Islamic Center of Irvine

The Islamic Center of Irvine is one of Southern California’s most active and growing Muslim community centers. With an expanding roster of community programs and a leadership team that takes its responsibility seriously, ICOI is exactly the kind of organization that knows where it wants to go and understands that getting there requires more than good intentions.

THE CHALLENGE

Growth is a blessing. It is also a pressure test. As ICOI’s community services expanded and the demands on its leadership grew, it became clear that the organization needed a more disciplined, strategic approach to fundraising and donor engagement. Leadership had the vision and the community trust to match it. What they needed was a structured system to convert that trust into sustainable financial support and a partner who understood the unique dynamics of Muslim nonprofit fundraising.

OUR APPROACH

From January through April 2026, Oaktree Institute worked alongside ICOI’s leadership in a focused, high-impact engagement delivered by Fund Development Specialist Nadeem Riaz.

The work began where it should, with listening. A comprehensive assessment of ICOI’s existing fund development materials, paired with a deep-dive discovery call, gave Oaktree a clear picture of the organization’s strengths, gaps, and immediate opportunities. From there, five dedicated one-on-one coaching sessions gave ICOI’s leadership the space to think strategically, work through real challenges, and build the skills and confidence that no training manual can substitute for.

Every session was practical. Every conversation moved the work forward.

THE IMPACT

In the span of two to three months, ICOI’s leadership walked away with outcomes that would have taken most organizations years to arrive at on their own.

They left with a clear, actionable fund development roadmap. A plan built around their specific donor base, their community calendar, and their capacity. They strengthened the systems behind donor engagement and stewardship, so that relationships with supporters are no longer left to chance. They sharpened their solicitation skills, giving leadership the language and confidence to make direct, compelling asks. They entered Ramadan 2026 with a campaign strategy built for results. And perhaps most importantly, they grew as leaders; more self-aware, more strategic, and more capable of guiding their organization through whatever comes next.

LOOKING AHEAD

The organizations doing the most important work in our communities are often the least resourced when it comes to fundraising infrastructure. Oaktree Institute exists to close that gap. We bring the same rigor and strategic discipline to Muslim nonprofits that well-funded institutions take for granted,  and we do it in a way that respects the culture, the mission, and the people behind the work.

ICOI came into this engagement with momentum. They are leaving with a foundation. Oaktree Institute is proud to have been part of this chapter and confident that the Islamic Center of Irvine is better positioned today than it has ever been to resource its mission and serve its community for the long term.