CAIR-Ohio

What CAIR-Ohio does

CAIR-Ohio, legally the Council on American-Islamic Relations Ohio, is the Ohio chapter of CAIR — described as America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization — and operates as a 501(c)-style nonprofit headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio with offices in Columbus, Cincinnati (Mason), and Cleveland. Founded in 1994 with 11 employees, the organization provides free legal representation for victims of discrimination (employment, school, public accommodation, religious accommodation, immigration, and FBI-questioning matters), Know Your Rights educational workshops, incident-reporting intake via its website, voter registration and civic engagement programming, and direct legislative advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse and in Washington, D.C., through coalitions such as the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO). Its mass-audience event programming includes annual Columbus and Cincinnati/Dayton banquets drawing roughly 500 attendees each, an annual Muslim Advocacy Day at the Statehouse, and ongoing interfaith coalition work.

CAIR-Ohio delivers services through a community-led go-to-market model anchored by an established Masajid Network of relationships with more than 35 mosques across the state, supplemented by partnerships with educational (Ohio Education Association, OPAWL), legal (Columbus Legal Aid, Arab American Bar Association of Ohio), housing (HOME), and immigrant-services organizations (Community Refugee & Immigration Services, Ohio Immigrant Alliance). Its service mix is organized into three groups: 'Get Help' resources (incident reporting, request-a-speaker, guides/toolkits, accommodation and Ramadan resources, Palestine self-advocacy, educator resources), 'Take Action' programs (action alerts, voter guides, MPAN mobilization, donations), and 'About Us' governance (leadership, annual report, careers, internships). All offerings are free to beneficiaries; no software platform, app, or API is operated.

Revenue is generated entirely from donations, community fundraising, sponsorships, and banquet ticket/event revenue. There is no fee-for-service pricing; legal services, workshops, advocacy, and resources are provided at no cost. The technology stack is limited to standard nonprofit digital communications — a WordPress website (cair-ohio.com), email newsletter system, Facebook and Instagram accounts, and Zoom for webinars — none of which represents proprietary technology. Leadership (Khalid Turaani, Executive Director, since 2024; Amina Barhumi, prior Executive Director; Lina Abbaoui, Deputy & Legal Director; Jwayyed Jwayyed, Legal Director; Bilal Ahmed and Maryam Abidi, Staff Attorneys; Whitney Siddiqi and Anisa Liban, Government Affairs; Victoria Hickcox, Outreach Director) executes both defensive civil-rights work and offensive coalition-building across the state.

Name

CAIR-Ohio

Legal name

Council on American-Islamic Relations Ohio (CAIR-Ohio)

Website

https://cair-ohio.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAIR-Ohio is the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, providing free legal representation, civil rights advocacy, and Know Your Rights education to Ohio's Muslim community through offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy and Legal Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Civil rights advocacy
• Legal services
• Community education
• Religious accommodation
• Nonprofit organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: CAIR-Ohio generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, community members, and supporters. The organization conducts fundraising campaigns, including direct donation appeals on its website and at events such as annual banquets.
2. Event Revenue: The organization hosts annual banquets (Columbus Banquet, Cincinnati & Dayton Banquet) that generate revenue through ticket sales and sponsorships from community supporters and partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CAIR-Ohio provides free legal representation, civil rights advocacy, and community education services to Ohio's Muslim community. Core services include legal assistance for discrimination cases (employment, school, immigration, public accommodation), Know Your Rights workshops, an incident reporting system, and grassroots advocacy campaigns. The organization operates three offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, and conducts legislative advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse and federal level.

Product overview

CAIR-Ohio is Ohio's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, operating as a single unified organization with multiple service programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include free legal services for discrimination victims, Know Your Rights workshops, community advocacy programs, an incident reporting system, and educational resource programs including the Educator Resource page. Supporting resources include guides, toolkits, and Ramadan accommodation materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Services Free legal representation for victims of discrimination, including school and employment discrimination, FBI questioning, public accommodation issues, racial profiling, immigration matters, and religious accommodations.
• Know Your Rights Workshops Educational workshops informing community members about their constitutional rights, particularly regarding encounters with law enforcement, at airports, and in various settings.
• Community Advocacy Programs Grassroots advocacy campaigns on issues affecting Muslim Ohioans including voter rights, religious accommodations, immigration, and civil liberties.
• Incident Reporting System A system for reporting and tracking incidents of harassment, discrimination, or intimidation targeting Muslim community members for legal follow-up and advocacy.
• Muslim Advocacy Day at the Statehouse Annual multi-day advocacy event at the Ohio Statehouse where masajid leaders and community members meet with legislative offices on policy issues affecting Muslim Ohioans.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Bantu of OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2025Coalition partner in press conference demanding justice for Somali family targeted in violent hate crime. Collaborative advocacy for immigrant and refugee communities.
• U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2024CAIR-Ohio participates in USCMO's Annual Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, joining delegates from 25 states to engage with over 200 congressional offices on issues including combating anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, and advocating for Palestinian rights.
• Muslim Students Association (MSA) at OSUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2024Partner in hosting the solidarity prayer event to reclaim community space after law enforcement brutality during pro-Palestinian protests. MSA collaboration for student rights advocacy.
• Ohio Education Association (OEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2023Partnership for educator resources and the 'Educating for Ohio's Future' campaign promoting multicultural perspectives in Ohio's public school curriculum. Also collaborated on Summer of Diverse Readers event distributing 9,000 books to central Ohio children.
• OPAWL (Ohio Progressive Asian Women's Leadership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2023Coalition partner for the 'Educating for Ohio's Future' campaign advocating for updated social studies curriculum reflecting diverse backgrounds and histories of Ohioans, including Muslims.
• Muslim American Society (MAS Columbus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing community partner for events including the Black Liberation x Palestine event and other advocacy initiatives.
• Alpha Lambda Mu (ALM) at OSUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner fraternity organization collaborating on community events and solidarity initiatives at Ohio State University.
• Zamzam Women & Family CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization working with CAIR-Ohio on family and community advocacy issues.
• Ohio Immigrant AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for immigrant rights advocacy and shared advocacy for families facing immigration challenges.
• Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization at immigration asylum seminars providing comprehensive immigration legal services information to community members.
• Columbus Legal AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services partner participating in immigration and asylum seminars to provide holistic legal support to community members.
• League of Women VotersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in voter engagement training to bolster new American voter participation and civic education.
• American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) ToledominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the 5th Annual Muslim Statehouse Advocacy Day focusing on religious accommodation and other policy issues.
• Abubakar Assidiq Islamic CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner mosque for Muslim Advocacy Day and voter registration initiatives.
• Ahlul Bayt Society of ColumbusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Muslim Advocacy Day events.
• Islamic Center of Mason Learning AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for advocacy and community engagement events.
• Islamic Center of Greater CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner mosque hosting community events and providing resources including free legal help at health fairs.
• Somali Islamic Centers of OhiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Muslim Advocacy Day representing Somali Muslim community interests.
• Noor Islamic Cultural CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Muslim Advocacy Day.
• Islamic Society of Greater DaytoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner mosque hosting Know Your Rights workshops and community engagement events.
• Islamic Council of DaytonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Muslim Advocacy Day.
• Arab American Bar Association of Ohio (AABAR-Ohio)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association partner for networking and collaboration among Arab American attorneys.
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at Fair Housing Act 55th anniversary luncheon addressing religious discrimination in housing, with panel participation from CAIR-Ohio Executive Director.
• Oaktree InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner providing Fund-Development Training during the annual Masajid Retreat to equip mosque leaders with fundraising tactics.
• Interfaith PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith coalition partners collaborating on advocacy including opposition to ICE deportation actions and interfaith solidarity events. Includes partnerships across faith traditions for shared civil rights goals.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Muslim Advocates: National Muslim legal advocacy and policy organization that provides pro bono legal representation, legislative advocacy, and impact litigation on issues similar to CAIR-Ohio's core services.
• Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC): National Muslim advocacy organization working on civil rights, media engagement, and policy. MPAC and CAIR both serve as primary Muslim civil liberties voices and overlap on congressional advocacy, hate crime response, and interfaith coalition work.
• Arab American Institute (AAI): National advocacy organization serving Arab Americans on civil rights, civic engagement, and policy. AAI overlaps with CAIR-Ohio on voter registration, discrimination response, and coalition advocacy in the broader American Muslim/Arab community.
• Emgage: Muslim civic engagement organization focused on voter mobilization and advocacy. Emgage runs parallel Muslim Advocacy Day programming and shares CAIR-Ohio's voter registration and civic participation mission.
• CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations - National): National parent organization of CAIR-Ohio with identical mission, services, and advocacy agenda. Operates as the umbrella body for state chapters including Ohio, providing shared legal resources, policy positions, and brand identity.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio: Ohio affiliate of the ACLU providing free legal services and legislative advocacy on civil liberties. Overlaps with CAIR-Ohio on religious freedom, free speech (SB-297), immigration, and anti-discrimination litigation.

Regional players

• OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates (Ohio): Advocacy organization serving AAPI communities with comparable civil rights, civic engagement, and community education programs. OPAWL-CA partnership with CAIR-Ohio signals overlapping coalition space in Ohio's multicultural advocacy ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): Established national civil rights organization combating antisemitism and all forms of hate. ADL's hate incident tracking, legislative advocacy, and education programs closely parallel CAIR-Ohio's anti-Islamophobia work and coalition partners include ADL.

Emerging players

• Islamic Relief USA: U.S. Muslim humanitarian organization serving communities through disaster relief, food security, and refugee support. While primarily humanitarian, it shares CAIR-Ohio's community-service model and engages in related advocacy on immigrant rights.

Others

• Interfaith Alliance of Ohio: Coalition partner organization working on religious freedom and interfaith advocacy in Ohio. CAIR-Ohio's interfaith partnerships position this as a coalition ally with shared civil liberties agenda but different primary constituency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cairohio
• Instagraminstagram.com/cairohio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cair-ohio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CAIR-Ohio