JAKARTA – The month of Ramadan is always a moment of blessing for everyone, especially Muslims around the world. This holy month is not only an opportunity to increase worship, but also a concrete manifestation of social concern. However, this Ramadan 1446 H coincides with considerable economic challenges, such as a decline in the purchasing power of the lower middle class and an increase in the poverty rate. This has encouraged Dompet Dhuafa to take a strategic role in managing funds from donors so that they benefit the recipients.
To that end, Dompet Dhuafa has initiated various flagship empowerment programs during Ramadan. On Friday (2/21/2025) Dompet Dhuafa held a press conference with the title “Giving Zakat, It’s as Cool as It Gets!” at Corner 28, Petogogan, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. On the same occasion, a signing of a cooperation agreement was also held between Dompet Dhuafa and the Yayasan Indonesia Setara.
With fingers counting entering Ramadan 1446 H, Dompet Dhuafa is targeting approximately half a million, or 500 thousand beneficiaries/Indonesian people who will feel the blessings of Ramadan. Andriansyah, who has always been the Chairman of Ramadan 1446 H Dompet Dhuafa, explained the flagship programs that will be carried out during Ramadan.
The featured programs include Dakwah Melintas Batas (Dawah Across Borders), Ramadan in Palestine, Muliakan Anak Yatim (Honoring Orphans), Sadar Kebersihan Makam di Bulan Ramadan (SEKAR) (Awareness of Tomb Cleanliness in the Month of Ramadan), Pasar Berkah (Blessed Market), and Pos Mudik Ramah Keluarga (Family-Friendly Homecoming Post). In addition, regular Ziswaf-based programs are also being rolled out to ensure that zakat can be a solution in improving the welfare of the mustahik (beneficiaries).
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In this year’s Ramadan, Andriansyah added that Dompet Dhuafa carried the theme “Giving Zakat, It’s So Cool There’s No Medicine!”, which adopts a popular term among the younger generation and Gen Z. This theme represents that giving zakat is not just an obligation, but also a cool action that can help the mustahik (recipients of zakat) rise up and empower themselves.
In addition to social programs and easy zakat services, Dompet Dhuafa also encourages the involvement of the wider community in various acts of kindness. With more and more collaboration and involvement from various parties, it is hoped that the social movement in Ramadan 1446 H will have a greater impact on the welfare of the ummah.
One of them is Dompet Dhuafa, which is also strengthening its collaboration with a number of Zakat Management Partners (ZMP) throughout Indonesia to ensure that zakat is distributed more evenly and accurately. At the press conference, a partnership was also signed with the Indonesia Setara Foundation (YIS) as one of Dompet Dhuafa’s ZMPs.
The Indonesia Setara Foundation was founded in 2010 based on the idea of Sandiaga Uno. This foundation was born from the belief that Indonesia, as a great nation, must be able to stand on par with other countries, especially in the economic sector. Through this foundation, it is hoped that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia will have equal opportunities with other large businesses.
“This is a collaboration that we hope will increase and improve the management of zakat so that it is more beneficial and a blessing. With this collaboration, we can achieve the goal of providing welfare for the community through economic empowerment. Hopefully our multisector synergy, continuous innovation and the ‘Berzakat Kerennya Gak Ada Obat!’ campaign will be an innovation. We must increase awareness of public participation and the sustainability of this ecosystem after it is built,” said Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in the Kolaborasi Kebaikan Dompet Dhuafa talk show.
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Furthermore, Sandiaga Uno and the Setara Indonesia Foundation are ready to bring about economic empowerment through the collaboration that was initiated today.
“I am ready to support Dompet Dhuafa, to collaborate in creating business opportunities for the people of Indonesia. I am confident that with this collaboration we can achieve economic empowerment,” continued Sandiaga Uno.
Meanwhile, Waryono Abdul Ghafur, as the Director of Zakat and Waqf Empowerment at the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia, gave his views on the potential of zakat and waqf in the month of Ramadan 2025. According to him, zakat and waqf have a strategic role in strengthening efforts to alleviate poverty.
“In optimizing the potential of Islamic philanthropy to support the social and economic development of the community, how the distribution of wealth does not occur in certain groups, then zakat is one of the solutions, because it increases the utilization of wealth for people who really deserve to grow, so that justice and equality will be easily realized,” said Waryono.
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Ahmad Juwaini, as the Chair of the Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation, explained how Dompet Dhuafa manages funds from collaborations for the good of the community with transparency and accountability to ensure that the benefits are right on target. He also explained how Dompet Dhuafa, which has been around for 32 years, is targeting more than three million beneficiaries by 2024, and in Ramadan 1446 H Dompet Dhuafa will collect donations of 141 billion rupiah.
“This is an opportunity to expand philanthropy and zakat management, especially in the month of Ramadan to help many people. This is our opportunity to serve people who have sufficient funds to give zakat in the month of Ramadan, to do good while giving people the opportunity to develop and be helped by all of us,” said Ahmad Juwaini.
Ramadan is not only about individual worship, but also about strengthening solidarity and caring for others. With various initiatives being carried out, Dompet Dhuafa hopes that the community can become more aware of the importance of zakat, infak, sedekah, and waqf as solutions to overcome social and economic challenges in Indonesia. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Dhika