Too often, religious organizations aren’t considered natural partners for secular philanthropic and charitable organizations. It’s a missed opportunity, contributor Toula Drimonis writes.
Canadians are living in an increasingly global, multicultural, and multifaith world. In this country alone, more than 450 different ethnic or cultural origins were reported in the 2021 Statistics Canada Census.
While Christians make up just over half (53.3%) of the population, and 34.6% of Canadians report no religious affiliation at all, the proportion who are Muslim (4.9%), Hindu (2.3%), and Sikh (2.1%) has more than doubled over the last 20 years as immigration slowly changes the country’s demographic landscape.
Education that increases better understanding of one another and provides opportunities for different groups to work together on similar goals is more important now than ever. Especially with the alarming rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia globally.
Yet far too often, religious organizations aren’t considered natural partners for secular philanthropic and charitable organizations – even when they’re doing similar work and have similar goals – because they’re deemed to be incompatible with a non-profit’s mandate or assumed to be focused solely on faith-based activities.
It’s a missed opportunity. Working with faith-based organizations means taking advantage of existing pathways of collaboration and infrastructure that can help speed up disaster-relief efforts or make health and education awareness campaigns far more effective in reaching all communities.
Chad Lubelsky, the executive director of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal, worked in philanthropy for 20 years before taking on his current role. He says he was struck by the absence of religious institutions in the foundation ecosystem. “If philanthropic organizations are working on projects having to do with building belonging, reducing isolation, increasing inclusion, specifically for older adults,” he says, “if they’re not working with religious organizations in Canada, they would be doing so with a huge blind spot.”
Lubelsky says the challenge is one of assumptions and misunderstandings. In his experience, most organized philanthropy does not have the reflex to include religious organizations in their work and in their coalition-building work. In the past, he says, when he’s shared that he works for a religious organization, the response – either through body language or through actual words – has been generally quite disdainful and dismissive. “I am genuinely surprised,” he says, “by the assumptions people are making about where I work and the lack of value that it has in the world.”
[Religious literacy] is a basic, very practical skill that we don’t necessarily have in Canada because it’s not part of our education systems.
Alice Chan, Centre for Civic Religious Literacy
Religious literacy could help philanthropy make a far bigger impact.
A basic understanding of the history, core beliefs, and practices of various global traditions can foster better cultural and religious awareness and respect for people’s societal norms and spiritual identities. Recognizing what the faithful value has the power to unlock doors, bridge gaps, build community trust, overcome biases, and improve project outcomes, even in certain hard-to-reach communities.
“Religious literacy is for everybody,” says W. Y. Alice Chan, the executive director of the Centre for Civic Religious Literacy (CCRL), who’s worked with multinational corporations, international religious and non-religious non-profits, and educational institutions. “Since it applies to everybody,” she says, “it also applies to philanthropists. Any kind of organization trying to work in society, whether private or public, non-profit or for-profit. How do we understand and engage with people who have different religions, spiritual and secular identities, and how does that inform life around us? It’s a basic, very practical skill that we don’t necessarily have in Canada because it’s not part of our education systems.”
The Montreal-based centre is a non-religious non-profit organization fostering understanding about religious, spiritual, and non-religious people in all sectors of Canadian society. As defined by them, civic religious literacy isn’t just an understanding of the basic tenets of various faiths but “an academic approach to perceive people’s beliefs and affiliations in order for us to understand each other, our society, and live better together.” In other words, it’s a way of reducing polarization, improving coexistence, and better recognizing each others’ strengths.
Different pathways, similar goals
Even if most (62.29%) philanthropic organizations and registered charities in Canada are secular and operate with no religious affiliation, the goals of secular and non-secular organizations often overlap, with faith-based organizations doing significant community work across the country, operating food banks, homeless shelters, and refugee services, as well as providing emergency relief.
Studies show that religious people are statistically more likely to donate or volunteer. In fact, believers give more to secular charities than non-believers do, and as such make natural partners for philanthropic ventures.
With 57% of Canadian charities reporting that they can’t meet the current level of demand for services, are philanthropic and charitable organizations dropping the ball by ignoring a significant demographic eager to contribute?
“I would have to think very hard to come up with a faith that does not promote charitable giving and philanthropic giving in one way or another,” says Sana Mahboob, president emeritus of the Manitoba branch of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), a federal non-profit that empowers individuals and organizations to practise ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research, and advocacy.
I would have to think very hard to come up with a faith that does not promote charitable giving and philanthropic giving in one way or another.
Sana Mahboob, Association of Fundraising Professionals
Mahboob, who recently spoke at an AFP conference on Islam and philanthropy, and its relevance to modern fundraising, is a passionate advocate for inclusive philanthropy and values-driven leadership. “Philanthropic giving,” she says, “is a common denominator in most Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.”
“If philanthropy calls, we’re going to answer the phone,” Lubelsky says. “It’s who we are and what we do. Our instinct is to say yes. Be invitational. Don’t be afraid to stop by.”
To Mahboob, understanding Islamic philanthropic principles is crucial for fundraisers aiming to engage with Canada’s Muslim communities effectively. By appreciating the religious and cultural contexts of giving, fundraisers can build meaningful relationships and design campaigns that truly resonate with Muslim donors’ values and motivations. “As Muslims,” she says, “we are required to give 2.5% of our accumulated wealth away. ‘Zakat’ is not a suggestion; it’s a requirement. It acts as a spiritual purifier for the giver and a social safety net to ensure wealth redistribution. There’s a direct correlation between the pillars of Islam and philanthropy.”
There are a lot of Muslim donors, she says, with deep pockets that she would encourage fundraisers to engage with. Working together often comes down to common denominators like tackling food insecurity and homelessness. Zakat is not limited to Muslim causes. “As a Muslim woman in Canada,” Mahboob says, “one of my favourite charities of choice is the Winnipeg Humane Society. I also give towards CancerCare Manitoba, and I volunteer a chunk of my time with them because I’ve had loved ones impacted by cancer. That has nothing to do with faith.”
If philanthropy calls, we’re going to answer the phone. It’s who we are and what we do.
Chad Lubelsky, Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom
In a similar vein, secular non-profits like the Centre for Civic Religious Literacy, which aren’t affiliated with any particular religious perspective, are often written off by philanthropists because religion is within the name of the organization. “They assume there’s no way that anything to do with religion or spirituality could be for civic purposes,” Chan says. “It would be great if philanthropists could open up how they perceive a conversation related to religion. It may not be just for religious purposes. They might see that an organization like the CCRL actually has the same civic goals as they do.”
Mahboob insists that secular non-profits shouldn’t be afraid to have a conversation with religious organizations. “Open the door to having a conversation,” she says. “Try and do it in a culturally competent way. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. No one is expected to know everything. People appreciate curiosity more than assumptions.”
What can religion and philanthropy learn from each other?
Lubelsky believes the philanthropic and charitable sector could really benefit from learning more about religion and faith-based organizations. He points to existing physical, social, and relational infrastructure and pathways that charitable and non-profit organizations need to deliver all their programs and which currently exist in religious communities. Not to mention a target audience already open to collaborating on similar goals. “In the sense of civicism,” Lubelsky says, “that my future is tied to your future, it’s something you get when you’re part of a religious institution. People who participate in religious life are more likely to be volunteering and joining in communal things because it’s ingrained in them.”
Mahboob points to the northern Manitoba wildfires last year and how members of the Muslim community were out volunteering. “Muslim students were fundraising,” she says. “Mosques were out collecting money and items. It’s a shared community. No one was thinking, ‘OK, there’s 25 Muslims in northern Manitoba, so let’s collect 25 boxes.”
Guided by the foundational Sikh principle of seva (selfless service) and langar (unconditional community meals), Canada’s Sikh community – the second largest in the world – is also quick to respond to disaster-relief efforts and local community or blood-donation needs, regardless of the beneficiaries’ faith.
What religious institutions could learn from philanthropic and charitable organizations, according to Lubelsky, is that philanthropy brings great expertise, wisdom, and strategic and organizational planning in matching action to purpose. “We already do that,” he says, “but philanthropy is better at acting strategically, thinking of what headwinds are facing their work, and planning what supports a longer-term vision and less the day-to-day functioning.”
[Philanthropy and religion] are complementary expressions of care for community. Both are rooted in the firm belief that we have a responsibility to one another.
Chad Lubelsky
Ultimately, speaking to and understanding one another leads to more effective collaborations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mahboob helped promote multilingual vaccine messages for the Muslim community to help overcome any vaccine hesitancy and build trust. Religious literacy, too, is about understanding someone else’s vocabulary, their value system, and what they prioritize, allowing you to reach them in a way you might not have been able to otherwise.
Dialogue is the key to dispelling assumptions. “I’m willing to bet,” Mahboob says, “that a majority of the times it’s shared goals between secular and religious organizations. It’s a simple conversation that should take place.”
Lubelsky agrees. “Philanthropy and religion have much in common,” he says. “They are not opposing forces; rather, they are complementary expressions of care for community. Both are rooted in the firm belief that we have a responsibility to one another.”
How can civic religious literacy strengthen charitable and philanthropic organizations?
Collective philanthropy relies on a vast network of diverse individuals to come together to create meaningful systemic change. A skill set like civic religious literacy can help the sector be far more productive, by using both its resources and influence more efficiently. “The idea isn’t to become a scholar in every faith,” Mahboob says, “but simple cultural competency goes a long way. A bottle of wine, for example, is a bad idea for thanking a Muslim donor.”
Discovering shared goals and common denominators is important. “Go meet your neighbours and your potential donors,” Mahboob says. “Let them know who you are. Share a bit about your organization. Let them know you may have a policy around zakat for Muslim donors for their consideration. A respectful drop-in suddenly places you on their radar. Because we’re wired and required to give as Muslims, we’re looking for places and organizations to give to.”
Civic religious literacy is not only a powerful tool for countering today’s increasing polarization, social division, and political fear-mongering; it can also help secular and non-secular charitable and non-profit organizations better work together, reducing duplication, maximizing donations, and improving project outcomes.
“If you reach out to Temple or the Church of Saint-James,” Lubelsky says, “you’re reaching out to that community, but that community working with them isn’t necessarily going to identify as Christian, Jewish, or Muslim first. They’re going to identify as a person first. So you might be putting on a label in a way that they are not. And in foregrounding that label, you risk not working with a partner or an individual who could be quite helpful to your mission.”
Understanding how religious communities operate can also help charitable and non-profit organizations offer more effective help. “Things like the timing of program delivery is actually going to make a big difference, especially for Muslims and Jews,” Lubelsky says. “You can’t just go in, especially with disaster relief, without understanding that community.”
“It’s not just a service you’re offering,” Chan says. “You’re building relationships with the people you want to support. It goes to a much deeper level for a lot of non-profits and philanthropists who want to do this kind of community-based work. You need to reach out to what is valuable and significant to them. Religious literacy can help you into that world.”
“Eid is a huge deal for us,” Mahboob says. “Of course I expect my fellow Muslims to wish me Eid Mubarak. But the warmth, love, and joy I feel when someone I know who isn’t Muslim wishes me Happy Eid is undeniable. It’s the power of being seen.”
Religious literacy also empowers non-profits engaged in reconciliation, Chan says. “If you’re a philanthropist who wants to support reconciliation in Canada, you should ask yourself: how do you engage with spirituality, how are you listening to Indigenous groups, and what does it mean for them? Not what you think, but what does it mean for them?”
As a final note, Mahboob warns philanthropic organizations to be careful about using artificial intelligence for research when trying to engage with religious communities. “Algorithms are built on biases and data,” she says. “It won’t give you the nuance of a human-to-human relationship. Go recruit a Muslim board member, set up a presentation at a mosque, et cetera. Those are far better ways.”
Fostering belonging and connection
Ultimately, civic religious literacy can help philanthropists understand how people create meaning and a sense of connection and belonging.
“Trust is everything in philanthropy,” Lubelsky says. “Most foundations and philanthropic organizations will have a set of strategic goals, and they’ll look for partners to help them implement them. Philanthropy is fundamentally an intermediary. To have any impact in the world, philanthropic organizations need to partner with others who are then executing on some of the vision of the work they want to see happen.”
If philanthropic organizations aren’t even considering religious organizations, they’re missing out on valuable partners.
Chad Lubelsky
For Lubelsky, including religious groups in philanthropic coalition-building is a no-brainer. “If you want to build belonging,” he says, “who in your community is doing that? It’s not limited to religious organizations, of course, but they play a big part in that and are leading lights in doing that work. If philanthropic organizations aren’t even considering religious organizations, they’re missing out on valuable partners. But equally importantly, and perhaps even more, they’re missing out on understanding where the people they’re seeking are finding this sense of belonging.”
There’s common ground that needs to be explored. “But we can’t get there and we can’t know our common goals,” Chan says, “unless we have a desire to see past our fears and assumptions.”
In fact, the synergistic relationship between religion and philanthropy is easy to see. “These religious spaces are where people feel a sense of humanity,” Lubelsky says. “To come in and understand what makes people feel human and part of something is a core part of philanthropy, and it needs to be a core aspect of the work that philanthropy drives forward into the world.”
