How to increase social fund income during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia? (A case study on the Great Mosque of Kediri City, East Java, Indonesia)

In the 2020 period, due to the Covid outbreak, the income of social funds in the zakat collection unit of the Great Mosque of Kediri City decreased by approximately 25%. This is due to a decline in the economic sector, so there is a change in the behavior of some people in terms of channeling their benevolent funds. This entry condition requires the zakat collection unit of the Great Mosque of Kediri to think about a strategy to increase social funds so that mustahiq who have become members can still receive assistance as usual. This study purpose an overview of how the strategy of the Zakat Collection Unit (UPZ) at the Great Mosque of Kediri City in increasing social fund receipts during the pandemic so that mustahik can still be supported. This study takes the object of the UPZ of the Great Mosque of Kediri City and uses qualitative methods to explain the results of the study. Data mining was carried out by conducting direct interviews with the management of the zakat collection unit of the Great Mosque of Kediri. As a knife of analysis, this research uses the theory of Islamic marketing strategy. The results obtained from this study were to increase the income of social funds UPZ Great Mosque of Kediri City implemented an empathy strategy, namely picking up the ball, using digital marketing and distributing pamphlets and appeals during routine Sunday recitations and Friday prayer congregations.