When I was a child, the month before Ramadan, my immigrant parents would sit at the kitchen table with my sister and me to discuss how our family could give back. They would tell us about a family relative back in India who could use our help. Maybe it was for something critical, like surgery; or something invaluable, like education; or something practical, like a sewing machine! My working-class family’s support was not extravagant, but we did what we could. This experience taught me that, even as a child, I had the power to make a transformational difference in others’ lives.
Read MoreWhen I think about women in business, I always go back to the Muslim leader Khadija Radia Allah Anha. She was the first wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as well as a successful businesswoman who controlled one of the most important caravan trades in her time. She was knowledgeable, respected, and business-savvy. Although there were many obstacles for women business owners during that time, Khadija shows us that achieving financial independence and self-sustenance is a real possibility.
Read MoreOstensibly, tax laws and tax incentives were created so that the wealthy would have agency in their charitable giving and, hopefully, increase it. But is that really what’s happening? Are billionaires actually giving more? And in my own position of relative privilege, how can I leverage these laws and incentives to benefit my community?
Read MoreTwo months before the holy month of Ramadan begins, my mailbox, inbox, and messaging groups swell with invitations to fundraising dinners from all across the metro. Typically, a well renowned speaker flies in, gives a keynote at a semi-formal dinner, and a familiar face challenges us to dig deeper into our pockets with a starting bid to donate $25,000!
Read More