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
September 17, 2022
Getting Started - FAQ Webinar

Join us for a live webinar with guest speaker Abdullah Mitchell. This informative session will prepare you for the challenge. We will discuss the NEW rules & regulations of the challenge and a host Q & A session towards the end. 

September 18, 2022
Registration Begins

Registration Opens: September 18,2022 | Deadline: October 1, 2022

Register on our website after receiving approval from your Masjid or organization leadership. Be sure to upload your 30-second proposal video along with the application provided at registration.

October 1, 2022
Week 1 - Facts or Statistics

Deadline: October 8, 2022

Send us 3 facts or statistics related to your project. The submission can be in the form of a graphic, PDF, presentation or word document. Submit your facts through our website.

October 9, 2022
Week 2 - Informative Vlog

Deadline: October 15, 2022

Send us a 60-second vlog telling us about your project and how you will address social justice. Make sure you state the problem and YOUR solution! Submit your video through our website.

October 16, 2022
Week 3 - Final Submission

Deadline: October 22, 2022

Submit your final proposal video on ciogc.org/SJSC along with a description of the project, your experience and budget breakdown.

October 24, 2022
Week 4 - Voting!

Deadline: October 27, 2022

This is your chance to get your community to vote for you! Share your project on social media. Make sure to tag us:

/ciogccommunity /ciogchicago /ciogc
with the hashtag #AllInCiogc and #SocialJusticeServiceChallenge

October 30, 2022
Week 5 - Awards program & Winner Announcement

Join us for a virtual award ceremony celebrating your accomplishments and announcing the winners of the Social Justice Service Challenge 2022. Details about the event will be shared closer to the day.

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 organization, so be sure to think outside the box and collaborate with your community.
  3. The project and its beneficiaries needs to be zakat eligible.  
  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 organizations 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 Oct 1st, 2022
    • Submit the following on a weekly basis:
      • Week 1 : Send us three facts or statistics related to your project. The submission can be in the form of a graphic, PDF, presentation or a word document by October 8, 2022 
      • Week 2: Send us a 60 second vlog telling us about your project and how you will address social justice by October 15, 2022
      • Week 3: Submit your final video on ciogc.org/SJSC along with a description of the project, budget and experience by October 22, 2022
      • Week 4: Share your project on social media. Get your community ambassadors or influences to help you get the word out! Tag CIOGC in your posts! Voting will be from October 24-27, 2022
      • Awards will be on October 30, 2022
  7. Failure to follow above timeline will result in the loss of potential prizes and/or revocation of the grant.
  8. All materials must be submitted by emailing contest@ciogc.org. Any materials altered or removed after the deadline date will be considered late, and subject to the same conditions detailed in Rule 7.
  9. Grant recipients 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: Research has validated that inequality causes a wide range of health and social problems, from reduced life expectancy and higher infant mortality to poor educational attainment, lower social mobility and increased levels of violence and mental illness, and inequities.  Rising inflation and lingering effects of the COVID pandemic tend to further intensify existing disparities experienced by the poor and needy.

  • The poor (al-fuqarâ’), meaning low-income or indigent.
  • The needy (al-masâkîn), meaning someone who is in difficulty.
  • Those whose hearts are to be reconciled, meaning new Muslims and friends of the Muslim community.
  • Those in bondage (slaves and captives).
  • The debt-ridden.
  • In the cause of God.
  • The wayfarer, meaning those who are stranded or traveling with few resources
  • The applicant must be a nonprofit organization in good standing in it state of origin.
  • Each project will be screened initially to determine if the project serves the poor and/or the needy.
  •  Each project must define the inequity to be addressed, the population to be helped, and the immediate benefits
  •  The project and the beneficiaries must be zakat eligible
  •  The benefits must be tangible and measurable. Each application submitted will be required to meet these eligibility requirements as a pre-condition to being funded for the project
  •  The proposal will have a plan and budget to verify that the plan and the expenditures are zakat eligible

A: Instead of completing the project during the contest period, applicants will prepare a funding application and a video presentation.  As in the past, the video presentation will be aired on our YouTube channel for community members to vote for the three best projects.   The Selection Committee will determine the winning proposals based upon the content of your application, your video/PowerPoint presentation, and the voting results of community members.  Preference will be given to a proposal where a member of the targeted population is a part of the management team for the proposal.  The decision of the selection committee is final. The proposal will commence after the winners are selected, and the term for the proposal will be up to six (6) months.

  • 1st Winner = $20,000
  • 2nd winner = $10,000
  • 3rd winner = $7500

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: Feel free to refer any further questions to contest@ciogc.org

About Social Justice

Research has validated that inequality causes a wide range of health and social problems, from reduced life expectancy and higher infant mortality to poor educational attainment, lower social mobility and increased levels of violence and mental illness, and inequities. Rising inflation and lingering effects of the COVID pandemic tend to further intensify existing disparities experienced by the poor and needy.

This year, CIOGC is seeking project proposals that address social inequalities and inequities impacting the poor and needy. Examples include health, wellness, food, housing, education, career development, wage disparity, violence, etc.

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 & organizations produce projects that solve or impact a zakat-eligible social issue. It is a 4-week long challenge that results in grand prize winners 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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  • info@ciogc.org
  • 231 S State Street, Suite 300 Chicago IL 60604
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