Bigger Than Us
Residency
A Residency Where Impact Lasts and Founders Thrive
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About Bigger Than Us
Launched in 2025, the Bigger Than Us Residency is designed for Black and Brown leaders ready to take bold action toward launching their nonprofit.
In this pilot phase, our goal is to support five mission-driven nonprofits focused on creating lasting change in Black and Brown communities worldwide. Through our four-week, retreat-style residency, participants will receive tailored mentorship, expert-led grant writing and fundraising support, and the tools to build a sustainable nonprofit that makes a real impact.
What sets this residency apart? It’s live-in, deeply immersive, and community-driven, creating space for both collaboration within the cohort and meaningful networking beyond it.
Start your nonprofit journey with us.
Register your interest
to be part of our first-ever pilot program!
Founder and Board Members
Maria Muhammad. Founder and Executive Director Maria Muhammad has always been driven by a passion for community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and creating meaningful impact. Inspired to build something bigger than herself, she founded the Bigger Than Us Residency—a program designed to support nonprofit leaders and founders in turning their vision into lasting change. Too often, nonprofits start with great intentions but struggle to sustain themselves due to a lack of support and direction. Maria created this residency to change that. By combining her love for travel, community, and philanthropy, she has built a space where emerging nonprofit leaders can receive the mentorship, resources, and guidance they need to thrive.
Menaab Zaheer Khan. Board Member and Application Selection Coordinator, Menaab Zaheer Khan, is an environmentalist, animal welfare advocate, zoo-keeper, and philanthropist. She’s deeply passionate about education and believes everyone deserves access to it, no matter their background, income, class, or ethnicity. As the founder of The Hajra & Zaheer Khan Scholarship, Menaab is on a mission to help talented, ambitious students in Pakistan who face barriers due to lack of resources. Based in both the UK and Pakistan, Menaab brings a wealth of experience and heart to everything she does. We’re so grateful to have her as part of the Bigger Than Us team, where we can work together to continue making a meaningful impact on Black and Brown communities!
Richard Sanyour
Richard is a purpose-driven professional with deep experience in grant management, program development, and civic engagement. He works at the intersection of education, community development, and strategic leadership, supporting initiatives that empower youth, strengthen institutions, and promote inclusive, sustainable growth. With years of experience managing complex, high-value programs funded by international donors, Richard brings a sharp focus to strategic planning, performance evaluation, and stakeholder engagement. He is passionate about building collaborative environments, nurturing talent, and using data to inform decisions and improve outcomes. Rooted in a deep belief in the power of education and community, Richard remains committed to creating meaningful change that endures beyond projects and transforms lives.
Leanne Smith
Board member Leanne Smith's professional background in Senior Operational Management roles has enabled her to combine her work with her determination to create equal opportunity within the workforce. Her drive and dedication to that of equality in all diversities including race, gender, disability and socioeconomic backgrounds, has helped her foster a culture of awareness in the workplace, allowing for open communication and impactful change. She believes in addressing discrimination head on and implementing respect, empathy and compassion in which can be a difficult topic.
As Bigger Than Us prepares for its official launch in June 2025, we are seeking dedicated board members who are passionate about our mission and ready to contribute their time and expertise. With our first retreat scheduled for Winter 2025, we welcome board members who are able to travel to the retreat site. While we are primarily looking for board members from the US and UK, as that is where the nonprofit is based, we encourage applications from all who are interested.
Please email your CV and a short paragraph about why you would like to be part of this exciting journey to hello@bigger-than-us.com.
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