After nearly two decades of gathering in borrowed spaces, the West Valley Muslim Association has secured a permanent home in Cupertino. The organisation completed its $16.5 million purchase of the former LDS Church at 20125 Bollinger Road on October 22, 2026, closing a chapter that began when its founding congregation first began searching for a dedicated place to worship in the region. The property is a 20,761 square foot building on 2.37 acres, with 139 parking spaces, ten classrooms, an auditorium, a community hall, a commercial kitchen, and a basketball court that opens directly into the main sanctuary. According to WVMA’s Cupertino campaign page, the site is zoned BQ for religious use, meaning the organisation can use it as a mosque without seeking rezoning.
A community built in rented spaces
WVMA was founded to serve Saratoga, Cupertino, and West San Jose, and for decades its members have rented space for prayers, classes, and community events. The organisation described its journey as one of growing, praying, and waiting for a permanent base that could support both current families and future generations.That search lasted nearly 20 years. During that time, the community continued to operate through temporary arrangements, including the Los Gatos Islamic Center and other prayer spaces. The purchase of the Cupertino property now gives WVMA a permanent location for daily prayers, Friday prayers, Ramadan activities, youth programmes, and life events such as weddings, community meals, and funeral services, as per their website.The organisation framed the acquisition as more than a real estate transaction. In its campaign materials, WVMA described the building as “not just a masjid,” but a home for families who have been part of the community for decades and for everyone who will join in the years ahead.
Why this property stood out
The former LDS Church was the first church to come to market in Cupertino or Saratoga in more than 20 years, according to WVMA. That scarcity made the listing especially significant for a community that had long sought a permanent site in the heart of the West Valley. The building was purpose-built for worship and already included much of the infrastructure a mosque community needs. Its 10 classrooms could support weekend Islamic school, after-school programmes, and adult education, while the hall and kitchen create space for gatherings, iftars, and community dinners. The basketball court is an unusual feature for a mosque and was highlighted by WVMA as a major attraction for young families.The BQ zoning was another major advantage. Religious use is permitted by right, so WVMA does not need rezoning to operate the facility as a mosque. The organisation said this narrowed the pool of potential buyers, since developers could not easily convert the property for other uses.
Beating 16 competing offers
The purchase was competitive. WVMA said the property received 16 initial offers, and the association was selected as the top bidder. Its outreach to LDS leadership, a 60-day closing timeline, and a decision not to include a financial contingency helped set its offer apart.WVMA signed the purchase agreement on July 9, completed due diligence by September 7, and set October 15 as the deadline for community donations. The sale closed on October 22, meeting the timeline the organisation had laid out in its campaign.The final purchase price was $16.5 million. WVMA also identified about $500,000 in immediate work needed at the property, bringing the total immediate need to roughly $17 million, as per their website.
How the community raised the money
To complete the purchase, WVMA set a goal of raising $10 million from the community. The organisation planned to contribute $7 million itself, while donations were intended to cover the remainder of the purchase price, immediate improvements, and early operational needs.The campaign accepted a wide range of contributions, including online card payments, checks, donor-advised fund grants, stock transfers, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and Zelle payments. It also offered qard hasan, an interest-free community loan arrangement with a documented repayment agreement, reflecting the organisation’s stated goal of avoiding interest-based debt.WVMA said backup financing was available through Stearns Salaam Bank, but its aim was to begin with zero debt. The campaign described donations as a form of sadaqah jariyah, or ongoing charity, because the mosque would continue serving worshippers, students, and families long after the purchase was complete.
A hub for the West Valley
The Cupertino site is intended to serve Muslims across Cupertino, Saratoga, West San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Los Altos. WVMA said the region is home to tens of thousands of Muslims who need reliable space for five daily prayers, Friday prayers, and Taraweeh during Ramadan.The property’s classrooms, auditorium, hall, kitchen, and sports facilities give the organisation room to expand beyond worship. Planned uses include youth activities, Islamic education, after-school programming, community dinners, nikah ceremonies, janazah services, and intergenerational gatherings.For a community that has spent years adapting to rented halls and temporary prayer spaces, the Cupertino purchase represents stability. The building gives WVMA a permanent address, room to grow, and a place where families can gather without worrying about leases, scheduling conflicts, or the possibility of losing their gathering space.
The next chapter
Closing on October 22 marks the end of a long search, but it also begins a new phase of work. WVMA will need to adapt the former church building for mosque use, complete immediate improvements, and develop programming that serves both longtime members and new families across the West Valley.The organisation said the Los Gatos Islamic Center will continue to operate, noting that the community did not outgrow Los Gatos but became large enough to need both locations. With a permanent Cupertino home now secured, WVMA has turned a nearly 20-year search into the foundation for what it hopes will become a lasting community hub.