Muslim Charities in US and Canada

In 2020, Muslims in America donated about 4.5 billion USD. It can be challenging to find charitable organizations that accept Zakat, Sadaqah, and other donations and distribute it according to Islamic principles. We have compiled a list of Muslim charities in the US and Canada to help you make an informed decision.

Transparent Hands

Transparent Hands is a Pakistan-based NGO, but we are registered in the US as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This means you can get a tax exemption when you donate to one of the causes we support. The organization provides free surgical and medical treatment to deserving adults and children in Pakistan. We also hold free medical camps to provide basic medical care to communities located in remote areas.

Calculation of Zakat in 2024

Since its foundation in 2014, Transparent Hands has provided surgeries and other medical treatment to over 200,000 deserving patients. Details of all cases are available on the website and you can read patient stories to make an informed decision. You can easily find Zakat-eligible patients and make donations via online bank transfers, cheques, PayPal, and credit/debit cards. 

Islamic Relief Canada

Islamic Relief Canada collects donations from Canadian citizens and uses the funds to help Muslims in crisis-ridden countries. Muslims living in Yemen, Syria, Palestine, and Somalia have received a lot of support through this organization. The NGO offers a spectrum of services, ranging from building water wells to providing warm clothes in winters.

Islamic Relief also distributes Qurbani meat. One of their recent achievements is the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine and Yemen. You can donate to IRC online via their webpage.

Islamic Relief USA

Islamic Relief USA is based in Virginia and supports disadvantaged Muslims around the globe. IRUSA has established 20 projects related to education in 14 countries and provided free education to 21,000+ students. The NGO also focuses on health care. Their mobile clinics routinely visit refugee camps. In addition, the NGO provides food, microfinance, and helps people with securing livelihoods. 

Muslim Charities in US and Canada

Muslim Welfare Canada

MWC was founded by a Pakistani immigrant, Major Muhammad Abbas Ali, in the late 1980s. The organization initially focussed on homelessness. The NGO has come a long way since then and provides refuge camps, mobile food banks, and necessary items to people coping with poverty in Canada.

They have also expanded their operations internationally and taken up several causes. One that stands out is the Deaf Support Program in Pakistan. The program encourages parents to enroll their differently-abled children in schools and provides them with quality education. MWC has pledged 50,000 Canadian dollars annually to the program.

Besides this, MWC is also involved in water exploration, projects to curb child labor, addressing illiteracy, and curtailing poverty in developing countries. 

Muslim Hands Canada

MHC is an international aid agency that started as an emergency relief trust but now focuses on several causes. It operates in developing countries, including Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The organization is involved in establishing livelihoods for families, clean water facilities, and educational projects around the world.

The lack of healthcare facilities is a major problem in the developing world. Fortunately, a large number of organizations are working to address the problems associated with it. Muslim Hands Canada is also playing its part. 

You can donate to MHC online and those that are not financially able can volunteer. The organization accepts all sorts of donations including Zakat and Sadaqah.

Honorable Mentions

Some of the other Muslim charities working in Canada and the US include:

• Zakat Foundation of America
• Muslim Aid USA
• Muslim Legal Fund of America
• National Zakat Foundation, Canada
• Canada Zakat
• Canada Helps
• International Development and Relief Foundation

Bottom Line

Islam encourages Muslims to each other. An easy way to do so is through charitable organizations like Transparent Hands. Donate to a noble cause now.