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An Islamic charity group affiliated with Indiana University has reportedly partnered with a Turkish nonprofit for fundraising training, which the U.S. government has recently labeled a “sham charity.” This nonprofit is accused of covertly financing Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, integrated within the university’s School of Philanthropy, is said to have co-hosted these training sessions with Hayat Yolu. This collaboration, highlighted in a LinkedIn post and a local news report, dates back at least seven months.
Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury identified Hayat Yolu as a crucial entity in a hidden global network. According to officials, the group masquerades as a humanitarian organization, channeling funds to Gaza that directly aid Hamas and its military faction, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Moreover, it operates as a financial and operational hub for the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Hamas continues to use fake charities to financially support its military activities,” stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on March 12. “Our department is committed to preventing Hamas from exploiting the charitable sector for violent purposes, and we will persist in dismantling these networks wherever they emerge.”
In an alleged collaboration, Indiana University’s Muslim Philanthropy Initiative teamed up with Hayat Yolu, a group recently sanctioned by federal authorities for its links to Hamas. (Getty)
The events, which focused on fundraising strategies, were primarily led and presented by Indiana University Assistant Professor Dr. Shariq A. Siddiqui, who said the long-term objective of the instruction was to create a “domino effect,” according to media outlet RRI.
The goal was to train attendees with “scientific knowledge” so they could return to their home countries and pass along the advanced fundraising and management techniques to others, the outlet added.
The organizations appeared to gain traction over the months after hosting at least two multi-day training events in Istanbul, Turkey, in July 2025 and in Jakarta, Indonesia, last January.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced last week that Hamas exploits the charitable sector to raise funding. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Their three-day Southeast Asia event notably drew 86 participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore, RRI reported. The first two days were reportedly devoted entirely to fundraising, focusing on how to raise money “systematically, professionally and scientifically.”
“The first two days concentrate on fundraising, particularly on how to raise money systematically, professionally, and scientifically,” Siddiqui said. “On the third day, we shift to leadership, project management, and volunteer management.”
The Department of the Treasury’s seal outside the Treasury Department building in Washington on May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Separately, the Istanbul event last summer brought together global nonprofit leaders to focus on scaling impact and sustainability, according to a LinkedIn post from an attendee. The training, allegedly led by Siddiqui and Cambridge lecturer Dr. Abed Ayoub, reportedly attracted prominent international philanthropic figures.
Participants said the university’s training helped them better understand how to organize their fundraising efforts and expand their operational networks on a global scale.
Fox News Digital reached out to Indiana University for more information.