Center for Arab American Philanthropy
/OVERVIEW: The Center for Arab American Philanthropy makes grants to support the Arab American community nationwide. Its grantmaking supports racial justice, community development, disaster relief, and women and girls, and it also serves to raise the profile of the Arab community in the United States.
IP TAKE: This is a good funder to know for organizations that focus on recent immigrants and refugees, or Americans of Arab descent. Grants tend to be modest; however, it does not place geographic restrictions on its support.
PROFILE: Established in 2010, the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) is a philanthropic organization based in Dearborn, Michigan. This is a national community foundation and an ACCESS institution designed to empower the Arab American community and focus on the needs of Arab Americans. CAAP manages over 135 funds that serve various purposes and awards grants to causes all around the world. The mission of CAAP is “building vibrant societies by uniting and strengthening the collective power of Arab American giving.” CAAP helps its grantees solve problems related to injustice and inequality by making grants through donor-advised funds, events, giving circles and a youth philanthropy program. Its grants programs fund community development, disaster relief, and women and girls. It also provides a number of scholarships for Arab American students.
Grants for Racial Justice, Immigrants and Refugees and Community Development
CAAP’s grants for community development work to make a positive impact locally and raise the visibility of Arab Americans locally. While the foundation does not have a program or initiative directly focused on immigrants and refugees, it conducts related funding across it’s grantmaking, especially for grantees from or focused on regions of the world that overlap with the Arab world and culture as with Syrian refugees.
CAAP’s Community Grantmaking Fund, which invests in Arab American nonprofit organizations by providing general operating support. The Teen Grantmaking Initiative “is the only Arab American youth philanthropy program in the country, and challenges youth to take their community service to the next level by making a tangible impact on their local community.” CAAP’s 100 Arab Americans Who Care is a “fun and informal” event that brings together Arab Americans to pool their grantmaking into one large grant for a local cause that will benefit the local community. CAAP’s community development programs also aid recent immigrants and refugees’ efforts to adjust to American society.
CAAP also administers a Teen Grantmaking Initiative that promotes youth engagement and “challenges youth to take their community service to the next level by making a tangible impact on their local community.”
Past grantees include Arab American Heritage Council, Iraqi Mutual Aid Society, Arab American Family Support Center, and Somali Family Service.
Grants for Humanitarian & Disaster Relief
The center’s Disaster Relief Fund “was created as a response to global humanitarian and environmental crises,” and “has supported a variety of international and domestic campaigns for disaster relief and recovery.” It has made grants to address man-made crises in the United States and as far away as Syria, Haiti, Gaza, and Japan.
Past grantees include Oklahoma Community Foundation, Syrian American Medical Society Foundation, Jusoor, and Questscope.
Grants for Women & Girls
According to a recent CAAP study, Arab American women and girls are “especially vulnerable as recent immigrants and refugees.” They may have experienced trauma or have health issues, and may face limited opportunities for employment. The center’s Empower Women and Children Fund works “to address these unmet needs by partnering with organizations across the country to enhance opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.”
Past grantees include Palestinian American Community Center, Arab American Association of New York, and Arab American Action Network.
Grants for Higher Education
In addition to its grantmaking programs, CAAP also offers a series of Scholarships for the community. The number and funding of these scholarships vary wildly as do their focus and priority. Deadlines are spread throughout the year. Potential awardees should check back frequently for updates.
Important Grant Details:
CAAP accepts unsolicited grant applications for its competitive grantmaking programs. Submissions are typically due on or around March 11. Grant amounts are up to a maximum of $10,000. Eligible applicants must be a U.S.-based Arb Amerian nonprofit serving the Arab American Community and have valid 501(c)3 status with the IRS.
CAAP’s multiple scholarship programs announce open calls for submissions with deadlines varying by program. Most scholarship amounts range from $1,000 to $5,000, with the exception of the Dr. Adawia Alousi STEM Scholarship for Muslim Women, which ranges from $2,500 to $10,000.
New grant seekers should consult the searchable grants database for a better idea of the types of organizations that typically receive funding. Sign up for the newsletter to learn about new grant opportunities.
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