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Ash-Shahku Community Grant Program

Ash-Shakur

Community Grant Program

Receive the Help Your Community Needs!

In early 2026, the SSC Board established the Ash-Shakur Community Grant Program. The goal of this program is to provide financial assistance to beloveds and communities in our Shadhiliyya Sufi community so that they can further their efforts to live and share the teachings of Allah brought to us by Sidi Muhammad al Jamal. 

The SSC Board recognizes that local and regional communities face many barriers to stability and growth. Sometimes financial assistance can be the missing piece that allows a community to take its next steps with things like building a website, renting a meeting space, or hosting a teacher. We want to help assist with this new growth and outreach!

Key Details

  • SSC has approved a total of $20,000 for this program in its first year.  
  • From that amount, individual grants will range from $1 to $10,000. 
  • You do not have to already have a community established to apply for a grant. Individuals who wish to start a community are welcome to apply if financial support is needed to complete relevant tasks.

Application and Review Process

  • All applicants will submit an application, outlined below. The application will include a statement of need, goals and objectives, and methods for evaluation at the end. 
  • Grant applications will be reviewed by a committee of volunteer reviewers who are not members of the community that has applied.
  • In some cases, revisions may be requested by the reviewing committee. 
  • Priority will be given to applicants who are able to demonstrate the largest degree of anticipated impact through the funding they would receive. 
  • Once an application has been reviewed, the results will be communicated to the applicant, along with next steps.
  • Applicants who have been awarded a grant must provide a final report outlining exactly how the award was used and the impact the project had on their community.

  • The deadline for 2026 applications is June 30th, 2026. Applications will be reviewed and chosen by July 31st, 2026.

Possible Uses of Grant Funding

  • Renting a space for in-person community activities
  • Developing a website or other outreach mechanisms to improve communications with local beloveds
  • Funding a part-time employee to support the community’s efforts
  • Organizing to feed the hungry in our communities and abroad.
  • Establishing a zawiya or temporary teaching space. Purchasing needed supplies. 
  • Paying for a teacher to travel to a community and teach in person.

    Grant uses are not limited to the above ideas. The Ash-Shakur Grant Program is not available to fund scholarships for attending educational programing. 

Apply Below

Applications can be submitted in two ways:

1. An application can emailed to Rahim Bushard as a single .PDF file at rahimbushard@sscboard.org. The application must contain all of the sections seen in the application form below.

OR

2. An application can be completed and submitted using the form below.

Note: Applications must be submitted in full to be considered. Please do not submit partial applications. 

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Applicant Information

Name*

Project Abstract

Type or paste the Project Abstract in the field below OR upload it using the Upload button below.

The project abstract should present a concise summary of the project. It should be no longer than 150 words and include the need for the project, the community it will serve, a brief description of the project and its goals and objectives, and the total amount of funding that is being sought. Finally, mention how the program will be evaluated to measure the success of the project. [The abstract should be the last section you write.]

SAMPLE ABSTRACT: The small Pittsburgh community is seeking funding to bring the existing community together to enhance siblinghood, expand outreach and grow the community. To do this, we seek $3000 to bring in one senior teacher to help bond our community, reach a wider audience and grow the community. This covers renting meeting space, teacher transportation, advertising and outreach, and a partial teacher stipend supplemented by donations from attendees. We will evaluate number of attendees, their evaluation of the program, and new people who attended and may continue.

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 35 MB.

Body of the Application

Type or paste the Body of the Application in the field below OR upload it using the Upload button below.

Statement of Need: The statement of need should describe the problem that the project will attempt to address. Also, describe the community (its location and geographic nature, leadership organization, size, ongoing activities) that will be served.

Program Description: Describe the project and provide information on how it will be implemented. Include information on what will be accomplished and the desired outcomes.

Goals & Objectives: Describe the project objectives in measurable terms that address the community needs and development.

Evaluation: Provide information on the metrics that will be used to describe the outcomes of the grant project.

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 35 MB.

Supporting Materials

Type or paste the Supporting Materials in the field below OR upload them using the Upload button below.

Applicant and Community Information: Include the applicant qualifications, role in the community, and skills. Describe the community and include information indicating the community’s capacity to implement and complete the program. Indicate if the community has its own non profit status and can do its own accounting.

Budget: Include in the budget all expenses for your project, including the timeline at which these expenses will be paid (in advance or in arrears). Mention any co-funding that you are using from other sources. You may want to include a brief narrative of expenses along with a table of individual cost components.

Appendix: Include items in the Appendix (where relevant): letters of support (e.g. teachers), facilities description (if renting), outside vendors (e.g. web hosting, etc.)

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 35 MB.