Collaboration isn’t just our strategy—it’s our heart..
About us
Who We Are & What We Do
Our Heartbeat: Collaboration
At the Center on South Asian Studies (CSAS), we bring together people and ideas to create lasting change. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we’re committed to education, development, and community empowerment.
CSAS connects, trains, and backs emerging leaders and under-resourced institutions in the South Asian Muslim space — through research, mentorship, and strategic philanthropy.
Who we help
South Asian Muslim communities — in India and across the diaspora — who are doing critical civic, academic, and philanthropic work but lack institutional support, strategic funding, and trained leadership.
The problem
Muslim-led nonprofits, scholars, and changemakers operate with weak infrastructure, little research backing, and almost no connection to strategic philanthropy or global academic resources.
Our approach
We build the bridge — through leadership training (NGO Workshop, MPL Course), academic partnerships (Indiana University, Aliah University), sponsored initiatives (WTC, NOUS), and original research (Philanthropy in India Report).
Real results
NGO leaders trained with IU-certified skills. Grassroots organizations funded and scaled. Legal scholarship on Muslim rights published. Muslim giving data brought to funders and policymakers for the first time.
Meet the advisory board
Abigayle Vega
Zackary Howell
Alena Donald