Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP)

What Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) does

The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) is a national 501(c)(3) community foundation founded circa 2010 and headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, operating as a program of ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services). It is the only national community foundation in the United States focused specifically on Arab American philanthropy, serving individual Arab American donors, donor families, and Arab American-serving nonprofit organizations through donor-advised funds, endowed funds, competitive grantmaking programs, giving circles, and academic scholarship vehicles. The foundation's portfolio spans roughly two dozen named funds — including the Dr. Adawia Alousi Fund for Muslim Women in STEM, the Jack G. and Bernice M. Shaheen Endowed Media Scholarship Fund, the Abbas Family Red Wagon Fund, the FLYP Fund, and the Community Impact Fund — and has disbursed over $23 million to various causes since inception. Recent activity includes $493,500 in regranting through a Wallace Foundation partnership with AANM and NNAAC, $110,000 co-grants with NNAAC to 17–19 nonprofits, and $50,000 in Alousi STEM scholarships for the 2025–26 academic year.

CAAP's core "products" are philanthropic infrastructure services rather than technology products: donor-advised fund administration, endowed fund stewardship, competitive grantmaking cycles, and program-design vehicles such as the Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI), the only youth-led Arab American philanthropy program nationally, now operating chapters in Dearborn and San Diego. The foundation runs signature events including the annual Threads of Giving Gala (entering its 8th year in September 2026) and the 100 Arab American Women Who Care giving circle, and it operates an Arabic Word of the Month cultural series. Its underlying technology stack is a standard WordPress website with email newsletter, blog, and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), with no proprietary software, patents, or AI/ML systems documented.

CAAP's revenue model is donation-based philanthropy rather than commercial sales: it receives charitable contributions, endowment income, and institutional grants, and redistributes funds through its grantmaking and scholarship programs. Distribution is community-led, relying on direct relationships with Arab American donors and nonprofit grantees, in-person events, and digital content. CAAP is staffed by approximately 7 employees, governed by an Advisory Board, and led by Director Abir Ali (appointed 2025). The foundation sits within a broader ACCESS institutional ecosystem that includes the Arab American National Museum (AANM) and the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), enabling co-granting and shared programming at national scale.

Name

Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP)

Legal name

Center for Arab American Philanthropy

Website

https://centeraap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CAAP is the only national community foundation dedicated to Arab American philanthropy, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan as a program of ACCESS. It serves Arab American donors and nonprofits through donor-advised funds, endowed funds, competitive grants, giving circles, and scholarships, having disbursed over $23 million since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation and Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI), Charitable Giving & Philanthropic Trust Advisory (FSAEAKAH), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Donor advised funds
• Philanthropy grantmaking
• Charitable giving tools
• Nonprofit scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dearborn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Giving and Grants: CAAP operates as a community foundation receiving donations from Arab American donors and distributing grants to nonprofit organizations. They manage various fund types including donor-advised funds, endowed funds, and competitive grantmaking funds. Revenue comes from charitable contributions, not product/service sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CAAP is a national community foundation that facilitates Arab American philanthropy by offering donor-advised funds, endowed funds, competitive grantmaking programs, giving circles, and academic scholarships to Arab American students. It administers the Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI), runs the annual Threads of Giving Gala, and regrants charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations across the United States through funds focused on arts and culture, education, humanitarian relief, and women and children.

Product overview

CAAP operates as a national community foundation offering a comprehensive portfolio of philanthropic products and services. The core offerings include donor-advised funds, endowed funds, competitive grantmaking programs, and giving circles such as the 100 Arab American Women Who Care program. CAAP manages various scholarship funds including the Dr. Adawia Alousi Fund for Muslim Women in STEM and the Jack G. & Bernice Shaheen Endowed Media Scholarship. The organization runs the Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI), the nation's only youth-led Arab American philanthropy program. Additional funds support specific impact areas including arts and culture, education, disaster relief, and women and children. CAAP also hosts the annual Threads of Giving Gala to celebrate Arab American philanthropy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI): A program that teaches high school students about philanthropy, grantmaking, and community service. It is the only youth philanthropy and grantmaking program in the Arab American community nationwide.

Products and services

• Community Impact Fund General operating support fund that invests in nonprofit organizations across the country, focusing on Arab American organizations working in arts and culture, human services, advocacy, and education.
• Donor-Advised Funds Charitable giving vehicles that allow Arab American donors to contribute assets and recommend grants to nonprofits over time, providing strategic philanthropic infrastructure.
• Endowed Funds Permanent funds established by donors that provide ongoing grantmaking support for designated causes in perpetuity, often honoring individuals or charitable causes.
• Competitive Grantmaking Funds Grant programs that award funding to nonprofit organizations through competitive application processes in impact areas such as arts and culture, education, humanitarian relief, and women and children.
• Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI) The only youth-led Arab American philanthropy program in the nation, teaching high school students grantmaking skills including fundraising, needs assessment, and awarding grants to community organizations. Operates through chapters in Dearborn (MI), YALLA San Diego, and Somali Family Service of San Diego.
• 100 Arab American Women Who Care Giving Circle Collective giving program where Arab American women pool $125 individual donations and collectively award a grant to a selected Michigan-based 501(c)(3) organization, with members nominating and voting on recipients.
• Threads of Giving Gala Annual national celebration of Arab American philanthropy honoring outstanding philanthropists and raising funds to support Arab American human services and arts organizations. Features multi-tier sponsorships from $3,500 (Supporter) to $25,000 (Underwriter) and individual tickets at $350-$500. 8th annual iteration scheduled for September 20, 2026.
• Dr. Adawia Alousi Fund for Muslim Women in STEM Endowed scholarship fund established in 2016 with a $500,000 endowment supporting Muslim women pursuing STEM disciplines. Has awarded 174 scholarships totaling $480,000 over nine years, with 10 students receiving $50,000 for the 2025-26 academic year.
• Jack G. and Bernice M. Shaheen Endowed Media Scholarship Fund Endowed scholarship fund supporting Arab American students studying journalism, television, radio, or film, operated in partnership with ADC to uplift Arab American voices in media. Supported seven students in 2025.
• Abbas Family Red Wagon Fund Memorial scholarship fund honoring Dr. Rima Abbas and her family, awarding scholarships to students at Fordson High School and Northville High School. Awarded $14,000 in 2025 and nearly $100,000 in total since 2019.
• Disaster Relief Fund Impact area fund providing humanitarian aid and emergency relief support to communities affected by disasters, accessible via CAAP's donation infrastructure.
• Bustan Al-Funun Giving Circle Giving circle program dedicated to pooling Arab American donor contributions specifically to support Arab American arts and cultural initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Granted over $23 million to various causes since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAAP is a national institution of ACCESS and a program of ACCESS. ACCESS is the parent organization that houses CAAP along with the Arab American National Museum (AANM) and National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC).
• Arab American National Museum (AANM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAANM and CAAP are both national institutions of ACCESS, collaborating on grantmaking initiatives including the Wallace Foundation arts and culture regranting program that directed $493,500 to 30 organizations.
• National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAAP and NNAAC frequently co-grant to nonprofit organizations. Together they awarded $110,000 to 17-19 nonprofit organizations nationwide through CAAP's Community Impact Fund and NNAAC's capacity building program.
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jack G. & Bernice Shaheen Endowed Media Scholarship is housed at CAAP and operated in partnership with ADC to uplift Arab American voices in media.
• Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAAP staff attend CMF conferences and are developing a learning community of Arab Americans in philanthropy in partnership with CMF.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Asian American Foundation (TAAF): National foundation dedicated to accelerating opportunity and prosperity for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities through grantmaking, research, and community investment. Highly comparable to CAAP in structure, mission (identity-based community philanthropy), and stage of development.
• National Urban Indian Family Foundation: National Native American-focused philanthropy and grantmaking organization serving a specific ethnic community through donor services, scholarships, and competitive grantmaking. Directly comparable to CAAP in constituency-based community foundation model.

Emerging players

• Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF): Arab American civic engagement and policy organization with adjacent philanthropic programming. Comparable in Arab American identity focus and national scope, though primarily advocacy-driven rather than grantmaking-driven.
• Amal Fund / Muslim Philanthropy Initiative: Faith- and identity-based philanthropy infrastructure serving Muslim American donors, with overlapping donor profile to CAAP. Comparable as a community-of-identity philanthropic vehicle, though Muslim-focused rather than Arab-specific.
• National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC): Sister organization under ACCESS that co-grants with CAAP on the Community Impact Fund. Not a direct competitor but a tightly adjacent peer in the Arab American philanthropic ecosystem, sharing the same donor and grantee base.
• National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA): Identity-based professional and philanthropic association that has built a national scholarship and community grantmaking program comparable in scale and structure to CAAP. Comparable in operating a scholarship, leadership development, and donor engagement model for a specific community.

Broad incumbents

• Hispanic Federation: National Latino advocacy and grantmaking organization that operates philanthropic programs targeting a specific ethnic community, similar to CAAP's Arab American focus. Comparable in mission structure (donor services, grantmaking, scholarship, leadership development) and constituency model, though significantly larger in scale.

Others

• Accessories, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS): CAAP's parent organization and the largest Arab American nonprofit in the U.S. Provides shared infrastructure, staff support, and brand umbrella for CAAP. Included as the most direct institutional counterparty rather than a market competitor.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Major nonprofit infrastructure organization providing data, research, and training to the philanthropic sector, including identity-based and community foundations. Comparable as a sector infrastructure peer rather than a direct competitor.
• Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF): Regional philanthropy trade association with which CAAP partners for capacity building. Comparable as part of the broader U.S. community foundation ecosystem and as a peer learning network, though not a direct competitor for donor dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/centeraap
• Facebookfacebook.com/centeraap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-arab-american-philanthropy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP)