Our mission is to be the unifying federation of Islamic organizations of greater Chicagoland, the leading advocate of Muslim community interests and a catalyst for enriching American society.

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Learn More about Social Justice
July 9, 2022
Getting Started

Registration Deadline

Register on our website after receiving masjid support. Be sure to upload your 30 second proposal video along with your registration!

July 16, 2022
Week 1

Planning Meeting Photo

Send us 3-5 photos of your "planning meeting" with a fun 3 sentence caption.

July 23, 2022
Week 2

Behind the Scenes Vlog

Send us a 60 second vlog telling us about your project and how you will address social justice.

July 30, 2022
Week 3

Get the Word Out!

Be creative as you share your project on social media and with your community. Make sure to tag us
/ciogccommunity /ciogchicago /ciogc
with the hashtag #allinciogc and #ciogcservicechallenge

August 6, 2022
Week 4

Official Video and Budget Submission for Grand Prize

Unveil your finished project through a video and keep up the hype! Videos should be under 2-3 minutes & filmed horizontally. Send us a written breakdown on how you spent the $1000.

August 9-13, 2022
Week 5

Voting Period Begins

August 15, 2022
Results
DOWNLOAD TIMELINE

Contest Rules

  1. All entries must be approved by the organization’s leadership (i.e. Youth Directors/Imams/Board Members/Committee Chairs) of a masjid in the Chicagoland area.
  2. The project must address a social injustice, as subject to the conditions of the grant.
    • Social injustice is a concept in which the relations between an individual or group and society are unjust.
    • You may interpret this definition to creatively come up with a plan and implement a project that will lead to a meaningful change in either your local or greater society.
    • We want this to be a fun project for your masjid, so be sure to think outside the box and collaborate with your community. We highly encourage collaborations with other masajid.
  3. The project must be entirely funded by the initial grant. Additional funds cannot be used to supplement your project for this challenge.
  4. All grant approvals are ultimately at the discretion of CIOGC. CIOGC reserves the right to request adjustments to or deny any proposals submitted if they do not meet our guidelines.
  5. Although we encourage masajid to promote their project on their own social media, we require that any posts give mention to and/or tag CIOGC.
  6. Projects must follow the set timeline given:
    • Register by July 9th, 2021
    • Submit the following on a weekly basis:
      • Week 1 : Pics of your planning meeting by July 16, 2021
      • Week 2: Short ‘behind the scenes’ video showing project implementation by July 23th, 2021
      • Week 3: Share your project on social media by July 30, 2021
      • Week 4: Submit your final project on the website by August 6, 2021
    • Submit official video and budget by August 3, 2021.
    • Voting begins on August 9, 2021
    • The final results will be declared on August 15
  7. Failure to follow above timeline will result in the loss of potential prizes and/or revocation of initial grant.
  8. All materials must be submitted by emailing [email protected] Any materials altered or removed after the deadline date will be considered late, and subject to the same conditions detailed in Rule 7.
  9. Winner of this challenge will be chosen through a two part process. All entries will be posted on the website to allow for a public vote. The top five selected by public vote will then be presented to a panel of judges who will decide the winner.
  10. Contest winners must use awarded money to continue and/or expand their project.
  11. By applying or participating in any form with this challenge, you grant CIOGC all rights and interests in any and all submissions and interviews including but not limited to videos, photographs, animations, audio recordings, images, and presentations. You also grant CIOGC the right to use said materials in any of their promotional materials.
  12. All participants and their affiliated organizations, regardless of degree of involvement in the CIOGC Service Challenge, appreciate there are certain risks (some of which I may not fully appreciate) and that injuries, death, property damage or other harm could occur to me or others. Participants and affiliated organizations accept and voluntarily incur all risks of any injuries, damages, or harm which arise during or result from my participation in the Challenge, regardless of whether or not caused in whole or in part by the negligence or other fault of CIOGC, The Trustees of CIOGC, and/or its or their departments, affiliates, employees, officers, agents or insurers (“Released Parties”). Participants and affiliated organizations waive all claims against any of the Released Parties for any injuries, damages, losses or claims, whether known and unknown, which arise during or result from my participation in the Challenge, regardless of whether or not caused in whole or part by the negligence or other fault of any of the Released Parties. Participants and affiliated organizations release and forever discharge the Released Parties from all such claims. Participants and their affiliated masajid agree to indemnify and hold the Released Parties harmless from all losses, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs and expenses) incurred by any of the Released Parties as a result of any claims or suits that they (or anyone claiming by, under or through them) may bring against any of the Released Parties to recover any losses, liabilities, costs, damages, or expenses which arise during or result from my participation in the Challenge, regardless of whether or not caused in whole or part by the negligence or other fault of any of the Released Parties.
DOWNLOAD RULES

FAQ

A: This is an opportunity for your masjid to create meaningful changes in society. Consider
what types of efforts might be necessary beyond direct service to lessen the problems you are
witnessing firsthand. As you address the need, consider focusing your efforts on the injustice
that has created the need for service in the first place.

For more inspiration and guidance, please read this article on Islam and Social Justice.

A: Yes! This competition does not require CIOGC membership, though we hope your Masjid will consider joining in the future.

A: No, this challenge is not limited to only youth groups! We encourage diversity in age and interests to apply, as long as the project idea is approved by a masjid in the Chicagoland area.

A: Yes! We encourage Masjid leadership to appoint a Service Project Coordinator to lead
project efforts during the challenge.

A: Yes! We encourage you to collaborate with other masjids, as well as any other interfaith
organizations.

A: In the effort to ensure fairness, $1000 is the maximum amount we are able to grant for each
project. If you find yourself with surplus money, please contact us and we will use it to award
more prizes at the completion of the competition.

A: Feel free to refer any further questions to [email protected]

About Social Justice

Social Justice is the view that there should be fairness in every aspect of society. A socially just society provides equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privilege.

The CIOGC Social Justice Challenge is an annual Illinois-wide competition hosted by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (and sponsored by Zakat Chicago, a CIOGC committee) where mosques receive seed money to produce projects that solve or impact a social justice issue. It is a 4-week long challenge that results in a grand prize winner at the culmination of the Challenge. The Challenge was created in 2020 to unite places of worship on one central mission for a short period of time and to emphasize service.

Registration is by application only.

Register Today
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