Who We Are

OMID Foundation is a group of four non-political, and non-religious legal entities (in Canada, Iran, UK, and US) which collaborate in order to strengthen the social, emotional, and economic competencies of disadvantaged young women in Iran, and provide them with a sense of self-worth and with the opportunities to experience a full range of life options through self-empowerment, education and training.

OMID was founded by Marjaneh Halati, a London-based social psychologist and psychotherapist. The OMID concept is her brainchild, and it is her vision that has created its distinctive holistic approach to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged young women achieve self-awareness, self-determination and self-sufficiency in modern Iranian society. She works with all four OMID charities in order to bring new solutions to complex problems. She does this with uniqueness, effectiveness and originality.

Born in Iran, Marjaneh moved to England when she was 12 years old. After finishing her undergraduate education in the US, she completed her MS Degree at the London School of Economics in Social Psychology where her work focused on domestic violence. She did her PhD work at the University of Cambridge, where her work focused on the institution of marriage in Iran.

LEGAL STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT

The four entities are legally independent of each other and each is governed by its own board of directors or trustees.

The Omid-e-Mehr Foundation (registered in Iran) is the main operating with premises in Tehran where the OMID self-empowerment, education, and training programs are implemented. It raises funds for its programs in Iran and collaborates with Iranian institutions for their development.
Directors: Roya Dorafshar, Marjaneh Halati (Chair), Soudabeh Halati, Firouzeh Mahvi, Vida Sanandaji.
CEO: Farhad Bahrami
Download Charity Operating License

OMID Foundation Canada
Directors: Maryam Kazemini-Aryafar, Mohammed Esfahani, Arash Etedali, Marjaneh Halati (Chair), Mana Jalalian-Ghayoumpour, Mehrdad Mohammad-Zadeh, Zohreh Waibel.
CEO: Yasamin Dadashi
CFO and Secretary: Parisa Rejal
Download OFC notification of registration

OMID Foundation USA
Directors: Neda Amidi, Gohar Farahani, Marjaneh Halati (Chair), Farzaneh Javid, Roya Soleimani, Shifteh Veyssi.
CEO: Marjaneh Halati
CFO and Secretary: Hameed Faridani
Download IRS Determination Letter and OFAC Authorization

OMID Foundation
Trustees: Ali Bagherzadeh, Daniela Colombo, Marjaneh Halati (Chair), Alireza Ittihadieh, Roya Izadi.
CEO: Marjaneh Halati
Download Charity Registration Certificate