To be a leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding, to enhance understanding of islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower american muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
58¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$882K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $856K a year · 13% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
58%
of spending
Worth a look: 58% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$882K
to officers and key staff · 19% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 19% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $150K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$365K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.2M
+32% vs prior year
Spent
$4.7M
To programs
58%
Net assets
$4.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$6.2M
FY2021▲ +32%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.7M
FY2021$6.2M
FY2022$5.6M
FY2023$7.9M
FY2024$9.4M
Expenses
$4.7M
FY2021▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.6M
FY2021$4.7M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$6.4M
FY2024$8.6M
Net assets
$4.1M
FY2021▲ +59%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$4.1M
FY2022$4.4M
FY2023$6.1M
FY2024$6.7M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2010-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 2012.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

58 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 58% · $2.7M Management & general 30% · $1.4M Fundraising 12% · $570K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $882K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$211,868Pt VII · Sec A
National Litigation Director
$168,647Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Communications
$160,090Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Litigation Attorney
$119,090Pt VII · Sec A
$113,474Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$109,122Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Nihad Awad’s $236K as Executive Director is at the 86th percentile of top reported officer pay among 797 $1–10M civil rights & advocacy nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Nihad Awad$236,198$229,428———
Nehad Hammad——$219,509$211,868$212,283
Cary Hooper$187,099$178,521———
Lena Masri$173,021$150,735———
Lena F Masri——$140,646$168,647$121,317
Cary D Hooper——$165,752$160,090$160,526
Edward Mitchell$164,124$118,261———
Thania Clevenger$162,328$126,834$118,073$109,122—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Advocates for justice, promotes understanding of Islam, and protects civil liberties.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Civil Rights and Advocacy

Counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation or hate crimes. The department works to protect and defend the constitutional rights of american muslims, thereby supporting the rights of all americans.

$1.0Mprogram expense
02

Media Relations

Works with local and national media to ensure an accurate portrayal of islam and muslims is presented to the american public. The foundation monitors local, national and international media, in part to challenge negative stereotypes, but also to applaud and encourage positive representations of islam and muslims.

$790Kprogram expense
03

Outreach and Support

The foundation attends muslim and non-muslim events to educate the community about the work of the foundation. Additionally, the foundation works with and provides training to affiliate chapters to help strengthen the work of the foundation's mission nationwide by advocating for american muslims across the country who have experienced…

$486Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$150K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $15K · 2024–2024
Mas ChicagoIL · FY2024$15,000

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$428K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Money outPt IX
$4.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.7M
Managementcol C$1.4M
Fundraisingcol D$570K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.1M
Total assetsLn 16$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$365K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$39K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$428K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Total revenueLn 12$6.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$610K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$140K
Total assetsLn 16$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$365K
Net assetsLn 32$4.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 533
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.5M$3.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$486K$610K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$47K$140K
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M$4.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$880K$365K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M$4.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$8K$8K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$244K$168K$51K$25K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.1M$1.5M$434K$213K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$63K$44K$13K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$292K$175K$78K$38K
Payroll taxesLn 10$192K$129K$44K$19K
Legal feesLn 11b$304K$2K$302K
Accounting feesLn 11c$27K$27K
Investment management feesLn 11f$6K$6K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$444K$192K$148K$104K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$887$569$318
Office expensesLn 13$253K$99K$38K$115K
Information technologyLn 14$90K$32K$57K$709
OccupancyLn 16$342K$242K$67K$32K
TravelLn 17$12K$832$9K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$11K$2K$9K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$24K$16K$5K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$37K$34K$2K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$247K$97K$149K$505
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.7M$2.7M$1.4M$570K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $9.4M$8.6M$771K$6.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.9M$6.4M$1.6M$6.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.6M$5.2M$403K$4.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $6.2M$4.7M$1.4M$4.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.7M$4.6M$93K$2.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,155,625 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,228,899$5,720,984
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $422,101$427,500
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,982$7,141
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $125$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,657,107$6,155,625
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $14,500$8,470
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,083,261$2,926,736
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,466,245$1,797,169
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,564,006$4,732,375
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $93,101$1,423,250
Part VI · Governance 8 of 9 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $6,155,625 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,119,213
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,601,771
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$38,593
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,720,984
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $427,500$427,500
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $7,141$7,141
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $427,500 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,141$6,155,625
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,732,375 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $8,470$8,470
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $167,690 · Management $51,038 · Fundraising $25,070$243,798
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,489,547 · Management $433,553 · Fundraising $212,888$2,135,988
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $43,765 · Management $12,739 · Fundraising $6,255$62,759
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $175,130 · Management $78,170 · Fundraising $38,498$291,798
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $129,109 · Management $44,225 · Fundraising $19,059$192,393
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,549 · Management $302,341$303,890
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $27,421$27,421
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $6,468$6,468
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $191,516 · Management $148,387 · Fundraising $103,956$443,859
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $569 · Fundraising $318$887
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $99,183 · Management $38,020 · Fundraising $115,333$252,536
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $31,735 · Management $57,089 · Fundraising $709$89,533
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $242,470 · Management $67,128 · Fundraising $32,463$342,061
IX-17 TravelPrograms $832 · Management $8,921 · Fundraising $2,459$12,212
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,862 · Fundraising $8,681$10,543
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $16,325 · Management $4,960 · Fundraising $2,399$23,684
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $33,786 · Management $2,059 · Fundraising $1,356$37,201
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $97,244 · Management $149,125 · Fundraising $505$246,874
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,730,782 · Management $1,431,644 · Fundraising $569,949$4,732,375
Part X · Balance sheet $4,438,554 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,504,027$3,107,155
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $49,730$14,202
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $183,424$419,807
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $176,323$147,572
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $47,474$139,895
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $486,383$609,923
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,447,361$4,438,554
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $300,425$364,934
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $880,425$364,934
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,505,079$3,867,900
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $61,857$205,720
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,566,936$4,073,620
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,447,361$4,438,554
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,073,620 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,155,625
XI-2 Total expenses$4,732,375
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,423,250
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,566,936
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$83,434
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,073,620

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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