<![CDATA[This study aims to determine the mechanisms and level of effectiveness of zakat fund empowerment in providing educational scholarships for low-income communities at BAZNAS North Sumatra. A qualitative descriptive approach was used. The informants were employees involved in zakat fund empowerment, as well as mustahik and muzaki who benefited from the Parimo Cerdas program. Data collection techniques included observation and interviews, while the analysis method used was an effectiveness test. The results of this study indicate that the mechanism for utilizing zakat funds to provide scholarships for underprivileged communities at BAZNAS North Sumatra adopts strategic policies in the utilization of zakat funds based on BAZNAS principles as stipulated in No. 23 of 2011, Article 26, regarding the Distribution of Zakat. Furthermore, the level of effectiveness of zakat fund empowerment for scholarships falls into the effective category with a percentage of 79.10%, as the program’s effectiveness percentage aligns with the National Zakat Agency’s (BAZNAS) effectiveness criteria for zakat distribution, which range from 70–89%, and thus can be categorized as effective. The implication of this study is that through the mechanisms implemented by BAZNAS to achieve its mission objectives, the utilization of zakat funds can be maximized. The utilization of BAZNAS zakat scholarship funds has been significant, with an effectiveness rate of 79.10%, in accordance with the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia’s Guidelines for the Supervision of Zakat Management Institutions.]]>
