Halil Demir smiling and wearing a dark suit and light orange shirt, standing in front of a blue background with large gray text that reads 'HALIL DEMIR'.
Halil Demir smiling and wearing a dark suit and light orange shirt, standing in front of a blue background with large gray text that reads 'HALIL DEMIR'.
Quote about humility and success on a black background.

Humanitarian Leadership Rooted in Dignity

Redefining humanitarian leadership to transform lives, with dignity at the core.

Humanitarian Leadership Rooted in Dignity

Redefining humanitarian leadership to transform lives, with dignity at the core.

media inquiry
Quote about humility: "When you come from nothing and end up leading something that touches millions, you realize humility is your greatest asset."

Founder, Zakat Foundation of America

0
Countries Served
0
Distaster Responses
0
Awards
0
Lives Impacted

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

A graphic with a blue rectangle at the top, a red star in the center, and the text 'CHI' in black below the star.
Harvard University emblem with shield, open books spelling 'VERITAS,' surrounded by gold laurel leaves and a white scroll with 'HARVARD' written on it.
Illustration of the GIFA Award logo, featuring a blue globe with white grid lines, with the organization’s name underneath.
Logo of a city skyline inside a crescent moon with the text "CIAOCC" and a small trademark symbol.
Sealed emblem of the District of Columbia featuring a man standing on a pedestal, a woman holding a torch, and various natural and architectural elements in the background.
A logo featuring a compass rose with blue and green colors and the words 'Charity Navigator' underneath.
Logo for Arise Chicago with text 'Since 1991' and words 'Faith, Labor, Action' around the border.
Seal of Baltimore County, Maryland, featuring a quartered shield with black and gold striped sections and red and white sections with a cross design, encircled by the text 'Baltimore County Maryland' with a gold border.
Red cross symbol on a black background.

FEATURED ON

Line drawing of a high jump athlete clearing a bar.
Gray background with the white Newsweek logo in the center.
The logo of The Wall Street Journal with the initials 'WSJ' below its name.
NPR logo with black and white color scheme
Faux news logo with bold text and stylized design, featuring the word 'channel' at the bottom.
TRT Haber logo with black text on top and gray background with white text below
Gray background with the white CNN logo in the center.
Text reading 'Turk Network Magazine' in various font sizes and styles on a plain background.
Logo of Daily Lead Pakistan with white text on a grey background
A metallic logo with a stylized globe and several layered, curved lines above the word 'WORLD' in bold capital letters.
Logo of Anadolu Agency featuring a stylized 'A' and 'A' with a semi-circle, with the words 'Anadolu Agency' underneath.
NAMA Foundation logo with a stylized circular geometric pattern above the text
Logo for WWLN 1690 AM radio station with skyline illustration and microphone.
Logo of PTTV World in black and white, with a stylized design and bold text. 
I’m Halil Demir, Founder and Executive Director of the Zakat Foundation of America.
For over 25 years, my work has taken me across more than 35 countries, from refugee camps to classrooms, always guided by one purpose: to serve with dignity and compassion.
This project is a space to share that journey — the lessons learned, the people who inspired me, and the belief that humanitarian work must empower, not just assist.
Through education, ethical giving, and intercultural collaboration, I believe we can build a world rooted in mercy and mutual respect.
Thank you for visiting. I hope these stories and projects inspire you to make compassion your daily act of change.
Halil Demir from Zakat Foundation of America handing a bag of aid to a woman in a floral headscarf, surrounded by men in traditional clothing in a humanitarian aid setting.

WELCOME MESSAGE

A man in a vest and plaid shirt, with a lanyard around his neck, gently patting a young girl on the head during a humanitarian aid event. The girl wears a black headscarf, a green jacket, and a plaid skirt. Several other people stand nearby, and large bags of supplies are visible on the ground around them.
People in winter clothing exchange food and drinks on a city street.
Halil Demir wearing a yellow vest is holding a young girl on his shoulders, surrounded by smiling children of various ages in front of a rough wall, with other children and adults in the background.
Five men in suits sitting and talking at an event booth with a backdrop featuring clouds and domed structures. The backdrop has text that reads 'Diyanet Center of America' and '@diyanetamerica.' One man is speaking with animated hand gestures.
A boy receiving a bag of supplies from a man in a makeshift outdoor setting with tents and palm trees in the background.
Get to know halil demir
Quote by Halil Demir about mission and dignity on a white background.
Quote by Halil Demir reading, "Our mission is not charity — it is solidarity. Every project is a promise to restore dignity where it's been lost."
Inside the open cargo bay of a large aircraft, with a view of packages and equipment being transported and airdropped, on a cityscape below.

Food Relief Airdrop Into Gaza | 2025

A group of children and young teens gathered in an arcade or entertainment center with neon lights and gaming machines in the background.

Senegal Orphan Sponsorship Program | 2025

Halil Demir and Ilhan Omar distributing food, including vegetables, outside, wearing masks and gloves, in a parking lot.

Halil Demir and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar distribute fresh produce to families in Minneapolis | 2020

Zakat Foundation of America's Emergency Relief for Hurricane Milton | 2024

An elderly woman with gray hair, glasses, and a white knit hat, smiling and holding a large plastic bag of groceries. She is wearing a green and white patterned sweater, outdoors with colorful painted walls in the background.

Argentina Elderly Persons Program | 2025

Group of young children in a classroom or school setting with two adults, likely teachers or volunteers, preparing for an activity or outing, with banners related to a charity or foundation in the background.

Montenegro North Macedonia Back to School Supplies |2025

Group of three male volunteers and a young girl with bags of food, standing in front of a green tent on a sandy area under a blue sky.

Gaza Palestine Qurbani | 2025

A person wearing a vest and a white cap from the Zakat Foundation of America is assisting a young girl in a modest dress inside a small room with shelves filled with medical supplies and medicines.

Chad Health Clinic | 2025

Halil Demir wearing a face mask and beige vest standing in a street holding a large cardboard sign with handwritten promises related to social justice and equality. Behind him are flowers and signs at George Floyd memorial site.
Two men shaking hands in front of a Zakat Foundation of America van at an outdoor charity event, with a table of knitted items and a woman in a yellow vest in the background.
A group of people, including women and children, gather outside a building. An older woman is holding a young child and talking to two men wearing beige vests, one of whom has sunglasses hanging from his shirt. The background shows more people and a peach-colored building with windows.

THE HEART OF THE MISSION

From hurricane zones in the Caribbean to refugee camps in South Asia, Halil Demir has led teams responding to crises with compassion and urgency.

Every mission has one goal: to restore dignity and hope.

explore missions

IMPACT IN ACTION

People gathered at a school event with children sitting at desks outdoors, some adults distributing supplies, in a schoolyard with colorful walls and sports equipment in the background.

HUMANITARIAN LEADERSHIP

Coordinating global disaster response, relief distribution, and rebuilding programs.

See Field Impact →
Halil Demir in a suit giving a presentation in a conference room with people seated at tables. There are banners on both sides promoting relief efforts for Syrian youth and a TV screen behind the presenter.

LEARNING AND MENTORSHIP

Offering courses and programs empowering emerging leaders.

Book a speaker →
Halil Demir speaking at a podium during the MAS Annual Convention, with a large digital screen featuring green, black, and intricate gold geometric patterns in the background.

SPEAKING & LEADERSHIP

Inspiring audiences on service, leadership, and unity.

Book a Speaker →

A RECOGNIZED HUMANITARIAN VOICE FOR TODAY’S WORLD

From global stages to local communities, his keynote talks bring clarity, compassion, and urgency to the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our time.

Halil Demir in a blue suit addressing a large crowd at a convention, viewed from behind on a stage with monitors and microphones, inside a spacious indoor venue with high ceilings.

KEYNOTE SPEAKING

Humanitarian Leadership in Action

With decades on the front lines of disaster response and community empowerment, he delivers talks that are both deeply human and profoundly actionable. His keynotes blend lived experience, historical perspective, and visionary leadership—leaving audiences informed, energized, and ready to lead with purpose.

BOOK A KEYNOTE →
Screenshot of a CNN Max news broadcast about Israel and Gaza, showing two men in a split-screen interview. The man on the left is in a studio with a cityscape background, wearing a dark suit and gold tie. The man on the right appears to be in an office, wearing a gray suit and yellow tie.

MEDIA COMMENTARY & INTERVIEWS

Trusted Voice in Times of Crisis

As a respected commentator featured across national and international media, he brings context, clarity, and grounded insight to global events. Journalists and outlets seek him for his on-the-ground experience, humanitarian lens, and ability to humanize complex issues.

Press AND Media Inquiries →
VIEW MEDIA FEATURES

A JOURNEY IN PICTURES

With Rep. Ilhan Omar distributing food

With Rep. Ilhan Omar distributing food

With Pres. Obama's grandmother

With Pres. Obama's grandmother

With 41st President George W. Bush

With 41st President George W. Bush

Awarding C.J. Hawking

Awarding C.J. Hawking

With General Mattis

With General Mattis

With Durbin

With Durbin

With Marie Newman

With Marie Newman

With Governor David Beasley

With Governor David Beasley

With the Gambia ambassador

With the Gambia ambassador

With Zakaria and Schakowsky

With Zakaria and Schakowsky

With Worthington

With Worthington

With Mali President Keita

With Mali President Keita

With LG Group President Alex Dyer

With LG Group President Alex Dyer

With President of Turkey

With President of Turkey

With Chuy Garcia

With Chuy Garcia

With Brandon Johnson

With Brandon Johnson

With Sheen

With Sheen

With Lindsey Graham

With Lindsey Graham

Join the Mission.

Stand With Humanity.

Five people engaged in conversation and smiling during a meeting or conference, with diverse ethnicities and formal attire.

Every life touched, every community uplifted, every moment of hope begins with people who choose to get involved.

For decades, he has stood on the front lines—responding to crises, empowering youth, guiding leaders, and building bridges across cultures. But this mission has never been about one person. It has always been a collective effort.

Whether you want to learn, collaborate, support humanitarian work, or bring his message to your audience, your engagement becomes part of a story much bigger than any single moment.

Let’s build a more compassionate, informed, and hopeful world, together.

connect with halil demir →

With Kwame Raoul and C.J. Hawkins