Issue:

Strengthening the Muslim Community: Legal and Financial Seminar for Mosque & Institutional Leaders

Muslim Advocates, in partnership with the Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, invites you to join us for our upcoming seminar on October 15, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This event, featuring top-level expert attorneys and accountants, will provide leaders of mosques, nonprofits, and charitable organizations—including social services groups, schools, medical clinics, and soup kitchens—with the tools they need to succeed as nonprofits serving the Muslim community.

This seminar is also open for attorneys and professionals who represent nonprofit organizations.

Issues addressed in this educational seminar will include:

  • Nonprofit Governance 101: What Every Muslim Nonprofit Leader Needs to Know
  • Financial Best Practices
  • Know Your Rights: Government CVE Programs and Contact from Law Enforcement
  • Media Relations 101: How to Effectively Respond to Anti-Muslim Hate and Biased Media Coverage
  • The Intersection of Religious Land Use and Anti-Muslim Hate

Event Information:

What: Strengthening the Muslim Community: Legal and Financial Seminar for Mosque & Institutional Leaders

When: Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EDT)  

Where: University of Pennsylvania Law School Entrance – 3599 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Register Now

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: 

National Council of Nigerian Muslim Organizations
Falah Capital  
MECCA Childcare Academy
Anonymous

Agenda:

  • Nonprofit Governance 101: What Every Muslim Nonprofit Leader Needs to Know

Aimed as a comprehensive primer on 501(c)(3) nonprofit issues, you will hear directly from industry experts on formation, reporting obligations, responsibilities under federal and state laws, and other legal issues that affect your institution. Additional topics will include the roles and responsibilities of a board member, adopting policies to strengthen your organization, and the practical steps to implementing best practices within your charity, nonprofit, or mosque.

  • Financial Best Practices for Charities and Islamic Centers

An essential part of running a nonprofit organization requires implementing proper financial practices. This session will provide you with a strong overview of accounting, budgeting, and record keeping practices to improve your organization. Presentations will include the purpose of financial statements and how they are interpreted, an explanation of generally accepted accounting principles, what obtaining an audit of your organization entails, and how to create an annual budget. Whether you are a treasurer, board member, or senior staff, this session will enhance your understanding of financial best practices.

  • Protecting Religious Land Use: The Intersection of Anti-Muslim Hate and RLUIPA

Religious institutions are often faced with discriminatory and unduly burdensome land use regulations. Such unjustified discriminatory treatment by zoning authorities has the effect of infringing upon the rights of individuals and congregations to freely exercise their faiths. This session will address these challenges and discuss how the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which was enacted by Congress in 2000, provides a number of important protections for the religious freedom of persons, places of worship, religious schools, and other religious assemblies and institutions.

  • Know Your Rights: Government CVE Programs and Contact from Law Enforcement

High-profile criminal incidents in recent years have led to heightened scrutiny and surveillance of Muslim institutions, including increased contact by law enforcement officials and revelations about the widespread use of informants in mosques and community institutions. Recently, the federal government announced plans for establishing “Countering Violent Extremism” (CVE) pilot programs in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and in the Greater Boston area. This panel will discuss the structural issues with CVE and ways American Muslims can protect their constitutional rights when approached by law enforcement.

  • How to Effectively Respond to Anti-Muslim Hate and Biased Media Coverage

What would you do if an investigative reporter calls your organization seeking comment on a protest outside your premises?  Would you respond to a blogger who has previously attacked and enticed fear against your organization? Are you prepared to speak with the media or the public about issues affecting your community? Over the last decade, American Muslims have witnessed a rise in hate crimes targeting their communities, political officials who perpetuate anti-Muslim rhetoric, and groups that continue to oppose mosque construction and development. It is critical that our community leaders are equipped to respond to such hate. This session will highlight the importance of messaging and provide helpful tips on how to speak with the media. In addition, you will hear examples of effective communications campaigns.