand to others.

4. Teach the Joy of Giving

Teaching kids the joy of giving is crucial. Keep in mind that charity does not need to mean sacrifice or loss. It’s about the joy that comes from knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life and the sense of connection you feel. Whether it’s through volunteering at an event or contributing to a cause you love, encourage your child to focus on the positive emotions that come with being generous. When children realize that giving brings happiness to both the recipient and themselves, they’re more inclined to keep engaging in acts of kindness.

5. Encourage Small Acts of Kindness

Charity doesn’t always have to consist of grand gestures. Encourage children to find small ways of helping others around them. This can be anything from carrying groceries for a neighbor to making cards to deliver to elderly residents in a care facility to cleaning up litter at a local park. These small gestures of goodwill emphasize that everyone has the power to make an impact regardless of how modest their contribution may seem.

6. Involve Children in Decision-Making

Children will feel more invested in charity when they have a say in how they give. Involve them in selecting a cause or organization they feel passionate about. Whether it’s animals, the environment, or helping other kids, giving children a choice in what causes they want to support will help them feel more engaged.

For example, you can create a family ritual of conducting reviews of charitable causes and deciding where to give your donations. This exercise not only helps children feel included in the process, but also allows them to learn about different social issues.

7. Use Technology to Teach Charity

In today’s digital world, technology can be a powerful tool for teaching charity. A lot of apps and websites make giving easy and accessible to kids. Many such platforms will also allow them to track their donations, learn how their contribution made a difference, or even fundraise virtually. Integrating these digital tools into a family’s charitable endeavors can enhance the experience, making it more fun and interactive for kids.

8. Create Charitable Traditions

Creating a family tradition around charity makes giving an expected and treasured part of life. Consider adopting a holiday tradition where your family gives toys or food to people in need, or allow your child’s birthday to be an opportunity to give money to a cause of their choice instead of, or in addition to, getting presents. Alternatively, families include charity as a way to honor religious holidays and live out the tenets of their faith. These actions create a ritual around charity that will become a familiar part of family tradition.

9. Explain the Greater Implications
As children grow older, help them understand the larger context of charity. Explain to them—in an age-appropriate way—how charity can be a way to address larger, global issues like climate change, social justice, and poverty. Teaching children to see the bigger picture will help them understand that their actions, no matter how small, can have wide-reaching consequences. By placing charity within the context of global citizenship, you assist children in realizing they belong to a community that extends beyond their immediate surroundings.

How Ramadan Giving Was Used to Support Islamic Relief USA Projects in 2024

The donations that Islamic Relief USA received during the 2024 Ramadan were used in a variety of ways and in many different projects across 31 countries, providing food support for 640,000 people at risk of malnutrition. The funds supported targeted projects in countries suffering from ongoing crises, such as Sudan, Palestine, and Yemen. Other countries that received food aid include Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, and even populations in the United States.

Food Distribution

Islamic Relief USA distributed over 59,000 food packets during Ramadan, most of which were supported by Ramadan giving. The food packets are customized to regional cuisines and traditions and have essentials to support a family for one month. In some countries, different packets are available, and recipients can select the one that is most appropriate for their family’s diet. The packets typically have dates, rice, lentils, sugar, oil, wheat, and canned meat and fish.

The United Nations reported that 2.4 billion people around the world experience moderate to severe food insecurity. Another 900,000 suffer from critical food insecurity. More than 3 billion people—or nearly half of the world’s population—cannot afford healthy food. In many crisis areas, the rate of malnutrition in children and pregnant or nursing mothers is so high that it is expected that many people will die from starvation. Food distributions supported by zakat are one way of mitigating this problem.

Relief Work in Palestine

Islamic Relief USA has a partner on the ground in Palestine that surveys conditions in identifying the most vulnerable and needy in the region. They are provided with food, medical care, and other essential services through a variety of programs. Since the recent conflict escalation began, Islamic Relief USA and its partner organizations have distributed 2.2 million hot meals to nearly 200,000 people; delivered food packets and vouchers for foodstuffs to 155,000 displaced people; provided medical care to nearly 85,000 people and medical supplies to more than 330,000 people; outfitted three hospitals with much-needed medical supplies and essentials; given immediate trauma care to more than 150,000 people; and provided hygiene kits, clothing vouchers, and bedding to more than 32,000, 15,000, and 11,800 people, respectively.

Supporting Displaced People in Sudan

Sudan has been suffering from internal conflict since April 2023, with millions of people displaced by the violence and at risk of malnutrition and starvation. Islamic Relief USA is supporting them by offering food, water, healthcare, and shelter whenever possible. To date, food has been provided to nearly half-a-million people; water storage kits have been provided to nearly 7,000 people; health care services and medicine have been provided to nearly 75,000 people; psychosocial support has been provided to more than 3,500 people; and hygiene kits, cash assistance, and shelter assistance have been provided to more than 10,600, 82,000, and 3,800 people, respectively.

Islamic Relief USA also supports displaced people living in countries such as Chad and Egypt. In Chad, the focus is on shelter assistance, with nearly 28,000 newly arrived Sudanese refugees.

Other Programs

The organization works with a number of partners in providing much-needed aid and relief services in a number of other settings, including food, water, healthcare, and winter aid in Yemen; orphan sponsorships around the world (more than 80,000 orphans are sponsored through Islamic Relief USA); and mother and baby support in countries such as Yemen, Niger, and Afghanistan.

Islamic Relief USA’s Zakat Policy

To ensure that donations are used properly and benefit as many people as possible, Islamic Relief USA uses a scholar-verified zakat policy. The organization has created a zakat advisory board that oversees and verifies distributions made by IRUSA, ensuring that the principles of ihsaan (excellence) and amana (custodianship) are always followed.