Muslim Charity Helping the Needy

Charity Number: 1078488

Geographic Focus: Bangladesh, Burma, Cameroon, Chad, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria ... [7 more]

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Data not publicly available
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: PKR 15,000 - 70,000 (Pakistan); BDT 12,000 - 50,000 (Bangladesh) for water projects
Geographic Focus: International (primarily Asia and Africa) and UK

Contact Details

Website: www.muslimcharity.org.uk
Email: info@muslimcharity.org.uk
Phone: 020 7100 4930
Address: Eaton Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 0PR

Overview

Muslim Charity was founded in 1999 by Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada with the mission of alleviating poverty worldwide regardless of race, religion, or gender. The organisation has evolved from providing emergency relief during and after disasters to addressing underlying causes of poverty through health, education, and economic development initiatives. Core programmes include building hospitals, providing safe drinking water, constructing schools, and orphan sponsorship projects across multiple countries in Asia and Africa, as well as supporting community initiatives in the UK. The charity won the “Most Impactful International Programme Award” at the 2017 MCF Humanitarian Awards for its work rescuing and rehabilitating street children in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where over 900 children were re-integrated with families and 2,000 sent to permanent shelters. The charity operates through a grant-making model, partnering with local NGOs in countries across Asia and Africa, whilst also supporting UK-based community projects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Request for Partnership Grants (RFPG) - Safe Water Programme

The charity's primary international grant-making programme focuses on WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) projects through partnerships with local NGOs:

Pakistan Water Hand Pumps: PKR 15,000 maximum per pump (includes need assessment, construction, installation, hygiene session, maintenance training, NGO administration)
Pakistan Water Wells: PKR 70,000 maximum per well (all costs included)
Bangladesh Water Hand Pumps: BDT 12,000 maximum per pump (all costs included)
Bangladesh Water Wells: BDT 50,000 maximum per well (all costs included)

Applications are accepted through periodic Request for Partnership Grant announcements on the organisation's website.

UK Community Support

Muslim Charity also funds UK-based community projects, including healthcare equipment for hospitals, community defibrillators, support for vulnerable groups, and initiatives addressing loneliness.

Priority Areas

Emergency Relief: Disaster response and humanitarian aid
WASH Projects: Safe drinking water infrastructure (hand pumps, water wells, overhead storage tanks, water reservoirs)
Education: School construction and support
Healthcare: Hospital construction and medical facilities (including UK hospital equipment)
Child Welfare: Orphan sponsorship, street children rescue and rehabilitation
Poverty Alleviation: Addressing underlying causes of poverty through sustainable development
UK Community Projects: Supporting vulnerable groups, healthcare facilities, and community wellbeing initiatives

Geographic Focus

The charity operates internationally in Asia and Africa, with documented work in countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The charity also supports projects across the UK, particularly in areas such as Bassetlaw, Huddersfield, and other local communities.

What They Don't Fund

Individual applications for international programmes (grants are made to organisations only)
Projects outside their priority areas and geographic scope

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Governance and Leadership

Founder & Chairman: Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada

Graduate of Dar al-'Ulum Muhammadiyyah Ghawthiyyah of Bhera and University of the Punjab, Pakistan
Qualifications: Adib, 'Alim and Fadil 'Arabi, BA (English), MA (Islamic Studies), MA (Arabic), MOL (Master of Oriental Learnings)
Recognised as one of the 500 most influential Muslims globally
Also founder and Principal of Jamia Al-Karam (established 1985)
President of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (UK)

Chairman: Bakhtyar Pirzada

Vice-Principal of Jamia Al-Karam
Vice-President of the United Kingdom Branch of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates
Graduate of Al-Azhar University, Egypt: BA (Hons) in Islamic Jurisprudence and Law (2003)
MA in Islamic Studies from University of Manchester (2005)
Teacher, writer, and translator
Works closely with the founder in managing the organisation's projects

Governance Structure:

Company limited by guarantee, incorporated October 25, 1999
Amended by special resolutions dated November 29, 1999; October 25, 2010; February 15, 2019; July 30, 2023
No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
Registered with the Fundraising Regulator

Quote from Leadership: Bakhtyar Pirzada, Chairman: “Inspired by their faith and cultural tradition of generosity and hospitality, British Muslims are at the forefront in terms of giving charity and alleviating the suffering and plight of the less fortunate.”

How to Apply to Muslim Charity Helping The Needy

How to Apply

For International Partnership Grants:

Applications are accepted through periodic Request for Partnership Grants (RFPG) announcements. Organisations should:

Monitor the Muslim Charity website (www.muslimcharity.org.uk) for RFPG announcements
Contact the organisation directly at info@muslimcharity.org.uk for current opportunities
Submit proposals when specific RFPG rounds are announced for particular countries/programmes

For UK Community Projects:

Contact the organisation directly at info@muslimcharity.org.uk to discuss potential support for UK-based initiatives.

Eligibility Requirements for Partner Organisations

Pakistan Programme Requirements:

Organisation must be registered with the Government of Pakistan
Approval/NOC from Government Authorities
Proven experience implementing WASH projects, particularly water hand pumps and water wells with reputable donors
Demonstrated experience in community mobilisation, grassroots institutional development, local resource mobilisation, and sustainable development

Bangladesh Programme Requirements:

Organisation must be registered with the Government of Bangladesh
Proven track record of WASH project implementation
Experience with community mobilisation and grassroots development

Partnership Approach: Muslim Charity emphasises long-term partnerships with high-performing NGOs that demonstrate proven capacity and best performance.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines are not publicly disclosed. Details are provided when RFPG rounds are announced.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly disclosed. Contact the organisation directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on available information, organisations seeking partnerships with Muslim Charity should:

Demonstrate proven capacity: The charity explicitly seeks “high performing NGOs who have proven capacity” and emphasises long-term partnerships with organisations that perform best
Show WASH expertise: Specific experience implementing water hand pumps and water wells is essential for current international funding opportunities
Provide evidence of community engagement: Proven experience in community mobilisation and grassroots institutional development is a key criterion
Have government registration and approval: Formal registration with national governments and relevant approvals/NOCs are mandatory for international partners
Align with faith-based values: While serving beneficiaries regardless of race or religion, the charity is founded on Islamic principles of generosity and service
Focus on sustainable development: The charity has evolved to address “underlying causes of poverty” rather than only emergency relief
Demonstrate local resource mobilisation capacity: Ability to engage and mobilise local communities and resources is valued

Recent Funded Projects:

Street children rescue and rehabilitation in Dhaka, Bangladesh (over 900 children re-integrated with families, 2,000 sent to permanent shelters)
Safe Water Programme implementation through local NGO partners in Pakistan and Bangladesh
Support for DASH (Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield) in the UK
Resuscitaire Unit for Bassetlaw Hospital
Community defibrillators for local communities
'Happy to Chat' benches to tackle loneliness in Bassetlaw

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

RFPG model: Muslim Charity uses a Request for Partnership Grants approach for international programmes - watch their website for announcements rather than applying on a rolling basis
WASH focus: Current international grant opportunities heavily focus on safe water projects (hand pumps and wells) in specific countries
Local NGO partnerships: The charity works through local implementing partners rather than direct delivery in most international locations
UK community support: The charity also supports UK-based community projects; contact directly to discuss opportunities
Proven track record essential: Demonstrable experience with similar projects and reputable donors is critical for international partnerships
Long-term relationships valued: The organisation explicitly seeks ongoing partnerships with high-performing NGOs
Faith-inspired but universal service: Founded on Islamic values but serves beneficiaries regardless of race, religion, or gender
Government registration required: All international partner organisations must be formally registered with their national governments
Award-winning programmes: The charity has received recognition for innovative and impactful programming (MCF Humanitarian Awards 2017)