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About

The WF Fund values collaboration, compassion, transparency, and a sense of urgency for the work.

Our work goes beyond funding.

Our work goes beyond funding. We believe in the power of shared experiences to inspire transformative change. By connecting funders, nonprofits, and researchers, we forge partnerships for community-driven solutions and build bridges between diverse stakeholders to promote our shared values. At the heart of our work is a faith that calls us to share our resources for the sake of others.

Our Story

Our story is rooted in many generations of giving back. From our early days as immigrants sacrificing to help those in need back home, to gathering around the kitchen table today to discuss making a difference, community has been central to our family. 

The WF Fund seeks to empower people, convene diverse partners, develop leaders, and invest in building stronger communities. We envision a country where Muslim Americans can thrive as equal members of society. This drive for impact comes from our shared urgency to address society’s most pressing issues and our belief that true change requires open collaboration.

Our Team

Dilnaz Waraich, President of the WF Fund

Dilnaz Waraich, M.A.

President

As a philanthropic leader with over 30 years of interfaith, educational, and community-building experience, Dilnaz advocates for various causes while serving on several nonprofit boards.

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Tamela A. Spicer, Director of Strategic Philanthropy

Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.

Director of Strategic Philanthropy

As a longtime nonprofit leader, Tamela served from 2016-2023 as a senior program manager at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy while teaching at Grand Valley State University and sitting on multiple nonprofit boards.

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Jess Larson, Grantee Partnership and Program Manager

Jess Larson

Grantee Partnership & Program Manager

Jess Larson is a dedicated and innovative nonprofit and philanthropy professional with a decade of experience in collaborative work, strategic systems building, and grant management.

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Dilnaz Waraich, President of the WF Fund

Dilnaz Waraich, M.A.

President

Dilnaz Waraich, M.A., President of the WF Fund, is a philanthropic advocate, community builder, educator, and interfaith leader with more than three decades of experience in relationship building, cultural sensitivity facilitation, spiritual engagement, and civic empowerment. As a Fellow with the National Center for Family Philanthropy she is known for bringing awareness and recognition to multiple causes.

She was instrumental in establishing the Community Collaboration Initiative (CCI), Year of Learning, and Muslim Collaborative Prizes; all of which were part of a three-year community-based action research project hosted by Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Dilnaz also serves her Chicago and larger community as a trustee at the Catholic Theological Union, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University (LFSOP), Chicago Public Media, and the Pillars Fund. She also received her certificate in Philanthropic Studies from LFSOP.
Tamela A. Spicer, Director of Strategic Philanthropy

Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.

Director of Strategic Philanthropy

Tamela Spicer, M.A. has spent over 30 years in philanthropy, serving in leadership roles with The Salvation Army, The Arthritis Foundation, and Flat River Outreach Ministries. Before joining the WF Fund team, Tamela spent seven years as a senior program manager for the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Her work was shaped by her many years as a volunteer, service that included leadership roles with the Grand Rapids and Michigan Jaycees, Rotary International, and the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.
Jess Larson, Grantee Partnership and Program Manager

Jess Larson

Grantee Partnership & Program Manager

Jess Larson is a dedicated and innovative nonprofit and philanthropy professional with a decade of experience in collaborative work, strategic systems building, and grant management. Before joining the WF Fund, she spent 10 years working with Girls in the Game and Chicago sports-based youth development organizations. She is committed to driving continuous improvement, fostering impactful partnerships, and contributing to the community.