US Programs Grant Applications

2024 / 2025 US Seasonal Programs Schedule

APPLYING FOR GRANTS

If you are interested in applying for one of our grants or seasonal program opportunities, please review of the following eligibility criteria:
1. The organization is an IRS registered 501(c)(3) public charity in good standing.
2. The organization has been active for 3 full calendar years in the United States.
3. The organization’s proposed project’s activities and funds must be distributed exclusively within the US.
4. The organization has an annual cash budget of under $3 million. (strongly desired, but not a disqualifier)
5. The organization is not seeking funding to conduct direct religious activities or services.

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to create a free Submittable account in order to apply for an IRUSA grant. Here is a quick guide on how to get started.

PROGRAM RELATED PACKETS

Click to download

1. The Marketing Programs Manual

2. The IRUSA Partner Media Guide

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to create a free Submittable account in order to apply for an IRUSA grant. Here is a quick guide on how to get started.

US DOMESTIC GRANTS

Islamic Relief USA is pleased to announce that the US Grants 2024 cycle will open on Monday, April 15th, 2024. This is your opportunity to submit a project for consideration that is focused on Food Security, Healthcare, or Refugee Services. We will also consider a select amount of Community Development projects. Please make sure to review the eligibility criteria to determine if your organization can apply for this grant. Please review 2024 IRUSA Domestic Grants Eligibility Requirements. 

The application via our platform on Submittable will be available starting Monday, April 15th, 2024 and remain open until Friday, May 17th. Please note that the grant consideration process may take up to 4 months to complete. The following is our anticipated timeline for the 2024 grant cycle:

Informational Webinar – April 10, 2024

Open office hours – April 8 to May 10, 2024

Application Opens –  April 15, 2024

Proposals Due – May 17, 2024

Estimated Grant Awards – September 15, 2024

Grant Period – Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025

Program Contact – Syeda Baig, US Grants Manager, [email protected]

Award sizes will be dependent on an organization’s 2022 990 IRS total expense budget.   Award sizes ranging from $20,000 to $70,000 for one year.

• Total organization expense budget $100K and  $250K – Up to $25,000 award.
• Total organization expense budget between $250K and $500K – Up to $40,000 award.
• Total organization expense budget between $500K and $1M – Up to $50,000 award.
• Total organization expense budget between $1M and $3M – Up to $70,000 award.

The IRUSA Domestic Grant application will open April 15th, 2024, for submission.  The following link will take you to the application portal: IRUSA Grant Application Portal. 

Before starting your application, please review the 2024 IRUSA Domestic Grants Eligibility Requirements found on this page.  It is important that you follow all instructions associated with this grant application. 

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Please remember that this is a highly competitive process and grants that are approved will be considered to have the strongest fit with IRUSA’s mission and values. We look forward to considering your application. We will be posting updates to this funding opportunity on the IRUSA website.  We thank you for all the work you do in your community and are very pleased and eager to support you along the way.

SEASONAL PROGRAMS

Here is more information about our seasonal programs. Please note: Of grant funds used, 85% should be allocated to direct services that would benefit the target audience while a maximum of 15% may be allocated for administrative/ operational costs.

Ramadan Food Box Project

The Ramadan Food Box Project provides food to families in need during the month of Ramadan. IRUSA facilitates the procurement and creation of food boxes. Each food box contains a sufficient amount of food for a family of five for two weeks and consists of basic food staples such as flour, sugar, and pasta. The food boxes are distributed nationwide via service partnerships with community-based non-profit organizations. Partner organizations enter a service agreement with IRUSA to accept the delivery of an agreed-upon quantity of boxes that will serve a local community during the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan Food Pantry Grant

The Ramadan Food Pantry Grant provides food to individuals and families in need during the month of Ramadan. This program is implemented through grant partnerships with community-based non-profit organizations that operate food pantries in the United States. IRUSA provides grant funding to approved applicants that must be used during the month of Ramadan to serve communities facing food insecurity.

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), created and funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), currently provides organizations with limited funding opportunities to purchase and provide meals to their local communities in the form of reimbursements. Starting in 2011, IRUSA began to supplement and support the USDA in this effort. As an SFSP grant recipient, organizations are able to start a USDA-approved site, increase the capacity of their current USDA-approved site(s) or develop their role as the meal-providing sponsor to subgrantees. Grants are provided to further enable and encourage wider participation in this program as well as increase food access and support to food-insecure children
throughout the summer months. For more information on how to find or become a USDA site in your state, please click here.

Qurbani Distribution

Qurbani, or sacrifice, is the tradition of sharing meat with the needy at the end of the Hajj Pilgrimage season in time for the celebration of Eid al-Adha. It provides an opportunity for people who cannot afford to purchase meat to receive the nutritional benefits of fresh, chilled, or frozen halal meat. IRUSA provides Qurbani meat to individuals and families in need across the globe, including in the United States. Through Qurbani Distribution, US partner organizations implement the distribution of fresh-cut halal meat parcels to their local communities. IRUSA offers two models of partnership for this seasonal event:

• Procurement Model: IRUSA procures and delivers the Qurbani meat from a pre-approved vendor to the partner organization. The partner organization will oversee the safe storage and distribution of the meat to their local community.
• Grant Model: IRUSA provides grant funding to the partner organization. The partner organization controls the procurement and delivery of the Qurbani meat with a local vendor of their choice, as well as oversees the safe storage and distribution of the meat to their local community.

Day of Dignity

Day of Dignity creates an opportunity for caring individuals from diverse communities to provide services to their neighbors in need. The Day of Dignity mission is to promote volunteerism, build relationships, and encourage local organizations to have a transformative impact on their unique community. Bookbags, school kits, jackets, and hygiene kits are some of the in-kind items provided by IRUSA to be distributed during Day of Dignity events. A grant is also given to help support the costs of food, entertainment, venue, etc. Free medical care, screenings, and even barber services can be offered out by the host organization at the event. The host organization is
responsible for accommodating their community’s needs and reaching out to different services and vendors. The day is an effort to provide basic living essentials, medical care, and connect those in need to support services available to them in the long term.

Turkey Distribution

IRUSA facilitates annual Turkey Distributions in cities across the United States during Thanksgiving. IRUSA will procure and deliver turkeys to partners that will deliver them onto people in need. Along with turkeys, partner organizations may distribute other Thanksgiving goods to assist individuals and families who may not have access to these food items. The distribution may occur with regular food pantry distribution dates or as its own event. The goal of this event is to not only address food insecurity in local communities but to also embody the season of giving by bringing the holiday festivities to those who would otherwise not be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving
meal in their homes.

MEET OUR TEAM

So, who are you working with? Here is a list of our U.S. Programs staff. 

Adnan Suleman
Assistant Director of Programs
[email protected]

David Mills
Site Development Specialist, USRAP
[email protected]

Donia Abdalla
Partner Services Specialist
[email protected]

Menatallah Megahed
West Regional US Programs Coordinator
[email protected]

Abdalfatah Ismail
Northeast Regional US Programs Coordinator
[email protected]

Abdisalam Sharif
Southwest Regional US Programs Coordinator
[email protected]

Kesha Abdul-Mateen
Sr. US Regional US Program Coordinator
[email protected]

Yasmine Noubani
Southeast Regional US Program Coordinator
[email protected]

Ahmad Durrani
National Program Manager, USRAP (US Refugee Admissions Program)
[email protected]

Syeda Baig
Grants Manager
[email protected]

Jacqueline Alvarez
US Grants Coordinator
[email protected]

Jasmine Saadeh
Midwest Regional US Programs Coordinator
[email protected]

Wazhma Yousafi
Program Coordinator, USRAP
[email protected]