Muslim faith-based NGOs in the United States remain watchful for a fall-out effect of the rhetoric and policies of President Donald Trump and his administration.
Already, some humanitarian and development groups with faith-based leanings and missions say that the fraught political climate has cast a shadow over their work, leading to potential challenges in partnerships, donations and aid transfers.
“There is a chilling factor to the Muslim-American donor base. If they feel like there might be attacks on Muslim organizations... there is less likelihood for funding,” said Sharif Aly, advocacy counsel at Islamic Relief USA, an Alexandria, Virginia-based humanitarian group that operates in more than 40 countries. “If there is a negative rhetoric going on that won’t facilitate the relationships you need to build to increase your impact. It’s not as simple as just funding.”
About the author
Amy Liebermanamylieberman
Amy Lieberman is the U.N. Correspondent for Devex. She covers the United Nations and reports on global development and politics. Amy previously worked as a freelance reporter, covering the environment, human rights, immigration, and health across the U.S. and in more than 10 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Nepal, and Cambodia. Her coverage has appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Slate, and the Los Angeles Times. A native New Yorker, Amy received her master’s degree in politics and government from Columbia’s School of Journalism.
