The Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts focuses primarily on faith-motivated humanitarian and charitable relief, channeling zakat/fitr/sadaqah funds to international Muslim relief organizations responding to disasters (notably earthquakes) and crises in Syria, Palestine, Morocco, Turkey, and Pakistan. A smaller but consistent stream supports local Islamic schools and community education initiatives. The foundation favors established Islamic relief NGOs and distribution-focused programs over project-based grants or domestic social services.
The clearest pattern in Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts’ grantmaking is faith-based relief routed through established Muslim humanitarian organizations, with the largest recent awards tied to earthquake response and zakat distributions. In 2024, the foundation gave $55,590 to Helping Hand for Relief and Development for Morocco, Turkey, and Syria earthquake relief, Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Libya relief, orphan relief, and fidyah and zakat distributions. It also granted $40,155 to Baitulmaal Inc for fitrana and sadaqah distributions, Palestine relief, and Morocco and Syrian earthquake relief. That mix shows a funder that supports both emergency response and ritual almsgiving, rather than project-specific programming. The grants are directed to organizations already working across multiple crisis zones, including Syria, Palestine, Morocco, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. A smaller but steady portion of the portfolio also reaches Islamic education groups in the Northeast, such as Alhuda Academy and Madina Academy, alongside relief NGOs based in several US states. The foundation’s recent activity reflects direct-distribution giving through Muslim-led channels, with humanitarian aid, orphan support, and faith-observant charitable assistance recurring across awards.
Humanitarian relief is the dominant theme in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $24,900 to Helping Hand for Relief and Development for Afghan relief, Pakistan flood relief, Syrian relief, and fitr, zakat, and zakah distributions. Another $10,200 went to Mercy-usa for Aid & Development for Palestine relief, Syria and Turkey earthquake relief, and fitra and zakat distributions. Earthquake response appears repeatedly in the grant descriptions. Islamic Relief USA received $13,800 for Morocco, Syria, and Turkey earthquake relief, plus Palestine relief and fitr distributions. The Syrian Emergency Task Force was awarded $8,000 for Syria earthquake relief and sadaqah distributions, while the Syrian American Medical Society Foundation received $7,500 for sadaqah distributions and Syria earthquake relief. The foundation also supports Islamic education and community institutions. Alhuda Academy received $7,000 for fitr, sadaqah, zakah, and zakat distributions, and Madina Academy received $5,500 for sadaqah, zakat, and zakah distributions.
$41K
$4.8M
$779K
$748K
Most grants fall between $7K and $17K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$17K
MOHAMMAD S BAJWA
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Concentrated, mission-driven giving: several large gifts to a handful of repeat Islamic relief organizations (Helping Hand for Relief and Development, Baitulmaal) complemented by smaller, recurring grants to local Islamic schools. Majority of funds flow to international emergency relief and religiously designated charitable distributions rather than diversified domestic programs.
Notable grantees: Helping Hand for Relief and Development, Baitulmaal Inc, Islamic Relief USA, Syrian American Medical Society Foundation, Alhuda Academy
Grant sizes cluster in the low five figures, with a p25 of $7,375, a median of $9,600, and a p75 of $16,575. The portfolio is built from recurring operating-style grants rather than one-off experiments: Helping Hand for Relief and Development, Baitulmaal Inc, and Mercy-usa for Aid & Development each appear in multiple years. The organization does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The latest 990 on file is for 2024, and the annual grants total is $199,145.
Grant recipients are all in the United States, with the strongest concentration in Texas, which holds the largest share of grant count. Recent awards reached organizations in Southfield, Michigan; Irving and Plano, Texas; Alexandria, Virginia; Washington, DC; Worcester, Massachusetts; and Windsor, Connecticut. Massachusetts recipients accounted for 25% of grants, but the foundation’s giving reaches beyond its HQ state. The recipient map also shows multi-state support for both relief groups and Islamic schools.
It supports established Muslim humanitarian and relief organizations, along with Islamic schools and community education groups. Recent grants went to organizations such as Helping Hand for Relief and Development, Baitulmaal Inc, Islamic Relief USA, Alhuda Academy, and Madina Academy.
Recent awards center on disaster and conflict relief, especially earthquake response, flood relief, Palestine relief, Syrian relief, Afghan relief, and zakat/fitr-based distributions such as fitrana, fidyah, sadaqah, and zakat.
Yes. Helping Hand for Relief and Development received $55,590 in 2024 and $24,900 in 2023. Baitulmaal Inc received $40,155 in 2024 and $11,000 in 2023. Mercy-usa for Aid & Development also appears in both 2024 and 2023 grants.
Its grant sizes are generally modest and concentrated in the low five figures. The typical grant size is $7,375 at the 25th percentile, $9,600 at the median, and $16,575 at the 75th percentile.
All recent grants in the provided data went to US recipients. The recipient cities include Southfield, Irving, Alexandria, Plymouth, Washington, Worcester, Plano, and Windsor, with Texas showing the highest grant count and Massachusetts accounting for 25% of grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HELPING HAND FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT | SOUTHFIELD, MA | $22,800 | 2025 | MOROCCO, TURKEY AND SYRIA EARTHQUALE RELIEF, SYRIA, AFHGAN PALESTINE AND LIBYA RELIEF, ORPHAN RELIEF, FIDYAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS |
| BAITULMAAL INC | IRVING, TX | $12,000 | 2025 | FITRANA AND SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS, PALESTINE RELIEF, MOROCCO AND SYRIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF |
| ISLAMIC RELIEF USA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,700 | 2025 | MOROCCO, SYRIA AND TURKEY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, PALESTINE RELIEF, AND FITR DISTRIBUTIONS |
| HELPING HAND FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT | SOUTHFIELD, MA | $55,590 | 2024 | MOROCCO, TURKEY AND SYRIA EARTHQUALE RELIEF, SYRIA, AFHGAN PALESTINE AND LIBYA RELIEF, ORPHAN RELIEF, FIDYAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS |
| BAITULMAAL INC | IRVING, TX | $40,155 | 2024 | FITRANA AND SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS, PALESTINE RELIEF, MOROCCO AND SYRIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF |
| ISLAMIC RELIEF USA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $13,800 | 2024 | MOROCCO, SYRIA AND TURKEY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, PALESTINE RELIEF, AND FITR DISTRIBUTIONS |
| MERCY-USA FOR AID & DEVELOPMENT | PLYMOUTH, MI | $10,200 | 2024 | PALESTINE RELIEF, SYRIA AND TURKEY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, FITRA & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS |
| SYRIAN EMERGENCY TASK FORCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,000 | 2024 | SYRIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS |
| SYRIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,500 | 2024 | SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS AND SYRIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF |
| HELPING HAND FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT | SOUTHFIELD, MA | $24,900 | 2023 | AFGHAN RELIEF, PK FLOOD RELIEF, SYRIAN RELIEF, FITR, ZAKAT & ZAKAH DISTRIBUTIONS |
| BAITULMAAL INC | IRVING, TX | $11,000 | 2023 | SYRIAN RELIEF & PK FLOOD RELIEF |
| MERCY-USA FOR AID & DEVELOPMENT | PLYMOUTH, MI | $9,000 | 2023 | PK FLOOD RELIEF, FITR, SADAQAH, ZAKAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS |
| ALHUDA ACADEMY | WORCESTER, MA | $7,000 | 2023 | FITR, SADAQAH, ZAKAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS |
| PURE HANDS INC | PLANO, TX | $6,500 | 2023 | FITR, SADAQAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS |
| MADINA ACADEMY | WINDSOR, CT | $5,500 | 2023 | SADAQAH, ZAKAT & ZAKAH DISTRIBUTIONS |
MOROCCO, TURKEY AND SYRIA EARTHQUALE RELIEF, SYRIA, AFHGAN PALESTINE AND LIBYA RELIEF, ORPHAN RELIEF, FIDYAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS
FITRANA AND SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS, PALESTINE RELIEF, MOROCCO AND SYRIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
MOROCCO, SYRIA AND TURKEY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, PALESTINE RELIEF, AND FITR DISTRIBUTIONS
MOROCCO, TURKEY AND SYRIA EARTHQUALE RELIEF, SYRIA, AFHGAN PALESTINE AND LIBYA RELIEF, ORPHAN RELIEF, FIDYAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS
FITRANA AND SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS, PALESTINE RELIEF, MOROCCO AND SYRIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
MOROCCO, SYRIA AND TURKEY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, PALESTINE RELIEF, AND FITR DISTRIBUTIONS
PALESTINE RELIEF, SYRIA AND TURKEY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, FITRA & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS
SYRIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS
SADAQAH DISTRIBUTIONS AND SYRIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
AFGHAN RELIEF, PK FLOOD RELIEF, SYRIAN RELIEF, FITR, ZAKAT & ZAKAH DISTRIBUTIONS
PK FLOOD RELIEF, FITR, SADAQAH, ZAKAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS
ALHUDA ACADEMY
$7,000FITR, SADAQAH, ZAKAH & ZAKAT DISTRIBUTIONS
MADINA ACADEMY
$5,500SADAQAH, ZAKAT & ZAKAH DISTRIBUTIONS