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ARAB FOUNDATIONS FORUM USA
OLD WESTBURY, NY · EIN 844966210 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B05 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · arabfoundationsforum.org
revenue
$755K
expenses
$501K
net assets
$-74K
employees
0
volunteers
3
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

(See Schedule O)

profile · synthesized from sources

The Arab Foundations Forum USA is a network and knowledge-sharing platform for Arab philanthropies focused on education, advocacy, and regional collaboration. It convenes foundations and civil society organizations to address shared challenges including humanitarian crises, climate change, and youth unemployment across the Arab world. The organization hosts webinars, workshops, and donor initiatives to strengthen philanthropic impact and promote localized, collaborative solutions.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (APCCC)
Regional pledge with seven pillars focused on climate justice, including education, resource commitment, integration, endowments, operations, advocacy, and transparency
Climate Action Workshops
Free educational series on climate philanthropy covering climate and food systems, youth engagement, health impacts, and post-COP analysis in the MENA region
Gaza Donor Appeal
Coalition-based fundraising initiative supporting Palestinian organizations in Gaza with emergency relief, including food, water, medical care, and shelter; includes a pooled fund for smaller community-based groups
Member-Led Sessions
Workshops and panels led by member organizations on topics such as Islamic finance, orphan care, and social entrepreneurship models
Speaker Series
Webinar series featuring conversations with philanthropy leaders, humanitarian experts, and social entrepreneurs on topics including demining, climate resilience, and youth employment
activities · 14 groups

What they do

  • Global Sustainability Convenings & Forums 5 activities
    • Convening civil society and influencing global climate processes
      Convenes civil society organizations on the sidelines of COP26, COP27, and other international events to contribute to global climate discussions and inform F20 and G20 processes. Maintains ongoing presence at COP events.
    • Convening strategic working groups and task forces
      Leads a Climate Working Group and convenes a Humanitarian Relief & Recovery Task Force to coordinate strategic giving and crisis response. Also co-organized a workshop at the 2023 Annual Meeting to strengthen regional philanthropic partnerships.
    • Developing and disseminating the APCCC Implementation Guide
      Developed and launched the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change Implementation Guide in February 2026 to support signatory organizations in operationalizing their climate commitments.
    • Hosting annual and thematic member convenings
      Hosts an Annual Meeting that brings together regional and international leaders to strengthen the strategic capacity of the philanthropic sector, along with climate roundtables and online events for members.
    • Leading the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (APCCC)
      Launched and leads the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (APCCC), a regional initiative launched at COP29 in November 2024 to mobilize philanthropic resources across 22 Arab countries for urgent climate action, adaptation, mitigation, and policy influence. Includes hosting webinars and panel discussions to track progress and impact.
  • Industry Advocacy and Regulatory Engagement 1 activity
    • Advocating for improved legal and regulatory environments for philanthropy
      Conducts policy advocacy and thought leadership to improve the enabling environment for philanthropy and social investment in the Arab region, including engagement on governance issues and participation in global forums.
  • Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
    • Conducting research on Arab philanthropy through surveys and data projects
      Conducts the Arab Philanthropy Survey to collect data on the operations, challenges, and pandemic impacts on Arab foundations, and carries out additional data projects and research to strengthen governance and institutions within the Arab philanthropy ecosystem. Produces regional reports and research in Arabic to support evidence-based philanthropy.
  • Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 1 activity
    • Facilitating regional advocacy initiatives for the philanthropic sector
      Facilitates and leads the development of advocacy initiatives relevant to the Arab philanthropy sector, including panel discussions and partnerships to assess humanitarian policy impacts, such as on Palestinian civil society operations.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Implementing youth economic empowerment initiatives
      Implements a youth coalition initiative to support employment, economic growth, and skills development in partnership with UNESCWA.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Launching and managing pooled humanitarian funding mechanisms
      Established and manages a pooled fund to channel donations to smaller, community-based foundations in Gaza with limited capacity, partnering with Tawasal for on-the-ground distribution. Mobilized similar funding efforts for humanitarian relief in Lebanon.
  • General Operating Support Grants 1 activity
    • Offering fiscal sponsorship for nonprofit initiatives
      Serves as a fiscal sponsor for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to fundraise, receive, and disburse funds, thereby supporting operational capacity for civil society actors.
  • Impact Investing Knowledge & Technology Platforms 1 activity
    • Operating a knowledge hub and research center for Arab philanthropy
      Operates a centralized database and research center that provides access to data, case studies, best practices, and research on philanthropy in the Arab region, including a digital Member Zone with exclusive resources.
  • Climate Finance Advisory & Research 1 activity
    • Producing climate philanthropy research and pre-mapping reports
      Produced a pre-mapping report on climate philanthropy in the Arab region in partnership with WINGS, documenting funders, countries, and thematic areas to inform strategic climate giving.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Producing publications and knowledge-sharing materials
      Produces a quarterly newsletter, Ramadan calendar, impact reports highlighting members’ work, and other publications to share knowledge and increase visibility of philanthropic efforts in the Arab region.
  • Professional Development for Fundraising and Philanthropy Practitioners 1 activity
    • Providing capacity-building programs for member organizations
      Offers workshops, seminars, webinars, and training modules on impact measurement, climate funding, data use, fundraising, and advocacy to enhance the professional and strategic capacity of member foundations and philanthropists. Hosts dozens of such events annually.
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
    • Providing consulting services to foundations and civil society
      Provides consulting services to the philanthropy and civil society sectors on foundation setup, data mapping, strategic planning, and advisory resources to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
  • Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
    • Providing member support services and resources
      Provides members with exclusive access to research, data, consulting services, peer-learning events, training, and sector publications through a digital Member Zone, along with discounts and advisory support.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Issuing calls to action for humanitarian support in Palestine
      Issues public calls to action for donors to support Palestinian organizations providing humanitarian aid in Gaza, particularly in response to deregistration and funding restrictions.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$755K
Contributions & grants$532K70%
Program service revenue$217K29%
Investment income$6K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$501K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$144K
Grants paid out$43K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$260K
Cash$243K
Investments$0
Liabilities$334K
Net assets$-74K
Liquid reserves5.8 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +221.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
NAILA FAROUKY CEO AND DIRECTOR 40 $144K
board members · 3
  • AIDA ESSAID — BOARD DIRECTOR
  • BARBARA IBRAHIM — BOARD DIRECTOR
  • LAUREN BRADFORD — BOARD DIRECTOR
relationships · 23

Who they work with

  • American Friends Service Committee Partner — Co-spearheaded the Gaza Donor Appeal with AFF and is a recipient of support through the appeal.
  • Arab Foundations Forum Network — ARAB FOUNDATIONS FORUM USA is part of the Arab Foundations Forum network and participates in its member benefits and services.
  • Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) Partner — Added to the donor appeal to support Palestinian journalists in Gaza; receives donations through the appeal.
  • F20 Partner — Engages with F20 by contributing civil society perspectives during international climate negotiations.
  • Ford Foundation Funder — Provides support for the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (APCCC) hosted by Arab Foundations Forum.
  • G20 Partner — Feeds civil society input into G20 processes through convenings around climate and development agendas.
  • International Medical Corps Partner — Partnered to hold a virtual panel discussion on the Arab philanthropic and civic sector response to the Syria-Turkey earthquakes.
  • International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change Partner — Built the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change as a regional extension of the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change.
  • Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) Partner — Added to the donor appeal to provide life-saving support in Gaza; receives donations through the appeal.
  • Palestinian civil society networks Partner — Collaborates with Palestinian civil society networks operating in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories to assess humanitarian challenges and coordinate philanthropic responses.
  • Reputable organizations providing relief in Lebanon Partner — Collaborates with and directs support to reputable organizations delivering on-the-ground humanitarian aid in Lebanon.
  • Saleh Abdullah Kamel Humanitarian Foundation Partner — Co-organized a workshop at the 2023 AFF Annual Meeting to strengthen philanthropic partnerships in the Arab region.
  • Sawiris Foundation for Social Development Partner — Co-organized a workshop at the 2023 AFF Annual Meeting to strengthen philanthropic partnerships in the Arab region.
  • Social Value International Partner — Collaborated to deliver capacity development modules on impact measurement and management for AFF members.
  • Taawon (Welfare Association) Partner — Co-spearheaded the Gaza Donor Appeal with AFF and is a recipient of support through the appeal.
  • Tawasal Partner — Local AFF member in Gaza responsible for receiving pooled funds and distributing them to community-based organizations.
  • The Asfari Foundation Funder — Committed funding to the Gaza Donor Appeal and stands in solidarity with the effort.
  • United Nations Development Programme Partner — Framework from UNDP SDG Impact Standards was integrated into capacity development programming.
  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Partner — Collaborating to advance youth employment and skills development across the Arab region through the Josour initiative.
  • United Palestinian Appeal Partner — Co-spearheaded the Gaza Donor Appeal with AFF and is a recipient of support through the appeal.
  • WINGS Partner — Partnered with WINGS to produce the MENA Climate Philanthropy Ecosystem pre-mapping and co-serve as Secretariat for the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change.
  • WINGS Partner — Supports the Arab Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (APCCC) hosted by Arab Foundations Forum.
  • international humanitarian organizations Partner — Convenes senior representatives from international humanitarian organizations to discuss systemic barriers to aid delivery in Palestine and explore coordinated philanthropic action.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Climate Justice Through Integrated and Just Transition
    methodology: climate-just-investment-strategy
    By integrating climate justice into all programs and aligning investments with a just transition, the organization advances equitable, low-carbon development rooted in regional contexts, because systemic change requires intersectional program design, divestment from extractive industries, and support for locally guided, fossil-fuel-free solutions.
  • Knowledge and Evidence-Based Decision-Making
    methodology: evidence-based decision-making
    By centralizing data, research, and knowledge on Arab philanthropy, the organization enables evidence-based decision-making and impact management across the sector, because standardized metrics and shared learning improve strategic planning, accountability, and alignment with global frameworks like the SDGs.
  • Localized Philanthropy and Community Empowerment
    methodology: localization
    By prioritizing localization and community-driven approaches, the organization strengthens locally led humanitarian and development responses in crisis contexts, because philanthropy is uniquely positioned to empower local actors and overcome the institutional barriers that prevent smaller, local organizations from accessing international resources.
  • Networked Collaboration for Collective Action
    methodology: networked collaboration
    By convening a network of Arab philanthropists and foundations, the organization enables collective action on regional challenges, because shared dialogue and coordinated relationships strengthen the capacity and strategic impact of regional philanthropy.
  • Strategic Convening for Sector Strengthening
    methodology: strategic_convening_for_sector_strengthening
    By strategically convening regional and international leaders around focused themes, the organization fosters high-level dialogue that drives innovation, capacity development, and systemic change in the Arab philanthropic sector, because structured collaboration among decision-makers accelerates shared learning and coordinated action.