Can zakaah be used for da’wah purposes?

Allaah has explained the categories on which zakaah may be
spent in the verse in which He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaah) are only for the
Fuqaraa’ (poor), and Al‑Masaakeen (the poor) and those employed to collect
(the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined
(towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for
Allaah’s Cause (i.e. for Mujaahidoon — those fighting in a holy battle), and
for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty
imposed by Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise”

[al-Tawbah 9:60]

It is not acceptable to spend zakaah funds on anything other
than these eight categories. 

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Mughni (2/280): It is not permissible to spend zakaah on anything
other than what Allaah has mentioned here, such as building mosques, bridges
and aqueducts, maintaining roads, shrouding the dead, providing hospitality
to visitors and other acts of charity that Allaah did not mention here. End
quote. 

What is meant by “for Allaah’s Cause” is jihad for the
sake of Allaah. 

Some contemporary scholars are of the view that jihad for the
sake of Allaah includes jihad of knowledge, establishing proof, explaining
and calling people to Allaah, so they regarded it as permissible to spend
zakaah on da’wah to call people to Allaah, on the basis that this comes
under the heading of “for Allaah’s Cause”. 

We have quoted the fatwa of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem Aal
al-Shaykh (may Allaah have mercy on him) and the statement of the Islamic
Fiqh Council, please see the answer to question no.
121551. 

Here we are referring to the fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may
Allaah preserve him) which says that it is permissible to donate zakaah to
da’wah efforts. 

He was asked about donating zakaah to circles (halaqahs) for
Qur’aan memorization, so that prizes may be given from zakaah to the
students, as well as salaries for the teachers and drivers. He replied: 

Because zakaah has been prescribed to meet the needs of the
poor and weak, and it has also been prescribed to support charitable causes
such as giving to mukaatibs (slaves who have contracts of manumission with
their owners), mujaahideen, those who are cut off and those whose hearts are
to be softened towards Islam, this indicates that it is prescribed for
charitable causes which lead to good outcomes and will bring benefits,
goodness and blessing to the Muslims. Our Shaykhs have issued fatwas stating
that it may be spent on da’wah and calling people to Allaah, and the means
of da’wah such as essays, tapes and salaries for full-time daa’iyahs. That
also includes spending it on charitable schools for Qur’aan memorization,
because of the good effect and outcomes that they have, and to encourage
people to memorize and follow Qur’aan. I think it is permissible to give
zakaah to these people if there are no other organizations who are doing
that, so that these religious activities will not cease. End quote from the
Shaykh’s website:

http://ibn-jebreen.com/ftawa.php?view=vmasal&subid=13108&parent=786

And Allaah knows best.