To advance the health, economic, social, and cultural well-being of all communities regionally and nationwide.
A defining feature of Arab Community Center for Economic and S is its use of donor-directed fund distribution to move substantial grants to Arab American and related community organizations, scholarship funds, and humanitarian groups. In the recent grants list, the largest payment went to the Center for Arab American Philanthropy in Dearborn, Michigan, at $614,252, followed by six-figure support to UNRWA WSA National Committee in Washington, DC, and the Syrian American Medical Society Foundation in Washington, DC. Those awards sit alongside funding for universities, scholarship funds, and community organizations that serve Arab American communities, New Americans, and vulnerable families. The foundation’s public description centers on advancing the health, economic, social, and cultural well-being of communities regionally and nationwide. Its grantmaking reflects that broad remit: health-related organizations appear next to education, workforce, immigration and citizenship services, family stability, and arts and cultural programming. Some grants flow to institutions such as The University of Toledo Foundation, University of Detroit Mercy, and Wayne State University, while others support community-serving organizations like Arab American Family Services and the Arab American Association of NY. The mix suggests a funder that combines direct community support with scholarship and institutional philanthropy through CAAP-managed funds.
Education is a clear thread in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $92,000 to The University of Toledo Foundation in 2025 and $64,000 to University of Detroit Mercy in the same year, with additional support to Kettering University in Flint, Michigan, at $50,500 in 2024 and $43,000 in 2025. Scholarship activity also appears in the CAAP Scholarship Funds and the Issam and Rima Abbas Endowed Scholarship. Community and newcomer support is another visible area. The Building Blocks for New Americans Fund is aimed at families fleeing war, hunger, and other hardships, and the recent grants include $62,500 to Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton, New Jersey, and $41,000 to Lebanese Empowered Against Poverty Inc in Windermere, Florida. Arts and culture also show up through CAAP impact-area and community grantmaking tied to Arab American community development.
$1.4M
$99.8M
$49.5M
$45.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$30K
About 24% of grants go to recipients in MI.
MAHA FREIJ
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Typical grant size is relatively modest: p25 is $10,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $30,000. The recent grants list also shows a layered pattern of funding, with a handful of very large donor-directed distributions and many smaller awards in the scholarship and community categories. Several recipients appear more than once across the recent-grants table, including The University of Toledo Foundation, University of Detroit Mercy, Kettering University, Palestinian Students Scholarship Fund Inc, and Arab American Community-related organizations, which points to repeated support rather than one-off awards. The foundation operates through CAAP-managed funds and donor-directed fund distribution, and the active programs indicate no unsolicited applications for most grantmaking channels. One scholarship fund, the Issam and Rima Abbas Endowed Scholarship, is listed as accepting unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking is national, with all recent recipients located in the United States. Michigan is the top state by grant count, and 24% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of Michigan. Recent awards reach Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Brooklyn, Bridgeview, Clifton, and Chicago, showing a spread from the Midwest to the Northeast and beyond. The Washington, DC area also appears frequently in the recent grants list, including UNRWA WSA National Committee, United Palestinian Appeal, and Syrian American Medical Society Foundation.
Its recent giving includes Arab American community organizations, scholarship funds, universities, newcomer support, humanitarian relief groups, and arts and cultural organizations. The foundation’s own description also points to public health, medical services, behavioral health, education, employment services, immigration and citizenship services, financial stability, and cultural programming.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. That sits alongside some much larger donor-directed distributions in the recent grants list.
Michigan is the top state by grant count, and 24% of grants go to recipients in Michigan. Recent Michigan recipients include organizations in Dearborn, Detroit, and Flint.
Yes. Active programs include CAAP Scholarship Funds and the Issam and Rima Abbas Endowed Scholarship. Recent grants also include The University of Toledo Foundation, University of Detroit Mercy, Kettering University, and Palestinian Students Scholarship Fund Inc.
Repeated support appears in the recent grants list. The University of Toledo Foundation, University of Detroit Mercy, Kettering University, Palestinian Students Scholarship Fund Inc, and Arab American community organizations each show up more than once across the listed years.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNRWA WSA NATIONAL COMMITTEE | WASHINGTON, DC | $369,261 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| UNITED PALESTINIAN APPEAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $181,323 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO FOUNDATION | TOLEDO, OH | $92,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY | DETROIT, MI | $64,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| PALESTINIAN STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC | BRIDGEVIEW, IL | $52,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCE | BERKELEY, CA | $50,300 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI | $46,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| KETTERING UNIVERSITY | FLINT, MI | $43,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| TIDES CENTER - PALESTINE LEGAL | CHICAGO, IL | $37,756 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| PILLARS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| LOURDES UNIVERSITY | SYLVANIA, OH | $28,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - DEARBORN | DEARBORN, MI | $28,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| JUSOOR | MENLO PARK, CA | $27,500 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| HEARAIDE INC | TOLEDO, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN RAMALLAH FEDERATION EDUCATION FUND | WESTLAND, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ST JOHN'S UNIVERSITY | QUEENS, NY | $23,862 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ADC RESEARCH INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $21,514 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| HOLY LAND CHRISTIANS SOCIETY | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| WASHINGTON STREET HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,541 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| EMPOWERMENT WORKS DBA VISUALIZING IMPACT | WESTBOROUGH, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| PALESTINE CHILDRENS RELIEF FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF AMERICA | DEARBORN, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| TIDES CENTERADALAH JUSTICE PROJECT | GLEN CARBON, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ARAB AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $11,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| LEBANESE EMPOWERED AGAINST POVERTY INC | WINDERMERE, FL | $11,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ARTEEAST | BROOKLYN, NY | $11,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,800 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| COVENANT HOUSE | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| YAQEEN RESEARCH INSTITUTE | IRVING, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS INC | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| JERUSALEM FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| MICHIGAN TECH FUND | HOUGHTON, MI | $8,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| TIDES CENTERARAB RESOURCE AND ORGANIZING CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| SYRIAN COMMUNITY NETWORK INC | CHICAGO, IL | $7,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| INNER CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $7,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| MISSION EDGE SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ARABIC IMMERSION MAGNET SCHOOL PTO | HOUGHTON, TX | $6,320 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| YAFE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ELMAHABA CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $6,000 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| VIATOR HOUSE OF HOSPITALTIY | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $5,465 | 2025 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| CENTER FOR ARAB AMERICAN PHILANTHROPY | DEARBORN, MI | $614,252 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| SYRIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $210,531 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ARAB COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC & SOCIAL SERVICES ACCESS | DEARBORN, MI | $116,700 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| ST GEORGE ORTHODOX CHURCH | FLINT, MI | $100,000 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO FOUNDATION | TOLEDO, OH | $88,000 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN NEAR EAST REFUGE AID (ANERA) | WASHINGTON, DC | $80,000 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| OUR GENERATION SPEAKS | WALTHAM, MA | $75,000 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY | DETROIT, MI | $60,000 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
| KETTERING UNIVERSITY | FLINT, MI | $50,500 | 2024 | DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION |
UNRWA WSA NATIONAL COMMITTEE
$369,261DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
UNITED PALESTINIAN APPEAL
$181,323DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO FOUNDATION
$92,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY
$64,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
PALESTINIAN STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC
$52,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCE
$50,300DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
$46,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
KETTERING UNIVERSITY
$43,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
TIDES CENTER - PALESTINE LEGAL
$37,756DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
PILLARS FUND
$35,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
LOURDES UNIVERSITY
$28,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - DEARBORN
$28,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
JUSOOR
$27,500DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
HEARAIDE INC
$25,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
AMERICAN RAMALLAH FEDERATION EDUCATION FUND
$25,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ST JOHN'S UNIVERSITY
$23,862DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ADC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$21,514DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
HOLY LAND CHRISTIANS SOCIETY
$20,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
WASHINGTON STREET HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$15,541DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
EMPOWERMENT WORKS DBA VISUALIZING IMPACT
$15,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
PALESTINE CHILDRENS RELIEF FUND
$15,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF AMERICA
$15,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
TIDES CENTERADALAH JUSTICE PROJECT
$15,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ARAB AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK
$11,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
LEBANESE EMPOWERED AGAINST POVERTY INC
$11,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ARTEEAST
$11,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA
$10,800DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
COVENANT HOUSE
$10,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
YAQEEN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$10,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS INC
$10,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
JERUSALEM FUND
$10,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION
$10,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
MICHIGAN TECH FUND
$8,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
TIDES CENTERARAB RESOURCE AND ORGANIZING CENTER
$7,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
SYRIAN COMMUNITY NETWORK INC
$7,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
INNER CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK
$7,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
MISSION EDGE SAN DIEGO
$7,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ARABIC IMMERSION MAGNET SCHOOL PTO
$6,320DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
YAFE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER INC
$6,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ELMAHABA CENTER
$6,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
VIATOR HOUSE OF HOSPITALTIY
$5,465DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
CENTER FOR ARAB AMERICAN PHILANTHROPY
$614,252DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
SYRIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION
$210,531DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ARAB COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC & SOCIAL SERVICES ACCESS
$116,700DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
ST GEORGE ORTHODOX CHURCH
$100,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO FOUNDATION
$88,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
AMERICAN NEAR EAST REFUGE AID (ANERA)
$80,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
OUR GENERATION SPEAKS
$75,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY
$60,000DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION
KETTERING UNIVERSITY
$50,500DONOR DIRECT FUND DISTRIBUTION