Inspired Generosity
At Collectivity, gratitude is one of our core values. It’s in the way we show up for one another and the partnerships we nurture. In the last few weeks as Ramadan was drawing to a close, many people were also thinking about tax deductions and charitable donations. In that light, we’d like to put a spotlight on our friends and client, Reviving Sisterhood for Islamic Empowerment (RISE) who are helping bring an important initiative to Minnesota in spring 2026: Inspired Generosity: Muslim American Stories in Philanthropy.
We recently had the privilege of attending a luncheon with some of the key players behind this initiative to learn more. This national storytelling exhibit highlights the rich and often-overlooked tradition of Muslim American giving—acts of generosity grounded in faith, community, and justice. Generosity is a cornerstone of the Islamic faith, deeply rooted in principles like zakat (obligatory almsgiving) and sadaqah (voluntary charity). Recent research underscores the profound impact of Muslim American philanthropy. The 2021 Muslim American Giving Report revealed that Muslim Americans contributed an estimated $4.3 billion in total donations over a year despite only comprising just over 1% of the U.S. population! They are more likely than the general public to support non-faith-based civil rights causes and demonstrate a strong commitment to social justice and community well-being. Through powerful narratives, photography, and digital media, Inspired Generosity invites us to expand our understanding of who gives, why they give, and how these acts shape our collective future.
In these unsettling times when we’re daily hearing about people disappearing, many who are Muslim and falsely being called terrorists, we wanted to highlight this much less common narrative and important story.
As Inspired Generosity prepares to make its way to Minnesota, we’re reflecting on the ways gratitude fuels generosity—and how generosity, in turn, strengthens community, which is the only way we will make it through these hard times. Historically, it’s the only thing that has.
