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The team behind the vision, delivering the mission.
Our board members, staff, and volunteers work hard to operate our national, grassroots community foundation.

Staff

Muhi Khwaja, Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer

Earning a Bachelor’s in History and Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2009, Muhi Khwaja didn’t know what to do until the summer before graduating. The Development Summer Internship Program at the University of Michigan sparked an interest in fundraising (development) as a career. After working with several nonprofit organizations, he earned his Master’s in Public Administration in 2013, from U-M, specializing in nonprofit management. Muhi has over a decade of experience as a development professional with several nonprofits including: University of Michigan, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Council for American-Islamic Relations – Michigan, Islamic Relief USA, Institute for Social Policy & Understanding, Ta’leef Collective, Islamic Scholarship Fund, Indian Muslim Relief & Charities, Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership, Our Three Winners Foundation, Notable Music & Arts Organization, the American Red Cross, and Environmental Data & Governance Initiative which all led to his founding the American Muslim Community Foundation. 

In 2016 he became a Certified Fund Raising Executive from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and in 2017 earned a Certificate of Fund Raising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly School of Philanthropy where he is also Adjunct Faculty. Muhi is also pursuing his Graduate Certificate in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University and is expected to complete it in 2022. 

Muhi served as the Director of Development & Philanthropy at AMCF from 2019 to 2021 and worked with donors to connect them with nonprofits creating impact, helping families distribute more than $6 million. AMCF serves as a the only national nonprofit organization focused on creating Donor Advised Funds, Giving Circles, distributing grants, partnering on fiscal sponsorships, & building endowments for the American Muslim community. He also hosts the #MuslimPhilanthropy Podcast.

Muhi went on to become the Chief Development Officer at The MAVEN Project in 2021, stepping into a part time role with AMCF focusing on their strategic plan, institutional fundraising, and external partnerships. Later in 2022 he focused his time consulting on nonprofit management, fundraising, and executive coaching.

Muhi enjoys traveling, photography, riding his motorcycle, and hiking.

Shatila Sago-Hart, Director of Operations

With over 15 years of dedicated experience in operations management, information technology, program management, and accounting, Shatila is a results-driven professional committed to driving positive change. Her extensive background spans various sectors, including education, nonprofit organizations, and government entities, where she’s consistently delivered innovative solutions and demonstrated a strong work ethic.

As a strategic leader, she has successfully overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, managed complex grant programs, and led digital transformation initiatives. Shatila’s passion for educational equity and community development has led to founding and serving as the First President of the Institute for Youth Leadership and Community Development (IYLCD). She is also deeply committed to international development as an international ambassador for the Seasteading Institute.

Armed with a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), an MBA in Information Technology Management, and a drive for positive impact, she is dedicated to making a difference in finance, education, and community development.

Ola Mohamed, Director of Nonprofits

As AMCF’s Director of Nonprofits, Ola’s mission is to support our community’s countless amazing causes. She is passionate about connecting with nonprofit leaders and providing programming and resources to uplift their visions for change and institutional sustainability. Before her current role, Ola was the AMCF Nonprofits & Social Impact Fellow and then the Nonprofit Engagement Manager.

Prior to joining AMCF, Ola was an immigration attorney with the New York-based firm Aljijakli, Kosseff & Prendergast, LLC. Her work focused on asylum, family unification and humanitarian-based cases. Her asylum clients’ harrowing stories of persecution, along with their resilience, strength, and hope for a better future, inspired Ola to volunteer at various refugee organizations, write about refugee rights and advocate for holistic, human-centered support for displaced persons. Her pro bono efforts and legal training included work with the Karam Foundation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Cairo, the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project (Proyecto Dilley) and the International Rescue Committee.

Ola lives in the Washington D.C. metro area with her husband and their three kids. She loves exploring nature with her kids (when it is warm!), shopping Muslim-owned businesses and sharing Arabic Montessori- and Waldorf-inspired ideas for young children.

Crystal Habib, Marketing Fellow

Crystal Habib, born and raised in Indiana, found her creative calling at the Herron School of Art and Design at IUPUI and graduated with high distinction with a bachelors degree in fine arts. Her artistic journey has been nothing short of inspiring, marked by numerous accolades and widespread recognition. Crystal’s work has graced art galleries, transcending borders to touch hearts in Mauritania, India, Florida, Atlanta, and beyond. Notably, her distinctive talent was celebrated when an exquisite piece was commissioned and prominently displayed at the Philanthropy Center of the Arts in Indianapolis. She has also been awarded first and second place for the professional artists division at the Indiana State fair.

Beyond her artistic endeavors, Crystal’s deep-rooted faith as a revert has been a guiding force, leading her to embrace Islam and dedicate her skills to various nonprofit organizations. Her altruistic spirit shines through her involvement with ISNA and the Immigrant Welcome Center, where she has generously contributed her time and expertise. Notably, her efforts extended to the planning of ISNA’s 60th annual convention, where she orchestrated captivating special events such as art exhibitions and film festivals. Her creative touch also left an indelible mark through the design of compelling graphic materials that promoted these events.

Driven by a profound passion for giving back, Crystal’s focus extends to graphic design and marketing campaigns, where she strives to harness her talents to benefit her community. With a heart brimming with creativity and a steadfast commitment to making a difference, Crystal Habib continues to illuminate the world with her artistry and compassion, driven by the belief that her gifts are a blessing from Allah, meant to be shared for the betterment of all.

Shazeen Mufti, Giving Circle Fellow

Shazeen Mufti is a change management consultant who helps nonprofit leaders develop strategies, set up systems and streamline operations to cultivate diverse, equitable and inclusive organizations. She is a fierce advocate for social justice and her passion, humor and straight-forward style make her a sought-after trainer, advisor and coach.

Previously, Shazeen served as the chief operations officer for Developments in Literacy (DIL), an international organization that educates over 16,000 low-income students in Pakistan. She oversaw fundraising operations for twenty chapters in the US and financial operations in Pakistan. During her time with DIL, the organization saw double-digit growth in revenue.

Prior to that, Shazeen served as the financial director of Temple Bat Yahm, where she oversaw the financial and administrative operations of a religious community center, including accounting, human resources, facilities and capital campaigns. She also led the effort to diversify revenue through earned income strategies.

In the aftermath of 9-11-2001, Shazeen was a program director for the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), where she conducted cultural competency trainings about Muslims, South Asians and Arab Americans for community leaders, government officials and members of the media.

Earlier in her career, as the executive director of the South Asian Network, Shazeen developed innovative strategies to provide social services to immigrant communities by partnering with religious centers.

Shazeen is an alum of the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University and holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Chapman University. Shazeen lives in Orange County, California with her husband and son. When she is not working, she enjoys international cuisine, a good conversation and all forms of dance.

Board of Directors

Omar Hassan, President

Omar is a financial leader who believes that the way forward for philanthropy and the Muslim community is to build a sustainable framework for funding initiatives that can be both self-preserving and adaptable.  Omar is also currently an active member at his local masjid where he volunteered as a teacher at their Sunday school. Omar has mainly focused his professional career in the asset management sector where he currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Cloverlay, a special situations private equity firm. Prior to joining Cloverlay, Omar worked at various other global alternative asset managers. Omar is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of NY. Omar enjoys traveling, experiencing other cultures, sports, and cooking. His most important role in this world is being a husband to his wife and a father to his three young children.

Dahlia Eltoumi, Vice President

Dahlia’s journey in empowering and cultivating community started after she earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois.

Her work experiences in two vastly different parts of the world as a Muslim American woman has created an inextricable connection to the global community and has equipped her with deep social, cultural, and emotional intelligence.

9/11 served as a pivotal moment for her personal and professional journeys. She felt called to action to not only protect her community from Islamophobia, but to also to play a proactive role in elevating the narrative of Muslim Americans. Since then, she has worked closely with educators, elected officials, law enforcement agents, the interfaith community, and allies on civil rights issues to build bridges and grow mutual understanding across communities. Also, she was appointed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to address House members as well as being featured in Bassem Yousef’s TV series, “America in Arabic” for her role as a community mobilizer for the Arab-American Democratic Party.

In 2021, she completed her Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) with Indiana University Lily Family School of Philanthropy, creating a new pathway to intersect her passion with her profession. As a board member, she will leverage her platform to empower the community by creating networks, sparking new connections, strengthening relationships and creating collective spaces.

Her work with the American Muslim Community Foundation will continue to build relationships within the Muslim community, and also to extend allyship across racial, ethnic, cultural, and faith-based groups.

Fareed Farukhi, Treasurer

Mr. M. Fareed Farukhi, CPA is the Managing Partner at Farukhi & Company, LLP in Orange CA. Mr. Farukhi has over thirty-five years of tax, business consulting and M&A experience. The Firm consults for small to mid-size companies both domestic and international, advise high net-worth individuals and companies on tax and business strategies including working with non-profit entities.

Mr. Farukhi has served on various for-profit and non-profit Boards. He was past Chair and served as Commissioner with the Orange County Human Relations Commission 4th district, was the past Chairman of the Board of New Horizon School System overseeing its operations, finances and strategic growth initiatives, Mr. Farukhi presently serves on the Board of Vibrant Minds Charter Academy in Anaheim. Working on a startup ACT Charter Academy also in Anaheim. He was the past Chairman of the Board at the Islamic Society of Orange County in Garden Grove one of the largest Islamic Centers in Southern California, past Executive Board Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE). He has been active in the Orange County and Los Angeles communities serving and working in various capacities with organizations on issues dealing with homelessness, immigration, cultural diversity and understating, education, interfaith, health care, youth programs, and other social issues in providing direct services and resources. Organized and volunteered in civic engagement including political campaigns for candidates running for public office. Previously served on the Board of NCCJ and CCEJ and currently serving on the Board of Orange County Interfaith Network (OCIN), Board Member of American Muslim Community Foundation (AMFC), Board Member of Academy for Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies.   Mr. Farukhi is an advisor to various startup companies in technology, finance, and healthcare. 

Mr. Farukhi is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Universal Heritage formerly Universal Heritage and Research Center (UHRC), a startup non-profit, whose mission is to foster cross cultural engagement, education, research and understanding of people of all backgrounds. An initiative to peace building through arts, music and culture in embracing humanity of its richness and diversity.

Universal Heritage is working with UCLA under an MOU to helping establish endowments for the YKL Library to sustain its special collections and manuscripts including programs for preservation, enhancement, amplification and accessibility of its vast collection and research.

During the 2019 COVID pandemic, Mr. Farukhi launched another non-profit to address food insecurity that afflicts communities across the nation. Harmony Bites a division of Risala USA Foundation, Inc was born that rescues food and serves families and adults with staple food items, fresh produce, and meals in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, other parts of LA County and Orange County. Harmony Bites value is to dignify people and to “Empower People Through Food” taking a bite out of poverty with a long-term sustainability model for social impact investment, job creation and skills in the food business and addressing the food echo system from farm to table. Mr. Farukhi is a community leader, a visionary and a bridge builder to collaborate with people and communities for positive social change and meaningful impact. 

Mr. Farukhi is married, a family man with three children and two grandsons, a longtime resident of Buena Park. He is from Bengaluru, South India and deeply cares for humanity.

Amna Khan-Mirza, Member

Amna Mirza is an award-winning FORBES featured marketing and brand strategist. Having worked with world renowned brands such as PBS, Independent Lens, SIRIUS XM’s Oprah Winfrey and NFL Channels, Amna has championed marketing transformation throughout her career. Using her marketing power for good, Amna has put the Muslim experience at the forefront of her work. As the former Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Zakat Foundation of America, Amna moved the humanitarian organization from an 8-million-dollar organization to a 21-million-dollar organization in less than 4-years, with back-to-back multi-million-dollar fundraising seasons. She’s now taken that success and kicked-off her own brand consultancy agency named, INFLUENCE, where she harnesses the power of influence for social good.

Nawal Ali, Member

Nawal Ali, a Chicago native, graduated from high school at the age of 16. This early academic triumph set the stage for an unconventional journey that led her to Syria, where she engaged in rigorous studies under scholars and enrolled in the Dawah program at Abu Noor University. Unfortunately, in 2011, the outbreak of war disrupted her Islamic educational pursuits.

Post her experiences in Syria, Nawal explored various countries, including Turkey and Lebanon. After graduating in Public Health and Wellness, she actively contributed to initiatives, focusing on disaster relief, mental health, and drug addiction.

In 2020, Nawal returned to the United States from Europe, choosing Boston as her new base. Here, she played a role in public health efforts, specifically addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a notable career transition in 2022, Nawal shifted her focus to program management and strategy. Presently, she holds the position of Head of Fund Development at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), contributing her skills and experiences to the organization’s growth and impact.

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