Fundraisers of the Muslim faith are taking issue with the Association of Fundraising Professionals because its annual AFP ICON international conference, which starts Sunday, is being held on the last three days of Ramadan for the second consecutive year.
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the crescent moon, which usually appears one night after a new moon. This year Ramadan began on Sunday, March 10. It takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic year. The date varies from country to country, depending on when the moon is sighted.
Ramadan celebrates the Quran first being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, a sacred moment honored with abstinence between sunrise and sunset.
“Muslim fundraisers globally generate 80% of their revenue in these last three nights. We must also modify our participation at this conference and its many networking activities because we are fasting and need to go home or to the masjid at sundown,” said fundraising consultant Sarah Ali, a member of AFP-Greater Toronto Chapter and the Asian Fundraisers Collective.
The 80% statistic is from Funders In Good, an organization for Muslim fundraising.
AFP President and CEO Michael Geiger responded to Ali’s LinkedIn post. “I am sorry and I apologize. You are right and we have let you down. I hear and see you and the entire Muslim community. We will do better. AFP has come a long way but we know we still have further to go and we are committed to this journey. I am available to anyone who wishes to connect with me while here at ICON or afterwards,” he wrote. “We have made sure that all future scheduled ICONs do not conflict.”
According to the posting, the organization arranged for AFP’s Muslim affinity group to meet Saturday in the Convention Center and has set aside a prayer room for the duration of ICON. “We have also included information on the mobile app regarding Ramadan, including the sunset times for each day of the event, as well as the location of the on-site prayer room and local mosques,” according to the posting.
“This not a confrontation. It is a collaboration,” said Ali of seeking a meeting with AFP officials. Two things are being immediately sought:
* That AFP hold a meeting with all Muslim fundraisers present at the conference, and endeavor to call in any AFP members who want to attend or contribute, to listen to how this has impacted them over the years, and collaboratively strategize to do better.
* That AFP and allied sponsors commit funds to support Muslim fundraisers and direct those funds to creating and supporting Muslim AFP affinity groups. Funds might be used to, for example, commission much needed key research on Muslim giving.
A letter summarizing the group’s concerns has been sent by Ali to AFP leadership. She said 191 other individuals representing many organizations have signed on.
