Indiana University’s Islamic Charities organization is reportedly involved in a training program aimed at fundraising, run in conjunction with a Turkish nonprofit recently designated by the U.S. government as a “fake charity.” This group is said to secretly finance Hamas and the Islamic revivalist Muslim Brotherhood.
The Islamic Philanthropy Initiative, affiliated with the School of Philanthropy, is alleged to have co-hosted this training session with Hayat Yor, as indicated by a LinkedIn post and various local media sources. This revelation comes seven months after a significant announcement.
On Thursday, the Treasury Department identified Hayat Yor as a key player in a covert global network that raises funds under the pretense of humanitarian support. Authorities have claimed that the organization collects donations in Gaza, which are believed to directly assist Hamas and its military unit, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and acts as a financial central hub for the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Hamas exploits fake charities to fund its military actions,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on March 12. “We will not permit Hamas to misuse charities for violent means, and we will continue to target these networks wherever they may be.”
The three-day event, centered around fundraising methodologies, was managed by Dr. Shariq A. Siddiqui, an assistant professor at the university. He mentioned that the primary goal was to create a “domino effect” of knowledge-sharing. As reported by the news agency RRI.
Participants were to be trained with “scientific knowledge” that they could bring back to their home countries and share advanced fundraising and management skills, according to media reports.
Interest in these organizations seemed to grow following at least two major training events held in Istanbul in July 2025 and Jakarta last January.
According to RRI, this event in Southeast Asia attracted 86 participants from various countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, and Singapore. The first two days were dedicated to systematic and professional fundraising techniques.
“The first two days will focus on fundraising, especially how to raise money systematically, professionally and scientifically,” Siddiqui explained. “From the third day, we will transition to leadership, project management, and volunteer management.”
Meanwhile, last summer’s Istanbul event was aimed at gathering nonprofit leaders worldwide, encouraging discussions on impact and sustainability. A participant’s LinkedIn post suggested that these training sessions, facilitated by Siddiqui and another lecturer, Dr. Abed Ayoub, attracted notable philanthropists.
Attendees shared that the training provided valuable insights into organizing fundraising events and expanding their operational networks globally.
Fox News Digital has sought further information from Indiana University on this matter.
