FAQs

Baitulmaal is pronounced “BAY-tul-mal” with the “mal” like Mallory. Baitulmaal literally translates from Arabic into English as “House of Wealth” but its meaning is that of an “Institution of Charity.” Essentially, Baitulmaal is your home for charity.

Baitulmaal serves as a conduit between the compassion of our donors and the needs of our beneficiaries. Baitulmaal provides life-saving, life-sustaining, and life-enriching humanitarian aid to under-served populations around the world regardless of faith or nationality. Our vision is a world free of want.

Baitulmaal is headquartered in Dallas, Texas (meet the national team here). We also have offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

Our compassionate donors enable Baitulmaal to RESPOND to emergencies, SUSTAIN families, and empower communities to THRIVE in countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, India, the Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen, South America and the U.S. 

In addition to responding to emergencies with immediate aid such as food, water, medicine, hygiene kits, and assistance with evacuations or debris removal, Baitulmaal also provides long-term solutions to long-standing problems such as access to clean drinking water, resources to combat disease and malnutrition, and programs to strengthen and support communities.

Programs include:

• Distributing nutritious food packages
• Repairing damaged homes, hospitals, and schools
• Supplying hospitals with antibiotics and medical supplies
• Sending winter aid packages to displaced communities
• Installing solar panels in schools for renewable energy
• Promoting sanitation and hygiene by digging deep water wells, installing desalination plants, and filling water tanks
• Assisting with COVID-19 efforts in the U.S. and abroad
• Conducting vocational training in communities
• Providing food for seasonal programs such as Ramadan iftars and Udhiya meat distribution.
• And much more

Baitulmaal is 501 (c)(3), tax-deductible, zakat-eligible charity.

A portion of your donation (9% in 2020) goes toward reasonable administrative costs (3%) and other support expenses (6%) to ensure the delivery of charitable services. The percentage of donations that go toward programs is 91%.

Charitable organizations are working together under the umbrella of large humanitarian forums. This enables us to take advantage of help through the United Nations. The UN relies on these forums to facilitate humanitarian aid distributions. This is not to say that getting aid to certain countries is without difficulties. But we work hard to get aid to where it is needed and have been blessed with being able to do so.

Baitulmaal facilitates one-to-one orphan sponsorships of Syrian, Palestinian, Yemeni, Kenyan, Somali, Lebanese, and Jordanian orphans. Sponsorships span a minimum of one (1) year (through either a monthly or one-time, one-year donation) and cover an orphan’s nutritional, health, educational, psychological, and social wellbeing. Donors are assigned an orphan and receive updates on their support. 

Baitulmaal also offers a general orphan support program for donors who want to support other efforts to help orphans grow and thrive around the world outside of the sponsorship program. 

Yes, we have a dedication option on our online donation form. Simply check the box and select “in honor” or “in memory” and enter the name or names of who you want to dedicate your gift to. 

Our donation form is fully integrated with PayPal. You can donate with the confidence that your gift intent will be recorded and honored. 

Yes! You can learn more here.

Please reach out to donorcare@baitulmaal.org (you’ll be assigned a donor care specialist soon). 

You can start a fundraiser on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/fund/baitulmaal/ or like, share, and add our link in your bio. 

You can also ask your supervisor or human resources department if your employer has a gift matching program. Many employer gift matching programs will match your donation, essentially doubling your impact. 

Here are a few more ways to keep the compassion going:

• Pray for those in need around the world
• Send a donation on behalf of someone who is unable to donate due to economic hardships or to honor a loved one
• Share baitulmaal.org with your friends and help grow the Baitulmaal family
• Follow Baitulmaal on social media and invite your friends to also follow
  • https://facebook.com/baitulmaal
  • https://instagram.com/baitulmaal_usa
  • https://twitter.com/baitulmaal 

• Turn your compassion into volunteerism! Sign up to volunteer with Baitulmaal here.

Have any more questions? We’ll get you answers! Feel free to send us an email at info@baitulmaal.org.

Yes. Baitulmaal has been blessed with having field workers in Palestine for more than a decade supporting healthcare in the West Bank and operating 400 water tanks in Gaza, in addition to other aid programs. Having resources inside Palestine enables Baitulmaal to quickly respond to the needs of Palestinians in times of crisis.

Baitulmaal has been on the ground in Gaza from the onset of the current bombardment, distributing aid such as food packages, mattresses, blankets, pillows, floor mats, baby formula, hygiene supplies, and other aid to families in need. Warm meals were distributed to injured victims in hospitals and their families, as well as to displaced Palestinians seeking refuge in shelters. Baitulmaal has also facilitated clean water access to approximately 44,500 Palestinians sheltering in schools and displacement centers. Psychosocial supports like toys, activities and friendly faces were also provided to hundreds of displaced children. In Ramadan, Baitulmaal will be operating Baitulmaal Kitchen in northern and southern Gaza, providing warm meals and clean water to thousands of men, women and children. Baitulmaal humanitarian aid trucks have also successfully entered Gaza through Rafah border crossing, delivering 430 tons of aid including flour, food packages, hygiene kits, shelter items, winter supplies, and more. (As of March 2024). For the latest updates and photos, please check our News and Updates on the website and follow us on social media.

Baitulmaal had staff and aid stock within Gaza at the onset of the current bombardment, which allowed us to mobilize aid quickly to people in need while the borders were closed. Baitulmaal also prepared multiple humanitarian aid convoys in Egypt that have successfully passed inspection and made it into Gaza among the limited number of aid trucks that have been allowed in. As of March 2024, more than 430 tons of aid has been delivered to Gaza, with more on the way. Please follow us on social media for the latest news and updates.

Since its inception, Baitulmaal has delivered humanitarian aid to Palestine, including:

• winter aid such as clothing, shoes, blankets and heaters
• emergency aid including food, water, shelter and hygiene kits
• medications and supplies to Yazour Clinic in the West Bank
• clean water access through water filtration systems and 400 water tanks
• back to school supplies and educational scholarships
• food assistance during Ramadan and Udhiyah
• orphan sponsorship of Palestinian orphans in Jordan and Lebanon

At this time, weekly water tank refills may have been interrupted due to the current crisis, but clean water access is still an ongoing effort in Gaza. Baitulmaal is redirecting resources to operate water stations located in schools and shelter centers in Al-Zawaideh, Deir-Al-Balah, Al-Maghazi Camp, Al-Nuseirat Camp, Al-Khawalda, and Al-Sawarha. This ensures efficiency and clean water access to as many displaced families as possible. So far, approximately 44,500 Palestinians have access to these clean water stations. Once the situation allows, Baitulmaal will conduct an assessment on the status of existing water tanks and any future needs. We anticipate that more water tanks will be required in the near future.

• A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Marrakech, Morocco on Sept 8, 2023, killing more than 2,900 people and injuring approximately 5,500 according to Moroccan authorities
• More than 300,000 people have been affected in Marrakech and surrounding areas, including 100,000 children, according to the WHO
• Worst-hit provinces include hard-to-reach villages in the High Atlas mountains, such as Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Taroudant, Marrakech, Ouarzazate and Aziz Lal
• An estimated 50,000 homes were partially or completely destroyed

Yes. Baitulmaal is working with local teams on the ground in Morocco to deliver emergency aid to families in need.

Baitulmaal is currently on the ground in Morocco distributing aid such as food, tents, mattresses, blankets, and kitchen supplies to families in need. Baitulmaal will share more information on aid deliveries as they become available.

• Approximately 11,300 Libyans have perished in floods brought on by torrential rains this month, while another 10,000 remain missing, according to the Libyan Red Crescent
• More than 46,000 Libyans are now displaced, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration
• One quarter of the city of Derna, which previously had a population of 100,000, is completely destroyed.
• Experts are warning that floodwaters have severely contaminated water sources, making them unsafe for human consumption and exposing communities to grave health risks from diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio

Yes. Although there are logistical challenges to delivering aid in Libya, Baitulmaal is diligently working with local and international aid groups – including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) – to mobilize emergency aid to Libyans in need.

Baitulmaal is currently planning to send emergency health kits to Libya, in addition to food and other aid. Baitulmaal will share more information on aid deliveries as they become available.

• 41,000 people have perished in the earthquakes (as of Feb. 15, 2023)
• Deaths are likely to surpass 56,000 according to the UN emergency aid chief
• Thousands more have been injured
• Millions have been displaced
• 23 million people across Turkiye and Syria will likely face the threat of a “secondary disaster” if aid does not reach them soon, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)

Baitulmaal began immediately distributing food, water and blankets to survivors of the quakes. It also sent $5.35M in emergency medical aid to Turkiye, the first shipments of which are currently being distributed within Turkiye and northern Syria (as of Feb. 14, 2023). The charity will also provide winter relief kits, run ambulance services and operate medical tents, among other aid.

Baitulmaal is providing aid according to the unique needs assessments of survivors in:

• Turkiye: Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Adiyaman, Hatay and other areas
• Syria: Idlib, Maarat Masrin, Jinderes, Salqin, Sarmada, Harem, Tell Abyad and other areas in northern Syria

The aid pledged by governments around the world, if it materializes, can take months to reach Turkiye, with even less aid likely to be committed to Syria due to conflict in the region.

Baitulmaal has reporting requirements for field workers and third parties who help us deliver aid. This includes detailed documentation of the amount of aid, the number of beneficiaries as well as the costs and other social impact metrics. We also require photographic evidence of the aid deliveries as an additional measure.

• Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022
• Russian military forces have bombed homes,
  hospitals, schools, and other civilian targets 
• 1M refugees flee Ukraine in the first week
• 4M refugees as of March 29, 2022
• Mostly women, children, and elderly

Medical supplies are in urgent need, so Baitulmaal sent $2M in emergency medical aid and set up a general relief tent on the border of Ukraine in Romania. We are assessing the evolving situation and may send additional aid packages as needed.

Baitulmaal provides aid to refugees in many parts of the world including the Rohingya in Bangladesh, Palestinians and Syrians in Jordan, Turkiye and Lebanon, Uyghurs in Turkiye and internally displaced people in Yemen and Somalia, as well as Ukrainian refugees at the border of Ukraine.

The Quran teaches us that “whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.” (Quran 5:32). 

As people of faith and people of conscience, we have a duty to respond to human suffering whenever and wherever we can regardless of faith, ethnicity, or nationality. 

There is no shortage of human suffering, so there should be no shortage of our compassion.