Letter from the Chairman

Dear friends,
 
For at least 160 years, the irrepressible people of Iran have tried to limit supreme powers and replace it with a citizen-led government advocating civil liberties, freedom of speech, protection of minorities and equal opportunity.  As it does everywhere in the world, social change there has involved taking one step forward and two steps back.  At this moment in history, there’s a viable chance for taking a step forward.  How do we keep from falling back?  We can make compromises towards a unified strategy and a common cause, accept personal responsibility for desired outcomes, cultivate and support new leaders and mobilize into action.  PARSA Community Foundation is committed to fortifying Iranian civil society through grants, coaching and mentoring for nonprofits on one hand, and philanthropic tools, education and networking for donors on the other.
 
PARSA CF aggregates donations from hundreds of sources to fund a national, meritocratic and competitive grant process.  To date, PARSA has made 52 grants to enterprising nonprofits in the arts, leadership and civic engagement sectors and more are on the horizon.  In this season’s newsletter, we highlight people and institutions that are also strengthening the Persian NGO sector.
 
We are delighted to shine a light on a courageous and profuse giver who happens to be one of our co-founders.  Bita Daryabari’s childhood experiences in Iran have spurred her to champion such diverse causes as women’s education, health and empowerment - locally, nationally and globally.  She is also a big-hearted patron of Persian arts, from painting to poetry.
 
TED Fellow and PARSA CF volunteer, Taghi Amirani, is paving the way for future Iranian-American TED Fellows. The TED Fellowship encourages applicants from the Middle East and highlights thinkers and doers in many fields including the social sector. Next year’s fellowships provide timely opportunities for innovative Iranian NGO leaders to connect to global peers.  
 
One of the most frequently asked questions at PARSA CF is “how can I find support for my idea?”  PARSA CF’s semi-annual grants are both signals to the larger community to support worthy causes as well as good practice for seeking grants from larger, more established American foundations. Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Carnegie Corporation and Christensen Fund have supported projects as varied as civilian diplomacy and the advancement of Persian arts and dance.  Please see PARSA CF University feature of this newsletter for grant-seeking tips on navigating the U.S. foundation landscape.
 
Last but not least, I am delighted to announce that Laili Javid and Farzad Naimi have joined PARSA CF’s Board of Directors.  Laili, who has been volunteering for over two years and even working briefly at PARSA CF, will chair the Events Committee.  Farzad will chair the Technology Committee as well as oversee PARSA CF’s post-grant monitoring and optimization.  Abdi Soltani has joined the Advisory Board and is chairing the Education and NGO Capacity Building Committee.  All three are champions of PARSA CF’s Leadership Development mission and we are grateful for their service.
Warm regards,
 
 
Noosheen Hashemi
Founder and Chairman