A 40 Years Dream Can Become A Reality With Your Help
Build a house for Allah and leave a lasting legacy
A Gift That Keeps On Giving
“Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house like it in Paradise”
- (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 450)
- Your donation is secure and confidential.
Help build the first
big Community Center
The new community center and masjid in South Seattle will serve as a welcoming space for daily prayers, events, and community services. With a prayer hall for 400 people and a multi-function hall for 500, it will host everything from religious gatherings to weddings and conferences.
This facility will also offer vital support services
Including offices for youth, elderly, and family counseling, as well as children’s activity rooms. Additionally, it will feature commercial spaces, shops, and a café, ensuring that the center is both a spiritual and social hub for the entire community.
"Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, like a sparrow's nest for Allah or even smaller, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise."
-(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 450)
Imagine being part of something that will benefit you for the rest of your life, even after you’re gone. That’s exactly what happens when you contribute to a project like building a masjid.
What is this Project about?
Masjid Community Center
CRC Po' Cham Vision - 2030
Masjid 120 units Affordable Housing Complex
Masjid Jamiul Muslimin Cham Community Center ~ 2025
CRC Affordable Housing Complex 120 units ~ 2030
Design/Construction Status (02/08/2025)
CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE – Revision 2
Fund Raising Status (03/14/2023)
Capital Fund Raising Campaign Schedule - REV 1
Current Design
EDZ Extension Floor Plan Design
The project is a community center and masjid situated in South Seattle. The Cham Community Center in Seattle is more than a place— it’s a lifeline for a displaced community. It will offer language classes to preserve the endangered Cham language, alongside family and elderly support programs, Islamic prayer gatherings, and cultural celebrations.
This center will be a hub where tradition meets modern support, empowering the Cham people to retain their heritage while thriving in today’s world. By fostering community, cultural pride, and cross-cultural connections, the Cham Center will ensure a brighter future for generations to come.
All these and more are the potential basis for the construction of this community center and masjid, BUT these won’t be a reality without your help— YOUR DONATION.
It will Be
- A 14,000 square feet two-story structure that will serve as a prayer hall for over 400 people
- An event hall with a capacity to accommodate up to 500 people at once (People in the community will be able to use this for events such as weddings, receptions, conferences, etc.
- In addition, there will be office spaces for support services for the elderly, youths and various families.
- There will be commercial space for shops and other commercial activities as well.
- The children are not left out; there will be an activity room for them as well, where they can learn about their multiple identities as a person; national, religious, & cultural.
About the Community
In the 1970s, many immigrants from Southeast Asia, including Cham Muslims, came to America to escape war and persecution. Washington state became home to many of them. Over 40 years ago, the Cham Refugees Community of Seattle was established as a nonprofit organization to support the Cham Muslim diaspora, as well as other ethnic minorities and newly arrived refugees from East and West Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia and the Middle East.
The organization focuses on offering Islamic education, social services, and culturally relevant programs in South Seattle and King County.
Our Origin
Masjid Jamiul Muslimeen was founded by the resilient Cham community, who initially gathered at the Islamic Center of Sea-Tac. Despite being refugees with limited resources, in 1991, the community pulled off the first fund— raising enough money to buy a single-family house and transforming it into the first Masjid Jamiul Muslimeen.
This humble yet cherished mosque now welcomes not only the Cham Muslim community but all Muslims in South Seattle, serving as a gathering place for everyone. As the community flourishes and continues to grow, the need for a more expansive space has become urgent now more than ever.
This is because the existing facility is no longer adequate to support the expansion of the community.
Hence, there is a quest for a larger, more functional space.
This is not just about physical expansion but about uplifting the community’s spirit and increasing its service capacity— providing a home of worship and belonging for fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.
Our Vision
After decades of saving, fundraising, gathering resources, and writing grants, Alhamdulillah, we’ve finally gathered enough funds to acquire land for a purpose-built complex.
Today, we are on the verge of a major milestone. This project is more than just a masjid.
It’s envisioned as a complete community center that will meet both our spiritual needs and serve as a vital social service hub.
In addition, it will help provide support to low-income and underserved families in the area while remaining a key cultural anchor in the neighborhood.
Project Overview & Status
- Master Use Permit (Completed)
- Construction Permit (Completed)
- Demolition & Site Prep (Q1 of 2025)
- Construction (Est. Spring 2025)
- Occupancy Ready (Est. Ramadan 2027)
Project Estimated Cost & Breakdown
Fund Raised
$3 M
Total Funds Raised
$9 M
What’s Left?
Your donations can make us hit the $2 million funds deficit we have on this project.
Help Us Make This Vision A
Reality— Donate Now.
Project Estimated Cost & Breakdown
Fund Raised
Pledges from community members
$3 M
Grants & donations from external sources
$4 M
Total Funds Raised
$7 M
What’s Left?
Your donations can make us hit the $2.5 million funds deficit we have on this project.
Help Us Make This Vision A
Reality— Donate Now.
- Your donation is secure and confidential.
What are the Implications of Not Having the Masjid and Community Center Completed in Cham Community?
Save The Next Generation
Statistics show that second-generation immigrants are 60% more likely to lose touch with their cultural and linguistic heritage without consistent community support.
Without the Cham Community Center and Masjid, future generations may face significant challenges in staying connected to their roots.
They might grow up without a clear understanding of their language, culture, or religious practices.
The center is essential for ensuring that the Cham heritage thrives in a modern world and empowers the younger generation to carry forward their cultural identity.
Your donation can save a generation.
Loss of Language and Culture
The Cham language is critically endangered, with fewer than 100,000 speakers worldwide and a shrinking number of fluent speakers in diaspora communities. The Cham language would be at risk of further erosion without a dedicated space for language classes. The center is essential for teaching younger generations their mother tongue, helping them retain a vital part of their identity. Without it, the community may lose this connection, leading to a gradual fading of their cultural heritage. Your donations can save the Cham community’s language and culture.
Community Fragmentation
77% of Muslims in the U.S. feel a strong sense of belonging to their local Muslim community. Without a dedicated masjid, the Cham Muslim community may experience increased fragmentation, leading to a decline in community engagement and support systems.
You are not just donating; you are saving a community from potential collapse.
Limited Opportunities for Cross-Cultural Connections
The center is not only a space for the Cham community but also a bridge to other cultures. It provides opportunities for cross-cultural exchanges, fostering understanding and collaboration with the wider community.
According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, immigrant communities with strong cross-cultural connections experience 30% higher levels of social integration and community satisfaction.
Without the center, these connections could diminish, leading to greater isolation of the Cham people from the broader Seattle community.
You will be saving a community from experiencing what it means to live in isolation.
Limited Access to Islamic Education
Masjids serve as vital centers for education about Islam, providing opportunities for youth and adults to learn about their faith.
58% of Muslim Americans consider religious education for their children as a top priority.
But, in the absence of a masjid, the community risks losing a key place of worship and gathering, which could weaken the spiritual connection and sense of belonging for individuals and families.
Many families may struggle to provide their children with the necessary Islamic education, potentially leading to a disconnect from their cultural and religious roots.
You are not just donating, you are using your money to ensure a community does not lose access to regular teachings of Islam.
“The masjid you help build today becomes the place where hearts connect with Allah tomorrow.”
“The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah.”
— Surah At-Tawbah (9:18)
Reduced Support for Families and Elders
The center will offer essential programs like family counseling, elder care, and social services that address the unique needs of the Cham community.
Studies show that refugee communities experience higher rates of social isolation, especially among the elderly, who often struggle with language barriers and lack of support networks.
Without this center, nearly 30% of the Cham population, which includes a significant number of elderly individuals, would lose access to these crucial services.
According to a report from the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), more than 50% of mosques in the U.S. provide some form of social service to their communities.
Without a dedicated masjid and community center, the Cham community may lack access to essential services that support low-income and underserved families, exacerbating issues like poverty and social isolation.
Meet Our New Board Members
Sallamy Abdulmalik
Sahrudiene Apdalhaliem
Duryah Mohamath
Raodoh Mohamath
Aruwi Muhammad
Mohamed Sales
Zulkeflee Samael
Abdolhamid Samoun
Sorigiah Todep
FAQS
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Why should I donate to this project?
Your donation will help preserve the Cham language, culture, and faith while providing vital social services to the community. It’s also an opportunity to earn continuous rewards (Sadaqah Jariyah) for supporting a masjid and community center.
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Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible. The Cham Refugees Community of Seattle is a registered nonprofit organization.
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How can I Donate?
You can donate online, by credit card, PayPal, or other payment methods available on this page.
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What happens if the fundraising goal isn’t met?
In the Worst-case scenario, which we pray and hope against, if we don’t meet the goal, all funds will still go toward the ongoing construction and development phases of the project.
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What will my donation be used for?
Funds will go toward the construction and development of the Cham Community Center and Masjid, which will offer prayer space, language classes, family support programs, and cultural events.
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Can I make a recurring donation?
Yes, you can set up recurring monthly donations to continuously support the project.
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What is the minimum and maximum I can donate?
Every contribution, no matter the size, is valuable. There is no minimum or maximum; donate as much as Allah fills your pocket. Even small donations help us move closer to our goal and have a lasting impact.