The Muslim Philanthropy Initiative was established in 2017 as an initiative of Lake Institute on Faith and Giving and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. MPI organizes symposiums and seminars, convenes philanthropic leaders, holds training programs, conducts research and recruits Muslims in the field to train and empower a new generation of philanthropic and nonprofit leaders.

Peter J. Thuesen is professor of religious studies and adjunct professor of American studies at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, co-editor of Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation and director of humanities research in the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture. He is the author of Tornado God: American Religion and Violent Weather.