ISF ANNUAL REPORT 2025
Stories of Community, Pathways to Leadership
Message from the Leadership
Dear ISF Community,
We are thrilled to share this look back at our 2025 accomplishments with the community that made them possible. The events of this year, shaped by questions about representation, power, and identity, reminded us daily that ISF’s work is more critical than ever. Your support enabled us to uplift new leaders in media, film, policy, and law, and helped prepare them to meet this moment.
Changes in the political climate have only strengthened ISF’s commitment to increasing American Muslim representation and improving public policy and public opinion.
In 2025 alone, we’ve witnessed ISF-trained attorneys fighting to protect the rights of individuals who have been unjustly incarcerated. Our film grant recipients have earned prestigious awards from festivals across the country. Others have run for office, worked for judges, and served on Capitol Hill.
The work of this coming year and beyond demands partnership and long-term commitment. We continue to draw inspiration from the leadership ISF participants demonstrate every day, and we invite you to stand with us and ensure that Muslim voices are heard in spaces where decisions are made.
With gratitude and resolve,
Our Line of Support
ISF advances our mission through a sustained, holistic approach that supports emerging leaders at multiple stages of their education and career.
Growing Our Impact Since 2009
ISF’s theory of change is the belief that Muslim voices must be present in the spaces where policy is decided and stories are told.
To build pipelines for representation and leadership, we apply our comprehensive cycle of support across four influential, overlapping fields: public policy, public interest law, media, and film.
A Look at ISF Programs
At the heart of ISF’s mission are our four verticals: Public Policy, Public Interest Law, Media and Film.
Our organization supports new generations of leaders in these fields through offering scholarships, internship and fellowship placements, career development opportunities and more.
Public Policy
Through our long-term investment in Public Policy, students and early-career professionals are turning congressional internships into full-time roles and stepping forward as candidates for public office.
“ISF changed the trajectory of not only my undergraduate career, but my life. Now, I aspire to motivate others to be part of making change and shaping policies that are integral to the Muslim community and the wellbeing of every single person on this planet.”
- Wajiha Mekki, Policy Scholarship Recipient
Policy Alums to Watch
Muna Sultana
Congressional Policy Fellow
As a Congressional Foreign Policy Fellow in Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s office, Muna Sultana has leveraged her expertise in the Middle East and South Asia to shape domestic and international policy while championing the voices of communities most impacted by U.S. foreign policy.
Afraz Khan
Public Policy Scholarship Recipient, Regional Campaign Strategist, ACLU
Afraz Khan drives multi-state advocacy as a regional campaign strategist at the ACLU. His work strengthens protections for marginalized communities, helps protect fundamental rights, and expands community power.
Public Interest Law
ISF has forged pathways to level inequities in courts, advocacy organizations, and legal institutions. Our alums advance immigrant and workers’ rights, challenge discriminatory practices, and push back against the disproportionate targeting of religious communities.
“When I was supported by an ISF scholarship, there was no shortage of challenges. But ISF and its community only benefited my journey. I’ll continue to support ISF’s mission in empowering those who come from underrepresented communities to consider both law and public service as career paths.”
- Razi Hashmi, Public Interest Law Scholarship Recipient
Law Alums to Watch
Masih Ali Fouladi
Public Interest Law Scholarship Recipient, California Immigrant Policy Center
Masih Ali Fouladi is Executive Director of the California Immigrant Policy Center, where he advances campaigns that protect immigrant rights and expand social and economic justice across the state.
Tasnim Motala
Public Interest Law Scholarship Recipient, Defense Council at the Military Commission Defense Organization
Tasnim Motala serves as defense counsel with the Military Commission Defense Organization, representing imprisoned individuals in military commission proceedings. She works to ensure fair process, accountability, and respect for human rights.
Media
Our media vertical advances both representation and public understanding of Muslim American communities. Our alums are expanding the future of journalism through truth seeking and accountability, and have served as authors, reporters, producers, and editors, with bylines and roles in newsrooms such as The New York Times, MSNBC, NBC News, CBS News, The Guardian, and CNN.
“There are no other spaces like this for Muslim journalists. I would not be here without ISF and their support, and I really hope that one day I can pay it forward for the next generation of Muslim journalists.”
- Sarah Raza ISF Media Scholarship Recipient, Inaugural Journalism Fellow
Media Alums to Watch
Raza Naqvi
Journalism Scholarship Recipient, Producer with CNN
Raza Naqvi is a producer at CNN and a three-time Emmy-nominated, IDA-nominated documentary filmmaker and journalist. His work centers underreported stories and brings global human rights and social justice issues to national audiences.
Mariama Jallow
Journalism Scholarship Recipient, Associate producer at NBC news
Mariama Jallow serves as an associate producer at NBC’s Meet the Press, shaping coverage for one of the nation’s most influential political programs. Her work is guided by a commitment to amplify underrepresented voices through human-centered multi-media storytelling.
Film
ISF-supported filmmakers help reshape what and who audiences see on screen while also building high-impact careers across the film and television industries. Our film alums are now working at companies such as Netflix, Hulu, and PBS, where their voices, perspectives, and creative leadership help shape the cultural landscape.
To date, more than 200 films by 134 ISF alums have screened at festivals across the country.
“There are so many filmmakers who will never get a chance to get their voice heard because their culture doesn’t represent what mainstream American film does. But I never had that problem with ISF. They accepted me for who I am, and they allowed me to put my project out there.”
- Hakeem Khaaliq, Film Grant Recipient, Cinematographer, Film Director, Producer
Film Alums to Watch
Assia Boundaoui
Film Grant Recipient, Filmmaker and Investigative Journalist
After exposing government surveillance in her film The Feeling of Being Watched, Assia went on to report for major networks like CNN, and Al Jazeera. In 2025, she received a $20K grant from ISF for the development of a new feature-length documentary called Within Sight and Sound.
Samina Saifee
ISF X Sundance Building Bridges Fellow, Writer and Director
Samina Saifee is a two-time ISF recipient who was a Sundance Building Bridges Fellow and was recently accepted into the competitive Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Her debut feature film is in development, and it has been selected for the Film Independent Producing Lab and won best screenplay at Urbanworld in 2025.