Community endowment (Waqf) established and independently audited
This criterion assesses whether the organization has established a formal community endowment (Waqf) with asset-lock provisions that secure resources for long-term community benefit. It evaluates the organization's commitment to intergenerational equity through the creation of sustainable financial structures that preserve capital while generating ongoing returns for community needs. This model institutionalises ongoing charity (Ṣadaqah Jāriyah, Muslim 1631) with robust governance and audit, fulfilling the trust (Amānah, Q4:58) by ensuring assets are delivered to their rightful purposes. The endowment undergoes an annual independent audit covering financial statements (SORP-compliant fund accounting), compliance with the waqf/endowment deed and asset-lock, Shari'ah compliance of investments and uses, and verification of social impact. Findings are publicly reported with corrective actions. Capital preservation and asset-lock controls serve Ḥifẓ al-Māl and Sadd al-dharā’i, ensuring preserved capital multiplies benefit over time (Q2:261).
Compliance 5
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Endowment legally constituted under UK law as (a) a charitable trust deed establishing permanent endowment, or (b) a CIO/company with explicit permanent endowment restrictions; governing document specifies who holds legal title, who is the corporate trustee (if applicable), and where the permanent endowment is recorded in the charity’s constitutional documents and accounting records.Compliance Essential
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Clear endowment purpose and beneficiaries defined in the governing document.Documentation Essential
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Investment Policy Statement (IPS) including strategic allocation, 'proper advice' confirmation (CC14), delegation oversight, fee transparency, and ethical trade-off documentation.Documentation Essential
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SORP-compliant fund accounting that segregates permanent vs expendable endowment and restricted vs unrestricted funds, with clear notes and movements.Compliance Essential
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Independent custodian, valuation policy for property/unlisted assets, and conflicts of interest policy/register (CC29).Governance Essential
Basic 1
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Regular reporting on endowment performance.Monitoring Essential
Good 10
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Operational asset-lock controls and breach protocol including prohibited actions list, pre-approval workflow, auditor testing steps, and escalation protocol.Compliance Essential
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Minimum capital preservation requirements defined.Documentation Essential
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Defined governance and oversight structure including Audit/Finance Committee overseeing auditor independence and CC8-mapped control environment.Governance Essential
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Distribution policy for endowment returns setting prudent spending rate and inflation-adjusted capital preservation target.Documentation Essential
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Shari'ah governance (named adviser/committee) with AAOIFI SS 33-based compliance checklist and defined non-compliance/purification process.Governance Essential
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Governing documents codify inalienability of corpus (ta'bīd al-aṣl) and purpose-bound use of returns (tasbīl al-manfa‘ah), with Shari'ah oversight to attest adherence.Compliance Essential
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Community involvement in endowment planningStakeholder Engagement High
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Diverse asset portfolio for stabilitySustainability High
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Professional endowment managementExcellence High
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Succession planning for endowment trusteesLeadership High
Better 6
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Impact measurement framework for waqf distributions including beneficiary definition, output/outcome metrics, cost per outcome, and independent assurance approach.Monitoring Essential
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Ethical and impact investment approachInnovation High
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Inflation-adjusted capital preservationSustainability High
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Transparent public reportingTransparency High
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Educational initiatives on endowment modelStakeholder Engagement Medium
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Include explicit mutawallī/Trustee duties for periodic self-accountability (Muḥāsabah), documented minutes, and disclosure of any variances from deed conditions.Governance High
Best 2
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Use of Charity Authorised Investment Funds (CAIFs) or pooled funds where appropriate; require external managers to be UK Stewardship Code 2020 signatories; publish auditor’s management letter with a corrective action plan and status tracker.Excellence High
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Trustee decisions on IPS, ethical screens, and distributions evidence proper decision-making: options considered, advice taken, conflicts managed, and rationale documented in minutes.Governance High
Discussion (1)
📋 **Version updated: 1.0.0 → 2.9.7** **Changes:** Updated islamic_references from mizan-297.json
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