Muslim donors in the United States are more likely than most non-Muslim groups to give to nonprofits that reflect greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in their boards, staff, and programming, a report from the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy finds.

Based on an online survey of 1,024 U.S. Muslim and 960 general-population respondents, Pluralism in Muslim American Philanthropy Report 2022 (34 pages, PDF) found that Muslim respondents were more likely to report valuing diversity and racial inclusivity, religiosity, and causes benefiting people with marginalized identities and that a nonprofit’s commitment to racial, religious, and gender inclusivity were important to their decision to give.

Funded by the International Strategy and Policy Institute and Islamic Relief USA, the report also found that Muslim respondents were more likely to report self-perceptions of higher levels of tolerance—as measured by their willingness to give to a nonprofit that works on behalf of women’s rights, has women in leadership roles, is led by or works primarily with individuals of a different ethnic group from their own, and supports or is led by individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+. Only Jewish respondents had a slightly—but not statistically significantly—higher score for self-perceived tolerance.

While both Muslims and the general population perceived their own faith traditions and local faith communities as the most likely to value diversity in religious belief and practice, the correlation was stronger among Muslims. In addition, U.S. Muslims self-reporting high levels of political conservatism and those reporting low levels of conservatism both perceived themselves as being the most tolerant. In the non-Muslim sample, on average, self-reported tolerance increased with a decline in political conservatism.

“Despite stigmatization and discrimination, overall, U.S. Muslims report higher levels of tolerance and pluralistic values than do non-Muslims regarding why, how and where they give,” said MPI director Shariq Siddiqui. “Our findings suggest that nonprofit organizations that demonstrate greater diversity, tolerance and pluralism are more likely to gain the support of U.S. Muslims.”

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