“We have fought for so long to have an open society, one where girls could become doctors, our press could report freely, our young people could dance and listen to music or attend soccer matches in the stadiums that were once used by the Taliban for public executions — and may soon be again.” Ahmad Massoud, Panjshir Valley
Learn About the Massoud Foundation USA
Foundation Governance & Board of Directors
The Massoud Foundation USA is governed by its Board of Directors and public benefit corporation bylaws that dictate the Foundation’s activities to the highest charitable organization standards. The Board of Directors was created to provide guidance and advice to the Foundation’s many efforts and to maintain oversight of the Foundation’s operations and finances. The Board consists of five members, including one permanent representative from the Massoud Foundation of Afghanistan. Board members generally serve multi-year terms, and their membership, roles, and fiduciary responsibilities are defined in the Foundation’s governing documents.
Ambassador Ahmad Wali Massoud, Chairman, Massoud Foundation of Afghanistan. Ambassador Massoud is the younger brother of the late Ahmad Shah Massoud. After serving in Ahmad Shah Massoud's resistance army during the Soviet invasion and as a London-based political activist, in 1992 Mr. Wali Massoud was appointed as Afghanistan’s Minister Counsellor and Chargé d'Affaires in London. After the fall of the Taliban, and following the establishment of the new administration under the Bonn Agreement, he was appointed as ambassador to the United Kingdom in 2003. Ambassador Massoud’s appointment once again elevated the position of the Afghan ambassador in the United Kingdom. Ambassador Massoud has a masters degree in political science.
As Chairman of the Massoud Foundation of Afghanistan, Ambassador Massoud was instrumental in the establishment of the Massoud Foundation USA and serves as a permanent member of the Foundation's Board of Directors.
Ahmad Massoud, President, Massoud Foundation of Afghanistan. Ahmad Massoud is the son of the late Ahmad Shah Massoud and a he is founding member of the Massoud Foundation USA Board of Directors. Through his service as President of the Massoud Foundation of Afghanistan, Mr. Massoud encourages leadership development of the next generation of Afghans.
Mr. Massoud gained deep experience in politics early by growing up at his father's side and witnessing his father's political/military decision-making process. Mr. Massoud was 12 years old when his father was assassinated, and until then, he was mostly "home-schooled" by his father, who focused his son's education on literature, history, and ethics.
Mr. Massoud has a strong interest in astronomy, literature, and soccer. Additionally, he has organized many events for the Massoud Foundation in Afghanistan in London, especially key annual commemorations for his father on September 9, also known as Martyrs' Day in Afghanistan. Mr. Massoud graduated from King’s College London where he majored in Political Science and War Studies and earned his master’s degree in International Politics from the City University of London.
Ali Maisam Nazary, President & Founding Board Chairman, Massoud Foundation USA. Ali Nazary has served as the Massoud Foundation USA Chairman since 2016. Previously, he was Confidential Secretary and Press Advisor to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of Afghanistan. During the Afghan Presidential campaign in 2014, Mr. Nazary played a leadership role in the development of electoral anti-fraud efforts, which resulted in the identification of millions of fraudulent ballots and a number of corrupt officials. Mr. Nazary brings his passions for social justice and international relations to the Massoud Foundation USA and, as President, he is focused on building organizational capacity and community outreach.
Mr. Nazary was raised in the United States, where he earned his undergraduate degrees in Political Science & Near Eastern Studies at UCLA and then earned a Master of Science in Comparative Politics & Conflict Resolution at the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom. Mr. Nazary’s professional experience includes service as a Deputy Campaign Manager for a congressional race and as the Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Director of the Aryana Foundation, an international non-profit campaigning to reduce poverty in Afghanistan.
Yusuf Dawood Nazar, Chief Executive Officer, Massoud Foundation USA. Mr. Nazar (Yusife Nazir) is an Afghan-American who was born and raised in the United States and, at age 16, answered the call to serve his unique heritage and support American efforts and Afghans in Afghanistan. He founded an international non-profit focused on promoting education and improving the infrastructure of orphanages and schools. He organized teams of local government and community leaders to restock medical supplies and provide clean water. He also served as a cultural advisor to US troops in Afghanistan.
In the US, Mr. Nazar has served on the legislative staff of two California Assemblymembers and assisted in getting multiple legislative bills signed by Governor Brown. Also, he has managed numerous projects with the National Institutes of Health to combat asthma and cancer. In the private sector Mr. Nazar has led multi-million dollar portfolio’s for Fortune 100 companies. Mr. Nazar graduated cum laude from San Diego State University where earned his degree in International Security & Conflict Resolution.