Biography
Abdul Samad serves as the Assistant Director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He also serves as the managing editor for the Muslim Humanitarian Review Journal, where he ensures the management and dissemination of insightful and impactful research on Muslim humanitarianism. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, Abdul is passionate about advancing professional development within the philanthropic sector. He designs and delivers tailored training programs and certification courses for nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, and institutions, both locally and internationally. Through these initiatives, he empowers individuals and organizations to maximize their impact and effectiveness in serving their communities.
As a manager of ZFI (Zakat Foundation Institute) Fellowship, Abdul Samad provides guidance and support to students seeking assistance with their inquiries and academic needs. Furthermore, he plays a pivotal role in arranging and organizing MPI’s annual symposiums, bringing together thought leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders to exchange ideas and best practices in philanthropy and nonprofit management. These symposiums serve as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration, driving positive change within the sector.
Abdul’s research focuses on the intersections of philanthropy, community collaboration, nonprofit management, and leadership, with a particular emphasis on marginalized groups. He studies the stigmatization of marginalized groups and investigates how it impacts their civic engagement. His academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in business administration followed by a master's degree in public administration, where he honed his skills in public management and leadership, participatory research methods and community-based interventions providing him with a well-rounded perspective that he now applies to the philanthropic sector. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Beyond academia, Abdul is deeply committed to applying his research findings in practical contexts. He has actively engaged and consulted with philanthropic foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies to translate research into actionable insights, fostering positive social change.
Education
- Pursuing PH.D. in philanthropic studies
- Master's in public administration
- Bachelor's in business administration
Publications
- Siddiqui S., Samad A. & Wasif, R. (2024). Building Partnerships Through Third-Party Facilitation: Best Practices from the Community Collaborative Initiative. Voluntary Sector Review. Accepted January 5, 2024.
- Siddiqui S., Samad A. & Wasif, R. (2024). A Year of Learning: Educating the Philanthropic Community About Stigmatized Nonprofits. The Foundation Review. Accepted January 31, 2024.
- Siddiqui, S., Samad, A., Wasif, R. (2024). Collaboration in Crisis: Building Legitimacy and Trust While Navigating Diversity Amongst Racialized Communities. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing Inc. Expected publication July 2024.
- Siddiqui, S., Wasif, R., & Samad, A. (2023). Building collaboration using the community collaboration initiative model: A case study of Muslim-led nonprofits. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 1-10.
- Siddiqui, S., Samad, A., & Wasif, R. (2023). Collaboration in the US Muslim Nonprofit Sector: Lessons From the Community Collaboration Initiative.
- Siddiqui, S., Cheema, J., Noor, Z., Hughes, M., Wasif, R., Samad, A., & Mofawaz, M. (2023). Muslim American Giving Report: Motivations of Giving.
- Siddiqui, S., Hughes, M., Wasif, R., Paarlberg, A., Cheema, J., Samad, A., & Noor, Z. (2022). Pluralism in Muslim American Philanthropy Report 2022.
- Siddiqui, S., Samad, A., & Wasif, R. (2022). A Year of Learning: Educating the Philanthropic Community About Racialized and Stigmatized Nonprofits.
- Samad, A., Revell, K. And N. Emel Ganapati (In Press). Diversity During A Storm: Accommodating Religious Minorities In An Evacuation Shelter. In Knox C. C. & B. Haupt (Eds), Cultural Competency Case Studies for Emergency and Crisis Management. New York: Routledge.
- Witkowski, K., Valerio, R., Samad, A., Matiz-Reyes, A., & Padilla, M. (2021). Aging and thriving with HIV: a photovoice project with long-term HIV survivors in Miami, Florida. Arts & Health, 13(3), 329-346.
Research Interests
Nonprofit collaboration, public participation of marginalized communities, stigmatization of marginalized communities, nonprofit management and leadership, and professional development.
Current Projects
- Community Collaboration Initiative
- ZFI Fellowship
- Muslim Humanitarian Review Journal
- MPI Professional Development Trainings
- MPI Annual Symposiums
Grants and Funding
Received a grant from the Rise Together Fund RISE Together Fund (RTF), a donor collaborative of the Proteus Fund, to write an engaging, accessible, and authoritative white paper on research conducted by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) in 2021.
Presentations
2023 ARNOVA Conference. Models of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR): Informing Research Methods and Empowering Communities. Orlando, FL, November 16, 2023.
2021 Toward a Model of Trust-Building: Building Collaboration through Trust-Building among Racialized Nonprofits, Atlanta, GA, November, 2021
2019 Citizen Participation and Marginalized Groups: What Have We Learned About the Participation of Marginalized Groups? A Systematic Review. American Society for Public Administration, Washington, DC, March 8-12.
2019 Targeting Marginalized Populations: Islamophobic Legislation in American States, Denver, CO, November 09, 2019.
2017 Addressing Islamophobia and Problems Faced by Muslim Students in American Universities. American Society for Public Administration, Atlanta, GA, March 17-21.
2015 Importance of Leadership in Student Organizations for Developing Student Leaders. A Qualitative Study. American Society for Public Administration, Chicago, IL, March 10, 2015
2014 Importance of Non-Profit Organizations to Enhancing Cultural Diversity. Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Atlanta, Georgia, September 18, 2014