Muslim Response USA for Relief and Development
Committed to End Poverty and Human Suffering
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Response USA for Relief and Development works to alleviate the suffering of extremely poor and vulnerable populations, especially women and children by delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance including food, emergency healthcare, psycho-social support, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and shelter services. Response USA also works with the marginalized and disadvantaged communities in remote and hard to reach regions of the world and helps them find lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, poor health and powerlessness through participatory development.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Child Protection and Support
We provide crucial psycho-social support for children during emergencies to help them overcome their difficult experiences. These efforts include one to one counselling and group therapy sessions for helping them overcome the challenges and stress resulting from the disaster or conflict. Other interventions include safe and stimulating activities such as sports and games to develop life skills and coping mechanisms for achieving resiliency.
We build the capacity of community members, activists to support children, families and neighbors by disseminating key information through a variety of channels including the media, religious organizations, existing community structures and youth groups.
We use child friendly spaces to organize activities in a safe and stimulating environment where affected children are supported. In addition, the parents or caregivers of these children are sensitized on child rights and protection issues.
We provide specialized referral services for children with behavioral issues, or who may need extra support, so that appropriate networks of care may be engaged.
Through School Feeding Program, we support the provision of nutritious and hygienic food to students in highly under-served and remote areas which have both educational and health benefits; increasing school enrollment rates, reducing absenteeism, and improving food security at the household level
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Construction of Water Wells and Water Pumps: In Africa and South Asia, we improve the communities’ access to safe and clean drinking water by constructing water wells and installing water hand pumps in coordination with the relevant local government departments and ensuring compliance with the globally accepted quality standards. The water well can serve a community of around 3,000 people and Water Hand Pump serves up to 200 people for 5-10 years.
Construction of Latrines and Water Facilities in Schools: In highly under served and poor communities, we support the installation and maintenance of latrines and water facilities in schools since children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor sanitary conditions and lack of hygiene. It is also an important factor in education, especially for girls, many of whom leave school after puberty due to the lack of latrines.
WASH Education and Awareness: Establishment of WASH Committees at community level and their training orientation on WASH and better management of water facilities. We also facilitate the setting up of School Health Clubs and awareness raising events and campaigns, community education using electronic and print media, training and mobilization of health volunteers/workers.
Livelihoods and Food Security
Women and youth focused livelihood programs e.g. kitchen gardening, vocational training, and livestock – distribution of goats/sheep, chicken rearing, community education on livestock rearing hygiene etc.
Building the capacity of small farmers on modern practices for improved productivity and reduced harvest losses
Improving small farmers’ access to good quality seeds, greener fertilizers and tools so farmers can grow more.
Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA) for promoting group savings and helping farmers’ access to capital, so they can expand their farms and buy equipment.
Providing emergency food assistance to vulnerable families and malnourished so that they can survive and quickly bounce back in times of crisis.
Community based nutrition programs for extremely poor and vulnerable communities including growth monitoring and promotion, breastfeeding and supplementary feeding, nutrition education/communications for behavior change and micro-nutrient supplementation (vitamin A, iron, iodine, other).
Ending Violence against Women & Girls
Awareness raising on women and girls rights, enrollment and capacity building of ‘Change Makers’ and mobilizing them for advocating the rights of women and girls including support for survivors of violence against women and girls (VAW&G).
Strengthening systems and coordination mechanisms for ensuring a safe and conducive environment for women and girls, and gender based violence (GBV) prevention and response.
Capacity building and networking of the key front-line institutions for coordinated and inclusive GBV prevention and response e.g. health, police, media, judiciary, departments of education, social welfare etc.
Civil society strengthening for impact focus programming for gender equality and prevention of violence against women and girls including alliance building with the key stakeholders and gender equality networks to multiply influence of GBV discourse.
Advocacy with the decision makers to constitute policies and implement programs that ensure better protection to at risk women, girls and their families.
Emergency Response & Preparedness
Women, girls and children are at the heart of everything we do at Response USA, and our disaster preparedness and response programs in particular focus on their needs and rights, including protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. Our Disaster Response interventions include:
Emergency Health: We provide lifesaving medicines, supplies, emergency healthcare services.
Provision of food and non-food items e.g. clothing, bedding, blankets, kitchen items, hygiene kits and supplies.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and education.
Temporary Shelter: provision of tents, tarps etc.
Psycho-social Support: for children and women affected by disasters through individual and group therapy and culturally appropriate interventions.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children who have the skills necessary to maintain personal health
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Muslim Response USA is striving to achieve its vision of a peaceful, just and equitable world where everyone enjoys a life free of hunger, suffering and exploitation. Our programs are aimed at improving the quality of life of program participants by working with the marginalized and disadvantaged communities in remote and hard to reach regions of the world and help them find lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, poor health and powerlessness through participatory development.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Muslim Response USA program strategy is guided by the following three principles:
A. High quality and participatory programming that is well founded on our understanding and analysis of the key underlying causes of poverty, marginalization and social injustice
B. A long-term engagement with the poor and vulnerable communities for achieving a greater and lasting impact
C. Commitment to gender and diversity, as a key element to addressing discrimination in all its forms and manifestations. Through our emergency response and development programs, we serve our program participants regardless of their religion, race and nationality
Community participation is the cornerstone of Muslim Response USA’s people centered program approach, which strengthens the voice of the most vulnerable and powerless people.
The participatory approaches and mechanisms enable Muslim Response USA for Relief and Development to identify the extremely poor and vulnerable people, understand their problems and work with them to find sustainable solutions.
For achieving its vision and mission, Muslim Response USA is committed to foster meaningful relationships with all stakeholders – Governments, NGOs, UN bodies, private sector, research institutions and community groups/leaders.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Muslim Response USA for Relief and Development is a relatively young organization established by a group of dedicated professionals with decades of experience in the non-profit organizations management. The program portfolio of Muslim Response USA is based on a critical analysis of poverty, hunger, powerlessness and humanitarian situation and trends across the globe which makes it relevant to the countries and regions selected for our programs. Muslim Response USA's commitment to develop and nurture partnerships with organizations and entities in the non-profit, government, and private sectors offers a great opportunity for expanding its programmatic outreach and access to the resources available with a range of organizations and will help in achieving the aims and goals of the organization. Muslim Response USA is collaborating with a number of organizations, concerned citizens and activists who share and support its vision and mission. The organization is also being supported by a group of highly committed and skilled professionals with track record of developing, managing and implementing successful programs for development and humanitarian emergencies in the USA and overseas.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Muslim Response USA has successfully completed the registration requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Organization's Board of Director which currently has five members is expected to expand in the coming months with induction of a few new members, which will strengthen organization's commitment to the principles of transparency, accountability and diversity. Muslim Response USA has identified and enrolled a number of partner organizations in Asia, Africa, Middle East and the United States of America - selected through a comprehensive due diligence process, and joint programs are being implemented in Asia, Africa and the Middle EAST. For detailed information about our programs, please visit our website https://www.rusard.org and our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MuslimResponseUSA .
For raising awareness about its programs, Muslim Response USA has developed a dynamic website and information is also disseminated through social media networks and communication channels. For mobilizing support for Muslim Response USA programs, recruitment of staff, interns and volunteers has been initiated. Muslim Response USA has joined or is in the process of securing membership of relevant major networks and alliances of civil society organizations in America and overseas. Muslim Response USA's funding base so far largely comprises of donations from concerned individuals and its supporters; however, efforts are being made to diversify our revenue streams by securing grants and in-kind donations from institutions - foundations, corporations, private sector and the government agencies.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Muslim Response USA for Relief and Development
Board of directorsas of 10/02/2023
Dr Arif Mehmood
Muslim Response USA for Relief and Development
Steven D. Botkin
MERGE for Equality
Rukhsana Ayyub
CARE
Dr Malik Usman
Manassas Dental Smiles
Arif Mehmood
Response USA for Relief & Development
Kemal A. Birru
Self Employed
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/11/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.