Samad Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Samad Foundation is a family-led charitable organization rooted in Islamic philanthropic principles, particularly Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity). Founded in memory of multiple generations of the Samad family, the foundation operates through trusted partnerships with established non-profit organizations rather than running direct service programs.

Key alignment signals for prospective partners:

• Faith-based giving framework: The foundation's grantmaking is guided by Islamic charitable principles including Zakat distribution. Organizations with programming that aligns with these values — particularly those serving Muslim communities or operating in Muslim-majority regions — will find natural alignment.
• Multi-issue approach: The foundation funds across six program areas (Zakat, food security, child rights, healthcare, clean water, and orphan care), suggesting openness to diverse proposals within these verticals.
• Family governance with zero compensation: All six board members (led by President Ejaz Samad) serve without compensation, indicating a lean operational model where most funds flow to charitable purposes.
• International and domestic scope: The foundation supports both domestic organizations (Shriners Childrens Portland, Cordoba Academy) and international relief organizations (Islamic Relief USA, Obat Helpers, Friends of Indus Hospital), suggesting comfort with cross-border programming.
• Theory of change: The foundation seeks to create "lasting positive change" through community uplift and self-sufficiency rather than emergency relief alone, favoring organizations with sustainable impact models.

## Funding Patterns

Grant size: The Samad Foundation's grants in 2022 ranged from $200 (Shriners Childrens Portland) to $20,000 (Cordoba Academy), with a median grant size of approximately $8,000-$15,000. The sweet spot appears to be $5,000-$20,000 per grant.

Total giving trajectory:

The foundation had a major giving year in 2021 ($890K) that appears to have been funded by a large revenue influx ($1M), followed by a significant pullback. The 2022-2024 period shows minimal giving despite stable assets around $1.6M, suggesting the foundation may be in an accumulation or restructuring phase.

Sector focus: Grants flow primarily to charitable and humanitarian organizations, with emphasis on: - Islamic education institutions (Cordoba Academy — $20,000) - International relief (Islamic Relief USA — $15,000; Obat Helpers — $13,000) - Children's health and welfare (Childlife Foundation — $15,000; Shriners Childrens — $200) - Community development organizations (House of Mercy Foundation — $10,000; One Ummah Foundation — $8,000)

Geographic distribution: Grantees are primarily US-based organizations with international reach, particularly in South Asia and the broader Muslim world.

## Peer Comparison

Among Human Services foundations with assets between $1M and $3M, the Samad Foundation occupies a mid-range position. Here is how it compares to enriched peers:

Key differentiators: - The Samad Foundation's assets are at the lower end of this peer group, but its 2021 giving ($890K) represented over 50% of total assets — a remarkably high payout rate compared to the typical 5% minimum distribution requirement. - Unlike peers that tend to focus domestically, the Samad Foundation has a distinctive international orientation through organizations like Islamic Relief USA and Obat Helpers. - The foundation's zero-compensation board model is common among family foundations in this size range. - The volatile giving pattern (spiking from $40K to $890K to $860) is unusual and may reflect event-driven giving rather than systematic annual distributions.

## Recent Activity

Operational status: The Samad Foundation appears to be in a transitional period. After a major distribution year in 2021 ($890,505 in grants), giving dropped sharply to $96,286 in 2022, then to just $860 in 2023. The 2024 filing shows no giving reported yet but a modest revenue increase to $53,796, potentially signaling a rebuilding phase.

Website and digital presence: The foundation launched a modern, professional website at samadfoundation.org featuring six defined program areas: Zakat Distribution, Food For Everyone, Child Rights, Health Care, Clean Drinking Water, and Orphan Care. The website includes a donate button and volunteer recruitment, suggesting the foundation is actively seeking to expand its supporter base.

Leadership continuity: The board appears stable with the same leadership team across multiple filing years — Ejaz Samad (President), Rizwan Samad, Haris Mohammad, Arif Samad, Rufi Mallick, and Nadeem Amman serving as directors. This family-centric governance structure provides consistency.

Program expansion signals: The website articulates a broader programmatic vision than the IRS filings suggest has been implemented to date. The six program areas on the website represent an aspirational framework that goes beyond the historical grant recipients. This may indicate the foundation is preparing for a new phase of more structured grantmaking.

Community engagement: The foundation actively recruits volunteers and promotes community involvement through its website, which was updated as recently as 2024. The social media presence and partnership approach suggest growing organizational capacity.

## Application Tips

How to approach the Samad Foundation:

1. Alignment with Islamic charitable principles is paramount. The foundation's grantmaking is rooted in Sadaqah Jariyah and Zakat. Organizations should frame proposals in terms that resonate with these values — ongoing impact, community uplift, and serving the most vulnerable.

2. Demonstrate established credibility. The foundation emphasizes "trusted relationships and contacts to ensure that donor funds are used efficiently." New organizations should provide audited financials, impact metrics, and references from other funders.

3. Focus on the six program pillars. Proposals should clearly map to one or more of the foundation's stated program areas: Zakat distribution, food security, child rights, healthcare, clean water, or orphan care. Multi-pillar proposals that address intersecting needs may be particularly compelling.

4. Prepare for variable funding levels. The foundation's giving has been highly variable ($860 to $890,505 across recent years). Proposals should be flexible in scope, presenting tiered funding requests that can scale.

5. International organizations are welcome. While the foundation is US-based, several of its largest grants support organizations with international programming, particularly in South Asia. Proposals with cross-border impact should highlight their US-based fiscal sponsorship or 501(c)(3) status.

6. Keep requests in the $5,000-$20,000 range. Based on historical giving, the most common grant size falls in this range. Larger requests are possible but may require a multi-year relationship.

7. Contact method: The foundation does not appear to have a formal application process. Inquiries should be directed through the website contact form at samadfoundation.org. A warm introduction through shared community networks would strengthen any approach.

8. Timing considerations: The foundation's large 2021 payout followed a year of significant revenue, suggesting giving may be opportunistic rather than calendar-driven. Monitor the foundation's financial position before approaching.