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ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Contents Our vision OUR VISION is a vibrant and truly pluralistic America, where Muslims are strong and equal LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR...... 3 participants. EIGHT WINS OF 2018...... 4

WHAT WE DISCOVERED...... 5

ABED’S STORY...... 7 Our mission 2 HOW WE EDUCATED...... 8 ISPU CONDUCTS OBJECTIVE, solution-seeking research that empowers American Muslims to MATTHEW’S STORY...... 10 develop their community and fully contribute to democracy and pluralism in the United States. WHO WE ENABLED...... 11

CATHERINE’S STORY...... 13 OUR FINANCIALS...... 14 Our values YOUR SUPPORT...... 15

OUR TEAM...... 16 COLLABORATIVE · ACTIONABLE · RIGOROUS RESPONSIVE · VISIONARY · EXCELLENT Dr. Zain Abdullah, Associate Professor of Religion at Temple University and a participant in our MAP NYC study / Photo by Syed Yaqeen Letter from the Director

VER THE PAST nearly five years, I school administrators wishing to create and shares our research so our legal have had the privilege of leading safer and more inclusive classrooms. We system can become more just. The parent O ISPU and our team through a helped policymakers and government who advocates for their child to have a period of change, opportunity, growth, officials understand the impact of policies safe, inclusive environment at school. and vast expansion of our impact. It is on Muslim communities. your support that has made that possible. And who, ultimately, makes this work In a period of tumultuous change in We spearheaded the first Islamophobia possible? You. You empower us to work 3 America, you have provided facts that Index, empowering advocates and toward an America where our friends fuel positive change through your support interfaith bridge builders. We worked and neighbors who happen to be Muslim of ISPU. with funders to drive resources to don’t just survive—they thrive. And every important initiatives and with mosque day we make progress toward achieving In 2018, we pilot tested our first leaders to create more inclusive spaces. that goal. You are strengthening America, formal journalist training to help We did all this and so much more. In one research project at a time. Thank media professionals cover Muslim short, we put our rigorous research into you! communities and the issues that impact the right hands. them fairly, accurately, and creatively. Warmly, We brought our research to Hollywood, As I sit writing this letter to you, my head inspiring script writers to go beyond is filled with the stories of the people one-dimensional portrayals of Muslims whose lives we changed through our in television and film. We expanded work. The imam who works to help his our work within the school system, masjid evolve to become more welcoming Meira Neggaz providing workshops for teachers and to all. The congressperson who listens ISPU Executive Director Eight wins of 2018

1 2 3 4 OUR RESEARCH NEVER LET UP. OUR WORK WAS AWARD-WINNING. WE ENABLED CHANGE MAKERS. WE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCHOLARLY CONVERSATION. ISPU conducted 7 research projects The Religion Communicators Council We provided 1,906 national, state, and addressing 28 challenges and engaging presented ISPU with a Wilbur Award local policymakers and community Last year, scholars cited ISPU’s work 71 206 partners. for our video “An America Without leaders with vital resources, data, times in their own published research. 4 Muslims?.” toolkits, and recommendations. 5 6 7 8 WE WERE EVERYWHERE. WE WERE A GO-TO RESOURCE FOR WE STRENGTHENED INSTITUTIONS. WE HAD YOUR SUPPORT! MEDIA. We directly reached 27,614 people with In 2018, we trained leaders from We do what we do because of you. ISPU research and recommendations Our research was cited in media articles 732 institutions—including schools, Thank you for championing and through 47 learning opportunities—plus, 1,166 times last year by news outlets mosques, Hollywood script writers, and supporting our work each and every day. we regularly communicated digitally nationwide and worldwide—that more—on our research findings and with 25,293 people. averages about three per day! recommendations. What we discovered

NOTHER YEAR of rigorous, of anti-Muslim animus among motivated violence. Entitled relevant, impactful research various groups. The creation of Equal Treatment: Measuring the A is in the books. From this tool, alongside Georgetown’s Legal and Media Responses to ideologically motivated violence to Bridge Initiative, spurred important Ideologically Motivated Violence the health and welfare of children, dialogue about the impacts of in the United States, this report 5 our 2018 research topics were both internalized Islamophobia, as well put hard numbers to questions of wide-ranging and highly relevant as the public hazard of politicized fairness in the justice system and to the complicated country we all Islamophobia. journalism world. Our research share. revealed that perpetrators of Our first research project published violence perceived to be Muslim Our year began with fielding survey in 2018 was a groundbreaking two- are subject to more severe legal questions for our third annual pronged analysis of ideologically charges, up to three times the prison American Muslim Poll, which continues to set the standard in tracking policy preferences and attitudes on topics impacting “Without ISPU, our understanding of ourselves­—as American Muslims. This year’s poll, Pride and Prejudice, introduced the Muslim Americans—would be severely diminished. We first-ever national Islamophobia need ISPU to compile the research, tell the stories, and Index, which measures the amount Mehdi Hasan moderates the panel at the launch have the knowledge of self to drive our work.” of our American Muslim Poll 2018 (May 2018) KHALED BEYDOUN, ISPU scholar and law professor at University of Arkansas School of Law 6 WHAT WE DISCOVERED Summit. Thisincluded concise National InterfaithAnti-Bullying publish theresultsfrom thefirst Health Professionals (AMHP)to with theAmericanMuslim Also in2018,wepartnered sports, andmore. STEM, artsandentertainment, economics, nonprofitinstitutions, across differentareas,including of MuslimsonNewYorkCity human facestoshowtheimpact York City.Wepairedhardfactswith highlighting theMuslimsofNew (MAP) projectonJuly4,thistime Muslims forAmericanProgress Day withanewinstallmentofour ISPU celebratedIndependence explosives. them withweaponsoffake enforcement operationsproviding be targetedforundercoverlaw are alsomuchmorelikelyto Perpetrators perceivedasMuslim to non-Muslimperpetrators. times themediacoveragecompared sentence, andmorethanseven community memberstoaddress parents, administrators,and recommendations forteachers, Islamic schools. character developmentinweekend about bestpracticesforfostering we gatheredevidencefromexperts the JohnTempletonFoundation, Convening. Inpartnershipwith from our2017IslamicSchools featuring recommendationsgleaned in 2018,aswefinalizedareport to beanareaoffocusforISPU School-aged childrencontinued religious-based bullyinginschools. August 2018 WEEKEND Published SCHOOLS ISLAMIC Around 768,767 Muslimslive [ MUSLIMSFOR AMERICAN of thecity’stotal population. small businessesinNYC are DID YOU KNOW? in New York Cityasof2016, 95,816 PROGRESS, 2018 ] owned by Muslims. making upabout

9%

Back and a participant inourMAPNYCBack andaparticipant study/Photo by Syed Yaqeen Mohamed Bahi, oneofthefounders anddirector ofMuslims Giving ABED’S STORY “The [ISPU] report gave us the numbers to show the board and the attorneys that Solutions to real this was a systemic problem.”

problems BED AYOUB, National that these cases getting much problem. The concern was the Legal & Policy Director of harsher sentencing was a systematic disparities are not documented. A the American-Arab Anti- problem and couldn’t convince the Now we are reorganizing so that Discrimination Committee, needed community we needed to target when we become aware of these proof. Proof that Muslim-perceived 7 resources to it.” cases, we want to be proactive.” perpetrators accused of ideologically motivated violence were receiving Enter ISPU’s 2018 report Equal Ayoub plans to use Equal harsher treatment from the legal Treatment?. Treatment? in meetings with system. lawyers, judges, and the Department “The report covered a topic we of Justice to help ensure that equal “We would have cases like the one in assumed to be true, that Muslims conduct receives equal treatment. the ISPU report come in and often were being treated harsher. We do a couldn’t work on them. We would lot of work on the defense side [but] “We are now able to convince our refer them out because our defense we were never able to quantify or board and donors that we should team and board didn’t think it was put down on paper that this was an work on this issue and get in front a priority and told us to work on issue.” of it before these people become Muslim ban or immigration issues. a statistic. We are now creating a And now? “The report gave us the strategy of how to help their defense “We had no documented proof numbers to show the board and the to address the disparities.” attorneys that this was a systemic How we educated DID YOU KNOW?

ISPU visited 7,614 PEOPLE. That’s how new report with a panel of experts many individuals we directly at NYU-DC. 27 educated with ISPU research cities in 13 states in 2018, 2 Our Muslims for American Progress informing communities in 2018. And we reached millions by sharing our research more through social media and (MAP) portrait and narrative series 8 findings and evidence-based our work with journalists. To reach was a reminder that data displays recommendations through that many people, our staff kept can be beautiful and powerful. The public forums and virtual the streets hot all year long, criss- New York City data release included webinars. crossing the country in an effort to a collection of new portraits we showcase our research in rooms showcased at events like MAS- large and small. ICNA and will continue to show for years to come. Meanwhile, Bullying remained a hot topic our Michigan portraits continue in 2018, and we were perfectly IMPACT REPORT to impress and inform viewers OF MUSLIM positioned to address it during about the contributions of Muslim CONTRIBUTIONS Bullying Prevention Month by Michiganders. TO NYC sharing our report on religious- Published based bullying in a new toolkit for In-person events are just one July 2018 educators. We then highlighted our element of our work. We increased Elisabeth Becker, the principal investigator of MAP NYC, our digital education opportunities presents at Rutgers University (November 2018) 9 HOW WE EDUCATED data. We’reproudtocontinue in over1billioneyesonISPU three mentionsaday,resulting nearly 1200mediamentions.That’s viewers. Lastyear,wegarnered with theirreaders,listeners,and journalists whosharedourwork and builtnewconnectionswith Twitter, Instagram,andemaillists, 30,000+ followersacrossFacebook, shared researchregularlywithour Islamic NetworksGroup(ING).We in webinarswithpartnerslikethe in 2018,hostingandtakingpart University andexecutive boardmemberofArabAmericanWomen’sBusiness Council JUMAN DOLEH ALOMARY, facts.” beacon ofknowledgeandunderstanding through “ISPU hasalwaysbeen,andcontinues tobe,[a] Information Technology Audit DirectoratWayne State Information TechnologyAudit data withaudiencesofmillions. violence andAmericanMuslimPoll research onideologicallymotivated USA Today like the scholars publishedop-edsinoutlets in theirownreporting,ISPU Along withdatausedbyjournalists contextualizing explanation. interview, acompellingquote,or members inneedofaclarifying to bearesourcefornewsmedia New YorkDailyNews , contextualizingour and A MAPpop-up exhibit atRutgers University (November 2018) MATTHEW’S STORY He’s used multiple ISPU reports as a valuable resource for his students “After seeking to learn about Muslim Showcasing American communities in America. encountering the “Through the work of ISPU, my work of ISPU, my students have gained a more Muslim contributions nuanced understanding of the issues students often facing Muslims in America,” he says. “The work of ISPU helps to unsettle find themselves basic stereotypes that people HEN MATTHEW inspired.” 10 sometimes have of Muslims. After PIERCE, Assistant encountering the work of ISPU, W Professor of Religion at my students often find themselves Kentucky’s Centre College, wants inspired.” to inform his students about the American Muslim experience, he Pierce says his students have made turns to ISPU. use of a variety of reports and tools provided by ISPU. “Students often think about Muslims in America as victims of “ISPU’s work has helped broaden discrimination or profiling, but my students’ understanding of their they don’t often have images and own society and the dynamic roles examples of Muslim Americans that Muslim Americans play in leading the way in social research contributing to our communities.” and policy formation.”

Photo by Sara Bush Who we enabled

T’S SIMPLE: Without those in an all-day training event. In April, to assist imams, youth directors, ISPU enables and educates, we hosted more than two dozen MSA leaders, and Islamic schools I we’d be publishing research in journalists from a number of high- in addressing topics relevant to a vacuum. That’s why we spend so profile outlets to learn from our the concerns of American Muslims much time figuring out creative scholars during sessions packed today. Talk Toolkits published in ways to reach community leaders, with interactive modules. They left 2018 covered topics like women’s 11 policymakers, educators, advocates, armed with the research, strategies, inclusivity, civic engagement, and religious leaders, and more—to and contacts needed to create work reclaiming the narrative about empower them with our research. of high caliber. Islam. ISPU both seeks out change makers and is sought out by those looking Religious leaders also turn to us for As part of our Reimagining Muslim for relevant, rigorous research insight. Alongside Yaqeen Institute, Spaces (RMS) project, we worked capable of making change. In 2018, we published a wide-ranging to test the effectiveness of our we’re proud to say we enabled 1,906 series of Talk Toolkits designed evidence-based recommendations to change makers with new resources and information.

Journalists regularly seek out research and scholarly insight from “I left the [ISPU] workshop more informed and ISPU Director of Research Dalia Mogahed speaking at an ISPU—so we brought them together more conscientious of my actions, thoughts and Association of Middle East and North African Heritage (AMENAH) work about and with Muslims.” event for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (October 2018) STACEY WESCOTT, Chicago Tribune 12 WHO WE ENABLED students. to createsafeclassrooms fortheir research isforeducators looking it wasevidenthowpowerfulISPU’s from MassachusettstoCalifornia, character development.Inschools increase inclusivity,andfoster enable themtoaddressbullying, in schoolsacrossthecountryto met teachersandadministrators concerned educators,andwe Two ofour2018reportsdirectly groups andsocioeconomiclevels. young people,andallracial/ethnic improved forall,includingwomen, experiences andimpressions them. Wefoundthatmosque for afullyearastheyimplemented challenges theyfacedandsupport tailored recommendationsforthe another inChicago,weprovided centers, oneinMichiganand and inclusive.Workingwithtwo Islamic centersmorewelcoming mosque leadershiponhowtomake Getting resourcesinthehands find, utilize,andimplement. make ourvastresourceseasierto research. Ournewtoolkitinitiatives anyone shouldbeabletouseISPU it’s moreimportantthaneverthat years ofproducingqualityresearch, professionals. Aftermorethan15 organizers, andmentalhealth imams, politicalengagement toolkits foreducators,journalists, resources inaneasy-to-useseriesof reorganized area offocusforusin2018.We of changemakerswasahuge BASED BULLYING September 2018 RELIGIOUS- Published ispu.org tofeature DID YOU KNOW? in satisfaction, withpositive recommendations showed an overwhelming increase Community Associationof conducted attheMuslim Ann Arboroneyear after implementing ourRMS Congregant surveys

of themeasures. 90% change on

religious-based bullyinginDC(December 2018) An ISPU panel of experts speaksonthetopicAn ISPUpanel ofexperts of CATHERINE’S STORY “This is a piece of data that Equipping faith turns to action.”

leaders T IS NOT that people [who single Muslim person, yet have shows how the same legislators attend our events] don’t internalized a lifetime of anti- target marginalized groups with “I know about Islam and Muslim rhetoric. legislation that restricts rights, helps Muslims,” says Catherine Orsborn, communicate the intersections of Executive Director of the Shoulder “Always, we feel that we are starting 13 oppression. to Shoulder Campaign. “It’s that in the negative when working to they think they know a lot, and dispel these myths,” Orsborn says. Orsborn says attendees at we need to work through all these events “might have already put ISPU research is key in banishing myths that they’ve been entrenched Islamophobia in the category of those dangerous stereotypes. in.” interfaith work. But sharing that After encountering ISPU research study helps them see how anti- The Shoulder to Shoulder at an event in the summer of 2015, Muslim legislation is related to the Campaign is a national coalition Orsborn began utilizing ISPU’s work other causes they are working on. So of denominations that equips in her own organization’s trainings instead of siloing the issue of anti- American faith leaders with tools to and events. She calls out ISPU’s Muslim legislation, they see it as address anti-Muslim discrimination ongoing restrictive legislation interconnected to their work. and violence. In doing their work, project as particularly moving they come into contact with “This is a piece of data that turns to to their audiences of progressive many people who don’t know a action.” faith leaders. That project, which Faith leaders at a Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign event REVENUE Our financials Events 9% Foundations 56% 2018 2017 audited audited REVENUE Individuals Institutional grants*...... $602,250...... $256,000 35% Individual contributions...... 380,785...... 338,470 Event revenue (net of expenses)...... 102,309...... 270,753

In-kind donations...... 1,752...... 1,818 EXPENSES 14 Other...... 318...... 1,308 Total revenue...... 1,087,414...... 868,349 Fundraising EXPENSES 20% Programs/research...... $716,566...... $877,825 Administration Fundraising...... 201,662...... 199,694 11% Administration...... 111,379...... 120,436 Total expenses...... 1,029,607...... 1,197,955 Programs/Research ASSETS 70% Net assets (beggining of year)...... $929,570...... $1,259,176 Net assets (end of year)...... 987,377...... 929,570 * In 2015, ISPU was awarded several multi-year grants to be expended in subsequent years. Following generally accepted Change in net assets*...... 57,807...... -329,606* accounting principles (GAAP), the entire amount of the granted funds were recorded as income in 2015 while the expenses were recorded throughout the life of the multi-year grants. Your support BUILD A BETTER CREATE IMPACT BE AN TOMORROW WITH US EDUCATOR N 2018, the impact of your thank you. support grew and so did our Help share what we Introduce ISPU to people in Together, you make our work ISPU is powered in large gratitude for you. part by individual donors. discovered by utilizing our your network and spread the I possible. data, work, resources, and word. Donate or become a monthly To those of you who have supported sustainer. toolkits. our work since our founding in In 2018, we continued our mission 2002: thank you. of discovering, educating, and 15 enabling the public with timely, To those of you who made your first relevant facts about Americans donation in 2018: thank you. who are Muslim. Through our NEW THIS YEAR research projects and education To those of you who joined us at any programs, we continue to PLANNED GIVING time in between: thank you. promote understanding, develop communities, and safeguard our To those of you who haven’t What would you like your legacy to be? Through a planned gift, you have the American pluralism. donated—yet ­­—but have shared our opportunity to make a lasting difference for years to come. Your legacy gift to ISPU work with others who support our We literally could not do what we can ensure that you continue to combat fear with facts and build solid community mission: thank you. do without you. And we can’t wait to foundations long into the future. And did you know that a planned gift can be made see what 2019 brings. during your lifetime or through an estate plan? With thoughtful planning, you can create To those of you who championed win-win solutions for you and for ISPU. Check with your financial adviser to find out the our work, and welcomed us into many options you have for making a planned gift. Or connect with us—we would love to your homes and communities: work with you. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Saima Siddiqui, Board Chair Kashif Poshni, Secretary Raazi Imam (CA) (MD) (MD) Syed Mohiuddin (DC) Mustafa Ahmed, Vice Chair Iltefat Hamzavi, Founding Moheeb Murray (MI) (FL) Chair Emeritus (MI) Ahmad Nassar (VA) Aamir A. Rehman, Treasurer Sara Abbasi (CA) Shariq Siddiqui (IN) (NY) M. Gasby Brown (GA) Marwa Zohdy (IL) Colleen Ezzeddine (MI)

SCHOLARS

Hassan Abbas Karam Dana Faiqa Mahmood Our team Engy Abdelkader Manijeh Daneshpour Hadia Mubarak Wahiba Abu-Ras Omar Ezzeldine Aasim Padela 16 Sameera Ahmed Kathleen Foley Asifa Quraishi-Landes Kristine Ajrouch Hamada Hamid Zahra S. A. Rafie STAFF BOARD OF ADVISORS Laila Alawa Ben Herzig Kumar Rao Meira Neggaz, Executive Director Akbar Ahmed, American University Nadia Ansary Altaf Husain Kameelah Mu’Min Rashad Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research Hon. David E. Bonior, Former Congressman Sahar Aziz Amir Hussain Louay Safi Nadia Ahmed, Director of Finance John Esposito, Georgetown University Ihsan Bagby Arsalan Iftikhar Muniba Saleem Amal Beydoun, Senior Development Muneer Fareed, University of Cape Town Abbas Barzegar Rebecca Karam Sikander Ahmed Shah Manager Sherman Jackson, University of Southern Moustafa Bayoumi Nancy A. Khalil Carey Shenkman Katherine Coplen, Senior Communications California Hatem Bazian Saeed Khan Tasneem Siddiqui Manager Aminah McCloud, DePaul University Elisabeth Becker Amal Killawi Abdulkader Sinno Erum Ikramullah, Research Project James Piscatori, Durham University Manager Alejandro Beutel Heather R. Laird Daniel Tutt Sarrah Buagelia, Outreach Manager Khaled Beydoun Lance Laird Asma Uddin ISPU remembers Dr. Sulayman Nyang and Louise Cainkar Erik Love John Voll Katie Grimes, Communication & Creative his profound contributions to ISPU and to Media Specialist scholarship on Islam and Muslims (1944- Youssef Chouhoud Julie Macfarlane Radwan Ziadeh Nancy Titus, Administrative Assistant 2018).

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