EXPLORE HOW YOUR DONATIONS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO MUSLIM LIFE AT PENN
The Muslim Life Program at the University of Pennsylvania is driven by our commitment to foster spirituality, deepen community, and enhance the lives of those we serve. Central to this aim is the eager support and passion of the Penn MSA and MLP communities.
Our Fall 2019 campaign highlights the many ways in which stories influence our lives - from the stories of our Prophets and Imams (pbut), to the stories that bring each of us here today. The “Stories” campaign brings together all of these ideas to advance our goal of a sophisticated Muslim Life Program and even greater next chapter in our story - one that provides for the needs of Muslims on campus in every facet of their lives, be it social, spiritual, academic, or financial.
Your support has enabled new MLP initiatives, like our Chaplaincy and newfound home in the Christian Association. Going forward, your contributions write the next chapter in our story - propelling forward MLP efforts in ensuring our students, alumni, and community find a spiritual home at Penn, one united by a desire to develop our place at Penn as a center of Muslim life for generations to come.
EXPLORE OUR STORIES ->
FUNDRAISING GOAL 2019: $125,000
FUNDRAISING GOAL
SUMMER + FALL 2019: $63,000
THE STORIES THAT BUILT OUR FAITH.
THE STORIES THAT GOT US HERE.
THE STORIES WE HOPE TO WRITE FOR OURSELVES.
to preserve our stories, our institutional knowledge, and our home at the CA
OFFICE MANAGER
$5,000
Exciting things are happening in our new CA space, but to sustain it we need more support in managing it. Starting fall, we are looking to hire a part-time Office Manager with the expense being shared between the Muslim Life Program and the Christian Association. The office manager would be responsible for:
managing & maintaining the space
publicizing the calendar of events
maintaining web & social presences
scheduling volunteers
This will allow for both the CA Minister and the Muslim Chaplain to be more focused on their core roles of providing support, religious programming, and institutional development for the students and broader community.
to maintain and expand the space from which we write our stories
building & Furniture Costs
$13,000
As the CA is outfitted to better serve the needs of our community, various infrastructural costs arise. These include:
building repairs
replacement of printer/copier
replacement of old furniture
conversion of long-term storage into games room
potential security upgrades (under discussion with University)
re-branding of space into a multi-faith center
cleaning, electricity, water, gas, and kitchen supplies
These costs are shared between the Muslim Life Program and the Christian Association. As of Fall 2019, a building committee comprising of board members of both organisations will be established to better oversee joint use of the space.
to help us write the right stories for ourselves, stories that lead to Allah SWT
SPEAKer events
$10,000
As an independent institution, the Muslim Life Program does not receive University funds. As such, we rely on generous donors to fund our speaker programming, which is segmented to provide spirituality in ways beyond the MSA. Funds raised for speaker events are spent on:
speaker honoraria and travel, hotel costs
refreshments at speaker events
Past topics & speakers include:
Spiritual First Aid with Yasmin Mogahed, renowned author and speaker on Islam and the soul
Faithful Finances with Dr. Yaqub Mirza, President and CEO of Sterling Management Group and Advisor to the Board at Amana Mutual Funds
Karbala Through the Eyes of Zaynab with Sr. Nicole Correri, pre-eminent Shia speaker on the Ahlulbayt
Events this semester are expected to include the Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh), Stories in Dialogue (interfaith), and stories of the 12 Imams.
to develop, counsel, and guide our community to writing the right stories for ourselves
staffing
$35,000
The Muslim Chaplain is overseen by the Chaplain Committee and:
works to enhance accommodations for Muslim students across the University, including through the Penn Religious Communities Council, the Department of Public Safety, and Penn Dining
organises and oversees relevant Islamic education programming almost everyday of the week, focussing on issues most relevant to the community
counsels and supports students across issues such as school stress, marriage preparation, career decisions, healing from abuse, race relations, conversion consideration, and much more
organises regular Islamic spiritual programming, including Jummahs, Iftars, Taraweeh, Eid, Aqeedah, Mawlid, and Muharram/Karbala programming
helps set long-term strategic visions for MLP, such as obtaining a dedicated space for Muslim Life, and executes them on the ground