ALEXANDRIA, Va – Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) announced that Sharif Aly will step down as CEO of the organization at the end of June 2023. Aly has served as CEO since August 2017.
During his tenure, IRUSA provided aid to more than 33 million people in some 40 countries around the world, including the United States. Aly also led the IRUSA community through what would become one of the most-difficult times in recent history – the coronavirus pandemic – while ensuring that IRUSA’s humanitarian programming continued unfettered, and, in fact, increased where possible to help those affected by COVID-19 in the United States and around the world with a commitment of some $5 million toward the efforts. Within that was a $1.9 million initiative to provide assistance to various groups – houses of worship, social services agencies, etc. – to provide their respective communities with sanitizer, masks, cash cards, and more.
Under Aly’s tenure, the organization also partnered with prominent institutions to provide a broad range of assistance to those in need and to bring important global issues to the fore: This includes a first-of-its-kind institutional cosponsor program for refugee resettlement and advocacy efforts to address climate change mitigation in some of the most-vulnerable areas of the world. The launch of campaigns to provide emergency assistance and long-term recovery in countries like Turkiye, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Yemen among others, as well as in the US for survivors of natural disasters, brought critical aid to those suffering under extreme duress. IRUSA’s programmatic portfolio overall grew fivefold during Aly’s time as CEO. Donations during Aly’s tenure also grew, more than doubling over previous years and even achieving record-breaking heights.
Food security in the United States was among the biggest issues that was taken on during Aly’s tenure. During his time at IRUSA, the humanitarian charity expanded its domestic food assistance programs during the month of Ramadan, providing hot meals and food packages to some of the most vulnerable populations in the nation. IRUSA also teamed up with houses of worship, social services agencies, and even public and government officials, such as the New York City Comptroller’s office, to help implement these programs. Hundreds of thousands of people were helped by these initiatives.
In his address to staff, Aly shared: “Serving as the CEO of this organization for the past 5+ years has been an incredible honor for me…I’m excited about my next steps and grateful for my time serving as a staff member of IRUSA; however, I know that nothing will compare to my experience working for this great organization. The connection to the staff, volunteers, and the community is unparalleled and holds a special space in my heart.“
“We extend our best wishes to Sharif Aly as he pursues his career aspirations outside the IRUSA family,” said Hamadi Bengabsia, chairman of the IRUSA Board of Directors. “We are grateful for the amazing accomplishments during his tenure as our Chief Executive Officer, and we extend our sincere thanks to him for his unwavering commitment and deep devotion to IRUSA.”
Aly’s official departure date is July 3. The board of directors and a selected search committee have already begun a search for his successor. During this transitional period, IRUSA Director of Programs Araif Yusuff will serve as interim CEO.
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
mhassan@irusa.org or
(571) 421-7032 (CELL)
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.