CAREER AND ADVOCACY

Demir’s life work has been defined by service to humanity. In 2001, guided by the Islamic values of zakat (obligatory almsgiving) and sadaqah (voluntary charity), he founded the Zakat Foundation of America (ZFA) — a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to serving people in need, regardless of race, religion, or nationality.

Under his leadership, ZFA has grown from a grassroots initiative into a $40 million global organization impacting over 50 countries. The foundation addresses both immediate crises and long-term development, focusing on education, orphan care, women’s empowerment, clean water access, healthcare, mental health, and sustainable agriculture.

Demir emphasizes sustainability and dignity in all programs.

“We don’t just drop aid and leave,” he explains. “We partner with communities, learn their needs, and stay long after the cameras are gone.”

His initiatives have led to the creation of schools, vocational centers, orphanages, refugee-led universities, and health clinics across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Mr. Demir leads a team of 67 people in the US and 85 globally.