“I joined MPI as a ZFI Fellow in 2020 where I was part of the inaugural class pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Philanthropy and a Graduate Certificate in Muslim Philanthropy and Humanitarian Studies. In 2021, I continued with MPI as a Visiting Assistant Professor based on my combined legal and philanthropic backgrounds, incubating a governance-risk-compliance clinic, which included research and training. It’s been an incredible journey – working with a collaborative team and national and global experts who are practicing and studying philanthropy. I’ve had the opportunity to much more deeply engage with understanding how Muslim philanthropy is practiced and understood. I’ve especially loved the opportunity to learn from everyone I meet and work with. To me, the MPI team is like family -we support and care for one another.
The work of MPI is critical for several reasons, and I’ll highlight a few. First, there are 2 billion Muslims around the world, and faith and culture often plays an important role in philanthropic practices. And second, there are many misperceptions and negative stereotypes about Muslims. MPI research on Muslim philanthropy provides facts and deeper understandings of how practices and understanding of Muslim philanthropy varies among Muslims and helps to provide a more accurate and nuanced understanding of who Muslims really are.
Thanks to the generous support from Penny Appeal and the Emerging Scholars Award, I was able to attend the European Research Network on Philanthropy Conference in July 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia and advance conversations about Muslim philanthropy among new audiences. First, I presented a paper on how past experiences of discrimination among racialized minorities and Muslim Americans predicts support for civil rights causes. The feedback I received at the conference helped strengthen this paper, which is now under revision with an academic journal. Second, I was also able to attend a convening on Muslim philanthropy immediately following this conference and partake in discussions about Muslim philanthropy experiences across Europe. At this smaller convening, I was able to build lasting relationships with scholars across Europe who are engaged in research to understand the benefits and barriers among Muslim NGOs and individual generosity in different settings. I am grateful to MPI for these opportunities.”
Afshan Paarlberg
Research Scholar & Project Director — Global Philanthropy Indices
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Indiana University, Indianapolis
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