Money: Living on Charity & the Need For Institutional Sustainability

“We need the money, now, brother,” I was told. A masjid was being expanded, and the community had apparently gone beyond its means in doing so. Donations had slowed. Was it too late for bank financing? Would construction have to stop? This statement had came in reply to a suggestion: "Why not take the land you have, gather investors, and build a small commercial retail space – a grocer, a donut shop, and maybe pizza? Drop those assets into a trust of some kind and some of the income generated could be earmarked to support the masjid long term?" But the community now had to make a decision based on the short term. It had put itself in a position of risk. A year later, a small strip mall opened up close by – with a donut shop, a pizza place, and so on. It had nothi...