Forman’s Advancement Office arranged an Iftar dinner for Alumni on March 6, raising more than 1.8 million rupees for Forman’s Zakat Fund. Nearly 200 “Old Formanites” attended. Attiazaz Munawar Ud Din addressed the gathering in his role as President of the Forman Alumni Board while Dr. Tahir Shaheer graciously served as the Master of Ceremony. A special thanks also to Muhammad Talal and the entire Advancement team for leading this memorable effort.

Established in 2013, Forman’s Zakat Fund has so far disbursed 23.5 million rupees via needs-based grants to 440 Muslim students enrolled at Forman. While contributions to the Zakat Fund are welcome and important, various other programs also contribute: During the 2023-2024 academic year alone, 1,575 of our Muslim students received scholarship support amounting to more than 250 million rupees from the Zakat fund as well as other sources.

I am also pleased to note that at the same Zakat Iftar reception we received the first 10 million rupee contribution toward a 50 million rupee pledge to help fund four new Pharmacy Labs as well as a new Animal House as a Science Annex adjacent to the Armacost Science Building. Our expectation is that the new structure will be ready for occupancy by Fall 2025. This generous donation comes from Mian Tariq Nisar and his family in honor of his father, Mian Nisar Elahi (late), who had fond memories of FC College. Mian Nisar Elahi was an “Old Formanite” and the founder of ATS Synthetic (Pvt.) Limited. Mian Tariq Nasir himself was awarded the “Businessman of the Year” Gold Medalist in 2005, 2006 and 2011, and was recognized as the top taxpayer in Pakistan in 2014. 50 million rupee

More broadly, our Advancement Office in partnership with the Formanite Alumni Board remains strong and during the past three years has met with considerable success: during 2022-2023, more than 1,170 donors contributed 60 million rupees to FCCU; during 2023-2024, more than 1,300 donors contributed 127 million rupees to Forman; and during the first nine months of 2024-2025, more than 1,000 donors have already contributed another 127 million rupees to Forman, with the number expected to increase still further during the remaining three months of this financial year.

There’s no shortage of worthy nonprofit organizations and charitable causes you can support with your time and resources. We admire many other nonprofits, but we want to share a few reasons why you can be confident in considering a donation to Friends of Forman.

1. Your Support Drives Our Mission

There are many ways nonprofits receive donations—including corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, or fundraising events.

More than half (58%) of our donations come from individuals. This means we rely on a community of supporters rather than just a few major companies or foundations. You can see exactly where our funding comes from in our most recent annual report. 

This also helps insulate our cause amidst changes in the political landscape. Forman Christian College received a generous USAID grant to build the   Cheryl Burke Hope Tower dormitory for women over 10 years ago. However, we don’t currently receive any federal funding or government support.

We pray for other partner nonprofits who have been adversely affected by these changes to USAID funding.

2. You’re Investing in a Future of Inclusion and Impact

At Friends of Forman, we believe education is a powerful force for peace, opportunity, and progress. Through your generosity, we are able to:

• Equip young Christian leaders to thrive in their academic and professional journeys.
• Empower young women with access to quality education in a country where opportunities for female students can be limited.
• Encourage interfaith dialogue by fostering an environment where students from diverse backgrounds learn together in harmony.

Supporting education at Forman Christian College (FCCU) is worthwhile because it’s one of the most accepting and grace-filled institutions in a country not always recognized for these attributes. By bringing people with diverse backgrounds together, it builds tolerance, cooperation, and harmony.

Thousands of young Pakistani students are impacted by our mission. These students represent the future of the country and the region. By pouring into their lives, we have the opportunity to influence the future and make it brighter.

3. You Can Trust in Transparency and Accountability

When you give to Friends of Forman, you can be confident in how your donation is being stewarded. This is backed up by our top-level ratings on both Candid and Charity Navigator. 

Our commitment to transparency includes:

• Annual independent audits conducted by a reputable accounting firm.
• Publicly available financial reports so you can see exactly how funds are used.
• Clear accountability measures to ensure ethical and effective financial stewardship.

In a world where some charities struggle with financial mismanagement and scandals, Friends of Forman stands out as a U.S.-based organization with a strong track record of integrity. You can give confidently, knowing your support makes a real and measurable difference in the lives of students who need it most.

Thank You For Your Support

By donating to Friends of Forman, you become part of a community of changemakers—people who believe in allowing students to grow, learn, and lead with integrity. We can’t do our work without the financial and spiritual support of people like you.

In 2023, Friends of Forman raised $77,000 on Giving Tuesday—thanks in part to a generous triple matching grant. This amount funded 28 full annual scholarships to students in need at Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan.

Contribute Your Part on Giving Tuesday

This year, we’re aiming even higher. 

With your support, we plan to raise more than $84,000 on Giving Tuesday. If we reach this goal, it would fully cover 30 scholarships for students who wouldn’t otherwise have the same educational opportunities.

Just like last year, we’re excited to share that we’ve secured funding to triple-match all gifts. That means if you make a $100 donation, it’ll count as $300 given to students. If 280 generous people give an average of $100, we’ll meet our goal!

Friends of Forman funds about 280 scholarships each year. So, funding 30 scholarships would constitute more than 10% of our annual fundraising—in a single day!

Who Are These Scholarships Going to Help?

These scholarships will help students in rural areas of Pakistan. These students couldn’t otherwise seek an education—for financial and cultural reasons. Many of the scholarship students are women and Christians who are often disenfranchised by the mainstream Pakistani culture.

Take Multazim, for example. She is an ambitious young woman who couldn’t have pursued her dreams of helping others as a doctor without financial aid. Multazim and many FCCU students like her depend on the generosity of others to open the door to a better future.

“It’s said that educating a woman is equal to educating a generation,” says Multazim. “If that’s the case, then you’ve educated a nation. Through your generosity, I will become a philanthropist like you to continue your legacy of educating the generations.”

Thus empowered by education, these students then have chance to improve their families and communities. They do this in part by inspiring other young people like them by showing that a better future is possible through an education.

What is Giving Tuesday?

This year, Giving Tuesday is December 3, 2024.

Since its start in 2012, Giving Tuesday has become a “movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world.” Nonprofit organizations globally use this opportunity on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving to encourage generosity and build brand awareness.

But you don’t have to wait until Giving Tuesday to start giving. You can make your donation online here and help us reach our goal of funding 30 scholarships. 

Thank you for giving the gift of education to those who need it most.

Experience in Ministry Finance

For over ten years, Denise Moore has served as the Executive Director of the Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation. Founded in Birmingham, Ala., in 1973, the IPC Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the Presbyterian Church’s ministries and missions through foundation endowments.

In 2023, the IPC Foundation awarded 98 grants of $2.1 million to organizations like the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project, HOPE International Rwanda, and Manna Ministries. 

Outside of her charitable work, Denise has more than 20 years of professional experience as a CPA and financial consultant. Thus, she understands the importance of financial support for mission organizations, both locally and internationally. 

A Dedicated Board Member

As if that weren’t enough, Denise has also served for several years on the Friends of Forman board of directors. This group of dedicated volunteers helps to oversee Friends of Forman’s leadership and raise support for our mission.

“What drew me to be involved is to help Christians get educated and have a better life,” said Denise. “The students in this school are the future of this country. They’re the leaders of the next generation.”

Visiting the FCCU Campus

In February 2024, Denise visited the Forman Christian College campus in Lahore, Pakistan. Although she was initially hesitant, the trip turned out to be transformational. 

“I was nervous to come to Pakistan,” she admitted. “I had to pray about it, but I knew I had to experience it firsthand as a board member. I would encourage anyone who can visit to do so.”

The flight from Atlanta to Lahore took approximately 25 hours there and more than 28 hours back. The group had a layover at the Doha airport in Qatar, which includes an indoor botanical garden.

While on campus, Denise and the rest of their group worshiped in the chapel with over 200 FCCU students and faculty. They scheduled meetings with university deans and professors, as well as several Christian scholarship recipients.

“The people and their hospitality have been more than I’ve experienced anyone else,” she said. “The FCCU campus feels like a normal American university. It’s a remarkably safe environment. The students are engaged, smart, and excited to be here.”

Experiencing the Needs in Rural Pakistan

The trip wasn’t restricted only to the FCCU campus. Denise and the mission group ventured to a small village about an hour south of Lahore to meet with FCCU student Shafiq and his family.

Shafiq’s Christian family works in brick kilns in their village. There, they experience horrid working conditions for little pay. This work is akin to indentured servitude that never ends from generation to generation.

Shafiq’s only hope for escape from this poverty cycle is through education. His family would not be able to afford to send him to FCCU without financial support. Meeting this family and seeing their life firsthand only further demonstrated the importance of their work.

You don’t have to be a board member or visit Pakistan to support students like Shafiq. Donating or helping to spread the word of Friends of Forman is a proven way to make an impact.