Prince Harry and Meghan Sussex’s Archewell Foundation has found itself in the middle of a heated debate. After quietly withdrawing financial support from the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition (MMWC), critics accused the couple of abandoning their values. But a closer look at the facts reveals something else: a difficult but necessary decision to protect the integrity of their foundation and its mission.
Archewell donated over $55,000 to MMWC between 2023 and 2024. The funds supported programs for Afghan refugee women, including a sewing group and support circle. The partnership fit Archewell’s values of dignity, justice, and empowerment. Yet, when concerns emerged about rhetoric and imagery tied to the organization’s leadership, the foundation responded with speed and transparency.
The reaction was not an attack on free speech. It was a reflection of Archewell’s values: pro-humanity, pro-peace, and pro-equality. We must reconsider even good work when political advocacy includes hate-linked imagery. As Archewell made clear in its official statement, there is no place for symbolism that combines the Star of David with a swastika or for language that appears to call for the destruction of others.
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Understanding The Events That Led To The Decision
In 2023, Archewell donated $27,960 to support MMWC’s refugee work. A second donation followed in 2024. These grants came with no fanfare, only a clear commitment to support underserved communities.
In February 2024, Janan Najeeb published an opinion piece in the Wisconsin Muslim Journal that drew increased attention. In the article, she referred to Israel as an apartheid state and used the phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” While it is true that several UN experts and human rights organizations have described Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as apartheid—and recent military actions in Gaza have been labeled genocidal under international legal standards—the political climate remains deeply polarized. Some interpret the phrase as a call for Palestinian liberation and human rights. Others, particularly within Jewish communities, view it as a threat to Israel’s existence. In such a charged environment, language that resonates with one audience can provoke alarm in another.
Inflammatory Mural Featuring Swastika Sparks Outrage
The situation intensified when NewsNation contacted Archewell with additional information. A mural created by Janan Najeeb’s brother, Ihsan Atta, appeared in Milwaukee, featuring a swastika embedded in a Star of David—an image widely condemned as antisemitic. The controversy deepened when the MMWC, led by Najeeb, posted the image to its official social media platform, further blurring the lines between personal expression and organizational endorsement.
Janan Najeeb attended the mural’s unveiling and stood with demonstrators defending its message, despite widespread condemnation of its imagery. 
This mural, created by Janan Najeeb’s brother Ihsan Atta, drew widespread condemnation for its antisemitic imagery and contributed to Archewell’s decision to end funding to MMWC. 
MMWC’s public sharing of the mural on social media complicated its stance and fueled further scrutiny of its partnership with Archewell.
Janan Najeeb defends the mural’s message, saying it aims to reclaim the Star of David’s meaning for Palestinians and hints at reproducing the design elsewhere.
The mural, paired with inflammatory commentary, drew widespread condemnation. Jewish organizations labeled it antisemitic, and a local Black business owner expressed outrage that it replaced a mural honoring Breonna Taylor. Though Najeeb did not create the image herself, the connection and lack of public distancing raised questions about the values Archewell might appear to endorse through continued partnership.
Milwaukee – landlord Ihsan Atta took down a mural of Breonna Taylor and replaced it was a Jewish star embedded inside of a swastika with the shocking phrase "the irony of becoming what you once hated". pic.twitter.com/kzwl3fHovJ
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 13, 2024
On April 9, Archewell sent a letter to MMWC confirming the end of its funding. Executive directors James Holt and Shauna Nep followed with a public statement on April 18. They acknowledged the diversity of political beliefs within their network but made one boundary clear: hate-fueled imagery and language are not acceptable under any circumstance.
MMWC Expresses Disappointment
The Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition (MMWC) responded to the Archewell Foundation’s funding withdrawal with a mix of appreciation and dismay. In a public letter, Executive Director Janan Najeeb thanked Archewell for its past support of Afghan refugee programs but criticized the foundation’s decision as a misrepresentation of her advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
Najeeb defended her op-ed as a legitimate critique of Israeli state policy, aligning her views with international human rights organizations. She firmly rejected the suggestion that her language constituted hate speech or antisemitism and called on Archewell to reverse its position.
Supported by CAIR and amplified by news outlets such as AJ+, MMWC framed the defunding as an example of efforts to silence Muslim voices. However, the group’s aggressive public campaign has also drawn new attention to its operations.
Understanding the Role of Archewell as a Nonprofit
Archewell is a registered U.S. nonprofit, operating under the legal framework of a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. That designation brings both privilege and responsibility. Under American tax law, nonprofits are strictly prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity. Even perceived alignment with inflammatory rhetoric or controversial symbolism can jeopardize a foundation’s credibility—and its ability to maintain tax-exempt status. Grant recipients are expected to uphold the ethical standards set forth in funding agreements. When those standards are breached, funding may be lawfully and responsibly withdrawn.
Critics of Archewell’s decision, including Najeeb herself, claimed the move prioritized public image over principle. But this framing ignores the reality. Archewell’s mission is rooted in dignity and compassion, and the foundation remains active in supporting Muslim-led organizations and Gaza relief. Its statement reaffirmed this commitment while defending its responsibility to set ethical limits.
“We remain deeply committed to our work with Muslim-led organizations and refugee support programs through The Welcome Project and relief efforts in Gaza.” – James Holt and Shauna Nep Executive Directors, The Archewell Foundation
The claim that Harry and Meghan are “silencing women of color” or “abandoning Palestine” doesn’t hold under scrutiny. Meghan and Harry have also used their platform to speak out against injustice in other forms, including racial and gender-based discrimination.
What makes this case distinct is not a difference in political belief, but the use of language and imagery that can be perceived as inciting harm. Archewell’s decision to end its partnership with MMWC was not made under pressure—it was guided by values. The foundation made clear that associations with symbols like a swastika inside a Star of David are unacceptable, regardless of intent.
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Harry and Meghan’s Commitment to Muslim Communities
In an era where nonprofit work faces intense scrutiny, protecting a foundation’s integrity matters. Harry and Meghan have consistently supported Muslim and refugee communities. Archewell launched The Welcome Project to empower Afghan women through storytelling and sisterhood. It funded mental health support in Gaza, Syria, and Turkey via Humanity Crew, and partnered with World Central Kitchen to feed families in Gaza.
Meghan has worked directly with women from the Hubb Community Kitchen, formed in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. Many of these women were Muslim immigrants who used food to reclaim community after trauma. The result was the bestselling cookbook Together, which raised over £911,000 (approximately $1.2 million) for the kitchen. The proceeds funded expanded hours, community programming, and long-term support, while spotlighting the women’s resilience and the healing power of shared meals.
Photo by Eric Charbonneau, courtesy of Marie Claire. 
Photo by Eric Charbonneau, courtesy of Marie Claire. 
Photo by Eric Charbonneau, courtesy of Marie Claire. 
Photo by Eric Charbonneau, courtesy of Marie Claire. 
Photo by Eric Charbonneau, courtesy of Marie Claire. 
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, shares a moment with Afghan women during a cooking session as part of the Welcome Project in Southern California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau, courtesy of Marie Claire.
Related | Meghan Markle Hosts Welcome Project Dinner for Afghan Women
In celebration of Thanksgiving last year, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and The Archewell Foundation hosted a heartfelt dinner for the Southern California Welcome Project. This initiative, led by the partner organization Mina’s List, has spent the past year building community through storytelling and creating a safe space for women who have resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan.
Final Thoughts
The financial records tell their own story. The Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition reported net fundraising losses in both 2022 and 2023—$16,145 and $15,806, respectively—raising valid concerns about sustainability and fiscal transparency. In that context, it becomes clearer why the organization may be leveraging the Archewell controversy to attract renewed donor attention, even at the expense of Harry and Meghan’s reputations.
Yet, under the relentless spotlight of media scrutiny and public obsession, Archewell did not respond rashly. The foundation acted in response to a pattern—one marked by inflammatory imagery, politicized messaging, and a public campaign that attempted to weaponize the Sussexes’ global platform.
For those defending the mural, consider this: would you bring that exact image into your workplace or a public protest without fear of backlash?
In December 2022, Kanye West tweeted a near-identical swastika-Star of David design. The condemnation was swift and universal. His account was suspended for eight months for inciting hate.
Kanye West has been suspended again on Twitter for ‘inciting violence’.
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) December 3, 2022
The artist and entrepreneur shared a picture featuring a swastika inside the Star of David, just hours after he was heard praising Hitler and Nazis and denying the Holocaust on an Alex Jones podcast. pic.twitter.com/ubc0xgF73W
If the image had instead stereotyped Black or Asian communities, would the defense be as loud? Archewell, as a registered U.S. nonprofit, is legally bound to remain nonpolitical. Its choice to withdraw funding wasn’t about censorship—it was about maintaining trust, ethical standards, and a foundation committed to humanity above all else. In choosing values over controversy, Archewell acted not just lawfully, but wisely.
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This is an excellent fact based article. Thank you for the clarifications. ☺️
After working in fundraising for the better part of a decade, I can tell you that Archewell was required to withdraw their support. That image is political and offensive. We never mess with our 501(c)3 status.
When will you do the same about Harry being a racist? He wore a Nazi costume. Why won’t you condem that?