Samir Malik: Cofounder and CEO at Firsthand, Board Member, Zakat Fund of NYC
“With roughly 800,000 Muslims living in New York City, a few Muslim families, including ours, wanted to create a way to fulfill our Zakat (almsgiving). Zakat is an Islamic pillar of faith that involves giving back to those in need, especially the most vulnerable, such as orphans or people without food or housing. In 2016, we created the Zakat Fund of NYC.
Our parents’ generation, which immigrated here, were mostly fulfilling their Zakat by giving back to the countries they came from, such as Nigeria, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. But as Muslims who were born here and live in New York, we feel a deep connection to the community we live in and want to make sure we can positively impact it.
By partnering with The New York Community Trust, the Zakat Fund has efficiently and effectively distributed over $370,000 worth of grants since 2018 to nonprofits that provide food and housing programs and support domestic violence survivors.
With The New York Community Trust, the Zakat Fund of NYC is able to put the dollars to work in ways that are responsible and appropriate. The Trust was the perfect fit for us.
I am proud that in times of crisis and moments of need, we are able to tap into the giving potential of our community and help those who can use it most.”