ISWV Community Update: Building Efforts, Funds Raised, and Our Vision Forward
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
May 30th, 2025
As-Salaamu `Alaykum ,
We pray this message finds you and your families in the best of health and Eman. As your ISWV Board, we are writing to share important updates and next steps regarding our building search and vision for the future of our community. There are three key areas we would like to update you on:
1. Update on the Property at 21010 Vanowen Street
After consultation with our Purchase Committee members, the ISWV Board rented the building at 21010 Vanowen St for the month of March 2025. This rental was intended to host our Ramadan programs and services so that our community could experience what it would feel like to gather and worship in this space.
Alhamdulillah, the building served as a hub for taraweeh prayers, Friday night programs, Sunday School, and community gatherings throughout Ramadan. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive.
Encouraged by this feedback, the Board re-engaged the landlord at the end of March and expressed our intent to move forward with a Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase the building. We engaged a broker from CBRE and submitted our LOI in April for a $10 million lease-to-own deal over 7 years, with $1.5 million to be paid in installments between May 2025 and January 2026.
Despite our best efforts and months of negotiation, we were informed that the landlord accepted a competing offer of $13.3 million. The building is now in escrow, with a 90-day closing period that began in mid-May.
While there's obvious disappointment in this for us all, insha Allah we are continuing to actively search for a better home for our community and at the same time working hard to improve and strengthen our programs and services. Insha Allah we will find a good home for us where we can have a full-time school, robust youth programming, sports facilities, social gatherings, and more. We ask Allah to give us that which is best for the growth of our community.
But we are not giving up. This journey is about more than real estate. It's about building a future for the next 25 to 30 yearsa future where we and our children can thrive, gather, pray, learn, play, and grow.
2. Ramadan 2025 Building Fund Update
Alhamdulillah, with your generosity, here is a summary of what we raised for the building during Ramadan:
Description
Amount (USD)
Cash collected during Ramadan 2025
$252,442.84
Investment contributions 2025
$10,000.00
Loans collected 2025
$75,500.00
Total Cash Collected
$337,942.84
Funds collected prior to Ramadan 2025
$81,882.36
Current Restricted Building Fund
$419,825.20*
Pledged donations
$500,200.00
Pledged investments
$125,000.00
Pledged loans
$100,000.00
Total Commitments & Collections
$1,145,025.20
Note: Of the $419,824.84 in restricted building funds, $75,500 is a loan that must be paid back by December 2025.
Please also take a moment to review our financial reports and fundraising summaries:
-
Restricted Building Funds Report Prior to December 2024 (Total cash collected: $179,093 | Remaining: $81,354.36) - This amount is reflected in the $419,825.20 total amount.
What will we do with the cash on hand? The building funds totaling $419,825.20 will remain in a restricted account dedicated to future building efforts. Since FDIC only insures $250,000, we will look into transferring balance above $250,000 to a different bank under ISWV.
What are our other property options? We continue to explore all viable rental and purchase opportunities with the help of CBRE and our real estate broker.. Our current considerations include:
- 11051 Old Santa Susana Pass Rd. (Chatsworth) - The property is in escrow and no longer viable.
- 6601 Valley Circle Blvd. (West Hills)
- 21725 Erwin St. (Woodland Hills)
- 7227 Owensmouth (Canoga Park)
3. Whats Next: A Vision for Our Future
While this opportunity didnt materialize, our vision for a vibrant, permanent home for ISWV is stronger than ever.:
- A full-time Islamic school where children learn with dignity and pride
- A sports complex with basketball, volleyball, and badminton courts
- A community cafe where elders and youth gather and connect
- A banquet hall for weddings, events, and community milestones
- A Sunday School and Quran Institute in a space designed for learning
- Programs for seniors that are accessible and welcoming
- A lounge for youth gatherings and hangouts
We dream bigbecause our community deserves it. And although weve faced setbacks, we remain committed. We are actively working with our broker and Purchase Committee to find a new property that meets our long-term goals.
In the meantime, we are negotiating a facility use agreement with Pierce College, where we already host our Sunday School. This would allow us to possibly startup our full-time school in a spacious and accessible environment.
Your Duas and Continued Support Matter
We ask that you keep ISWV in your duas. May Allah (SWT) bless our community with a permanent home that fulfills our needs, and may He reward every single person who donated, pledged, worked, and prayed for this effort.
As always, please continue donating towards our general operations as we expand programs and services.
We are also pleased to share that ISWV has welcomed its first full-time Executive Director, Br. Aftab Diwan, who joined us at the start of Ramadan. His leadership has already had a positive impact, energizing committees and helping us better serve the community. Together with Sh. Suhail Mulla, Ust. Lobna Mulla, Br. Aftab Diwan, the ISWV Board, our committees, and our incredible volunteerswe are building something meaningful, with your support and by Allahs grace.
Jazakum Allahu Khairan,
Muhammad Aftab Diwan, Executive Director ISWV
The Islamic Society of West Valley relies on your donations to provide high quality classes, events, and other services to the community.
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