About
A waqf-first charity supporting orphans, refugees, and sustainable relief since 2014.
Our Story
us-Sunnah Foundation was born from a simple observation: traditional charity is broken. Large international organizations parachute into communities, distribute supplies, and disappear—inefficient, impersonal, and wasteful. We set out to build something different.
In 2012, our founder visited Indonesia and witnessed firsthand the stark reality of poverty overseas—families in makeshift shelters, children going hungry, orphans with no one to care for them. By 2013, he had relocated to Indonesia to understand the situation from within: traveling through villages, visiting rice fields, and learning how local communities organize through kelurahans (village administrative offices).
In 2014, we registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a deliberate, efficiency-first approach: waqf-first. Instead of using donations for overhead, we built an endowment first. The waqf generates income to cover all operational costs—website hosting, administration, everything—so 100% of your donation goes directly to those in need. We partner with local volunteers who live in the neighborhoods we serve, not expensive international staff who don't understand the culture or the local cost structures.
This model wasn't an accident. We studied how large charities operate—the overhead, the administrative bloat, the impersonal drop-and-go approach—and designed the opposite. By purchasing food directly from local wholesale markets (pasar induk), we get the best prices. By working with unpaid community volunteers who genuinely care about their neighbors, we eliminate salary overhead while gaining authentic relationships. The result: we feed an orphan for $40 per month. That's less than $1.35 per day.
Today, we work with approximately 100 local volunteers and partner organizations across the Tangerang and Jakarta areas. We coordinate with local government offices (kelurahans) and have built lasting relationships in the communities we serve over more than a decade. This isn't charity from a distance—it's neighbors helping neighbors, with a sustainable model designed to last for generations. Many orphans we've supported have now grown into self-reliant adults, and some have returned as volunteers to help the next generation.
Our Mission
To provide sustainable, dignified support to orphans and refugees in Indonesia through a waqf-first model that ensures 100% of donations reach those in need—with maximum efficiency and minimum waste.
We believe every dollar matters. When someone trusts us with their charitable giving, we take that responsibility seriously. Our mission isn't just to help people—it's to help as many people as possible with every dollar we receive.
Our Vision
A world where every orphan has consistent access to food, education, and a caring community—supported by sustainable endowments that provide for generations. We envision small, intimate orphan relief centers in each neighborhood we serve, not massive facilities, but community hubs where help is always nearby.
Our Values
Efficiency: Every dollar maximized through local sourcing and volunteer networks.
Transparency: Clear, honest reporting on where funds go.
Sustainability: Waqf-first model ensures perpetual impact.
Personal Connection: Neighbors helping neighbors, not distant bureaucracy.
What Sets Us Apart
Most charities spend 15-30% of donations on overhead. We spend zero. Here's how we achieve that:
On-the-Ground Presence
Founded by someone who lived in Indonesia and built the organization from within local communities—understanding costs, culture, and how to maximize every dollar.
100+ Local Volunteers
Unpaid community members who live among the families we serve—eliminating expensive international staff while building genuine, lasting relationships.
Wholesale Direct Sourcing
We buy food directly from local wholesale markets (pasar induk) at the best prices—no middlemen, no markup, maximum food per dollar.
Waqf-First Model
Endowment income covers all overhead—website, administration, everything—so 100% of your donation goes directly to those in need.
Meet the Founder
Ali Camarata
Ali grew up in America and served in the U.S. Army, where he converted to Islam after independently researching the faith. He later pursued Islamic studies under scholars including Yasir Qadhi and Bilal Philips. With 17+ years of experience as a software engineer at startups and corporations, he brought a systems-thinking approach to charity—analyzing inefficiencies and designing solutions.
After visiting Indonesia in 2012 and seeing real poverty—not just being teased at school for cheap shoes, but families genuinely struggling to survive—he knew he had to act. He moved to Indonesia in 2013 to learn local systems: how kelurahans work, where to buy food at the best prices, how to build trust with communities. This wasn't remote charity planning—it was immersive research that informed every efficiency decision we make today.
Today, Ali continues to oversee the foundation while also serving as an imam at local institutions in the United States. He maintains close relationships with our Indonesian volunteer network and regularly reviews operations to ensure we're maximizing impact per dollar.
Our Journey
First Visit to Indonesia
Founder Ali Camarata visits Indonesia for the first time, witnessing firsthand the stark reality of poverty overseas—families in makeshift shelters, children going hungry. This experience planted the seed for what would become us-Sunnah Foundation.
Relocated to Indonesia
Moved to Indonesia to understand local systems from within—learning how kelurahans (village offices) operate, where to source food at wholesale prices, and how to build trust with communities. This immersive approach would define our efficiency-focused model.
Founded as a 501(c)(3)
Registered with EIN 46-4816454 with a deliberate waqf-first approach: build an endowment before operations so that overhead would never eat into donations. Began building our local volunteer network.
First Waqf Assets Acquired
Purchased rice fields in Indonesia—a traditional waqf investment that generates ongoing income while supporting local agriculture. The income from these fields helps cover operational costs perpetually.
1 Million Meals & Rohingya Relief
Reached our first million meals milestone. When Rohingya refugees arrived in Indonesia, we rapidly deployed our volunteer network to provide thousands with aid and construct hundreds of shelters—demonstrating the flexibility of our local-first model.
Low-Income Housing Project
Built affordable apartments (kontrakan) for needy families. The rental income flows back to the waqf, funding more operations—while families get stable housing. Win-win efficiency.
2 Million Meals Served
Doubled our impact milestone, demonstrating that our efficiency model scales. More meals per dollar means more children fed with the same resources.
3 Million Meals Served
Continued growth despite global challenges. Our local volunteer model proved resilient—communities helping their own neighbors even during difficult times.
Islamic Bonds & Waqf Expansion
Diversified our waqf into Shariah-compliant Islamic bonds (sukuk), providing stable returns to fund operations. The endowment now generates approximately $1,200/month in excess income beyond costs.
4 Million+ Meals Served
A decade of consistent, efficient charity. Four million meals at $40/month per child—proof that sustainable, waqf-first charity delivers lasting impact.
The Waqf-First Model
Unlike traditional charities that use 15-30% of donations for overhead, we operate on a waqf-first model rooted in the Islamic tradition of Sadaqah al-Jariyah (ongoing charity). We built an endowment before scaling operations—so overhead would never compete with program dollars.
This wasn't common practice. Most charities start spending first and hope to cover costs later. We deliberately chose the harder path: invest in sustainable income sources first, then grow programs knowing overhead is already covered. The result is a model designed for maximum efficiency from day one.
Waqf Assets
Rice fields, low-income housing (kontrakan), and Shariah-compliant Islamic bonds (sukuk) generate recurring income to fund all operations—website hosting, administration, everything.
Zero Overhead
100% of your donation goes directly to programs. Every dollar you give feeds orphans or helps refugees—no portion diverted to salaries, rent, or administration.
Perpetual Impact
Our waqf generates ~$1,200/month in excess income beyond operational costs. This surplus flows directly to feeding more orphans—your past donations keep giving, forever.
How it works: When you donate to our Waqf campaign, your contribution is invested in Shariah-compliant assets. The principal is preserved forever while the returns fund operations and orphan care. Donations to Orphans and Rohingya campaigns go directly to those programs—100%, no exceptions. This is efficiency by design, not just a marketing claim.
Where We Work
Our operations are based in Indonesia, primarily in the Tangerang and Jakarta areas. We maintain a strong local presence through approximately 100 community volunteers who live among the families we serve—and have for over a decade.
This is the opposite of the parachute-in charity model. We don't fly in, distribute supplies, and disappear. Our volunteers are neighbors. They know when a family is struggling, when a child needs medical attention, when someone has lost a job. This personal connection is what makes neighborhood-level charity effective.
Our Neighborhood-First Approach
- 1.Local volunteers who live near and among the families we serve—unpaid community members who genuinely care
- 2.Monthly gatherings to package food, discuss community needs, and identify families requiring extra help
- 3.Personal relationships that enable rapid emergency response—we catch problems early
- 4.Long-term presence in the same neighborhoods, year after year—building trust over a decade
- 5.Government coordination with local kelurahans (village offices) for organized, legitimate aid
Why Focus on Indonesia?
Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population and significant poverty. Our founder lived there, learned the local systems, and built relationships over years. We know the culture, the costs, the wholesale markets, the government structures.
By focusing on one region, we build deep expertise rather than spreading thin across many countries. We're not trying to be everywhere—we're trying to be effective somewhere. Our decade-plus presence means we've seen orphans grow into adults, and some have returned as volunteers to help the next generation.
Our vision: small orphan relief centers in each neighborhood we serve—not massive facilities, but intimate community hubs where help is always nearby.
Our Impact
4M+
Meals Served
10+
Years Operating
100%
To Programs
$40
Feeds 1 Child/Month
The Efficiency Numbers
$40/month = $1.33/day per child. That's all it costs because we buy directly from wholesale markets and our volunteers are unpaid community members. Compare that to organizations spending $80-150/month per child with paid staff and international overhead.
Financial Transparency
Every dollar you donate to Orphans or Rohingya campaigns goes directly to those programs. Our waqf generates ~$1,200/month in excess income beyond operational costs, which flows directly to feeding more orphans. No accounting tricks—just efficiency.
See our work: Visit our YouTube channel for monthly distribution videos showing our volunteers packaging and distributing food to orphans. We believe in showing, not just telling.
Our Campaigns
Orphans
Provide food, education, and emotional support to orphans in Indonesia. $40/month feeds one child.
Learn more →Rohingya
Support Rohingya refugees with immediate aid and long-term assistance since 2016.
Learn more →Waqf (Endowment)
Invest in perpetual impact. Your contribution generates ongoing income forever.
Learn more →Ramadan
Ensure orphans have sahur, iftar, and Eid gifts throughout the blessed month.
Learn more →Islamic Obligation Calculators
Fulfill your religious obligations with confidence. Our calculators help you determine the correct amounts for Zakat, Fidya, and Kaffarah—all of which can be directed to feeding orphans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is us-Sunnah Foundation a registered nonprofit?
Yes. We are a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 46-4816454). All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. We've been operating since 2014.
How does 100% of my donation go to programs?
Our waqf (endowment) generates recurring income from Shariah-compliant investments—rice fields, rental properties, and Islamic bonds. This income covers all operational costs: website hosting, administration, everything. When you donate to Orphans or Rohingya, 100% goes to those programs. No portion is diverted to overhead. This is why we built the endowment first.
Can I use Zakat, Fidya, or Kaffarah for donations?
Yes. Our Orphans campaign is eligible for Zakat, Fidya, and Kaffarah. The recipients qualify under the Islamic categories of those eligible to receive Zakat (the poor and needy). At $40/month per orphan, that's under $1.35 per day—well within fidya guidelines.
Why is sponsorship only $40/month when other organizations charge more?
Several reasons: (1) We buy food directly from local wholesale markets (pasar induk) at the best prices—no middlemen. (2) Our volunteers are unpaid community members who live among the orphans, not expensive international staff. (3) Our waqf covers overhead, so donations aren't diluted. (4) We focus on one region (Indonesia), so we have deep local expertise and relationships that minimize costs. The result: maximum food per dollar.
What happens beyond food?
While food is our priority, our local volunteer presence allows us to provide holistic support: emergency assistance during crises, medical support for illness and injuries, school supplies and fees to keep children in education, and spiritual guidance. Because our volunteers know each family personally, we catch problems early and respond quickly.
How can I see my impact?
Visit our YouTube channel for monthly distribution videos showing our volunteers packaging and distributing food. We also post updates on our News page and social media. We believe in showing, not just telling.
Get in Touch
Have questions or want to learn more? We'd love to hear from you.