Who We Are
Making a difference for refugees and displaced people through faith-based and secular partnerships.
Mission
MFA makes a tangible difference in the lives of refugees and internally displaced people by harnessing the collective power of over 100 faith-based and secular partners.
Vision
We envision a world where diverse secular and faith-based communities can come together and make a positive impact on displaced communities, and work towards a future in which all individuals impacted by conflict can rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Our Approach
- Filling gaps in vital humanitarian aid and implementing healthcare, clean water, and other innovative projects in hard-to-reach areas
- Creating awareness of the facts, needs, and opportunities for positive action to help displaced communities rebuild their lives
- Advocating for informed, inclusive policies that impact the lives and livelihoods of displaced communities
- Mobilizing diverse faith-based and civic partners across all aspects of our work
Our History
- 2013
MFA Founded
Dr. Georgette Bennett, daughter of Holocaust survivors and champion of interfaith cooperation, established Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees as the nation's first interfaith response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the devastating war in Syria. MFA's work began with advocacy efforts, working alongside faith communities, civil society organizations, and other partners to raise public awareness about the facts, needs, and opportunities to support displaced Syrians.
- 2016
Expansion into Humanitarian Relief
When the first Trump administration halted U.S. resettlement efforts, MFA increased its capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance to hard-to-reach displaced Syrian communities. In its expanded role as an aid delivery organization, MFA leveraged the Golan Heights corridor under the aegis of Israel's Good Neighbor policy to deliver essential aid to the besieged Southern region of Queneitra, Syria. For two years, MFA supported the needs of trapped civilians and brought stability to the region. Notably, it helped build a bread factory that produced 15,000 pitas a day as well as a maternity hospital.
- 2017
"Three Great Fears" Published
MFA developed the "Three Great Fears" report to dispel the three greatest fears people have about Syrian refugees coming to America – economic displacement, terrorism, and Islamophobia – and addressed those fears with facts supported by evidence-based research.
- 2018
Expansion of Aid Deliveries
When the conflict in Syria shifted and the Golan Heights aid corridor closed, MFA swiftly rerouted shipments and began delivering aid to displaced communities throughout northern Syria, northern Iraq, Lebanon, and Turkiye. It grew its capacity to meet growing needs in these areas with a unique approach: working hand-in-hand with its diverse network of faith-based, secular, and civic partners to source and distribute aid, implement humanitarian projects, and raise awareness of needs on the ground. MFA's impact was maximized by its engagement with grassroots networks and international partners.
- 2018
Fund A Container Launches
MFA's Fund A Container program began, giving donors the unique opportunity to sponsor a shipment of life-saving aid to displaced communities in need.
Our Founder
Dr. Georgette Bennett
Founder and Chairperson
TED speaker Dr. Georgette Bennett is an award-winning sociologist, widely published author, popular lecturer, and former broadcast journalist. An innovative and entrepreneurial leader, she is an active philanthropist focusing on conflict resolution and intergroup relations.
In 2013, Dr. Bennett founded the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, now Multifaith Alliance (MFA) and currently serves as its Board Chair. In 1992, she founded the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, the go-to organization for combatting religious prejudice.
"We are united by our shared humanity and our commitment to help those in need."
Dr. Bennett is a co-founder of the Global Covenant of Religions/Global Covenant Partners, which focuses on delegitimizing the use of religion to justify violence and extremism. To that end, she served in the U.S. State Department Religion and Foreign Policy initiative's working group on conflict mitigation, tasked with developing recommendations for the U.S. Secretary of State on countering religion-based violence.
She is Immediate Past Chair of the Jewish Funders Network and serves on the Board of Third Way. In addition, she is an Advisory Board member for the International Rescue Committee and the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Board of Directors
Our Team
Shadi Martini
Chief Executive Officer
The Syrian war turned businessman Shadi Martini into a refugee, an activist, and an advocate for greater cooperation across faith and cultural lines for the Syrian people. In March 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on those providing aid to anyone suspected of being in the opposition, Shadi, then the General Manager of a hospital in Aleppo, and his comrades worked covertly to provide aid to wounded and ill civilians.
After being forced to flee Syria in 2012, Shadi became a refugee in Turkey where he continued his humanitarian work, establishing networks to provide medical care and humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees. His firsthand experience with the crisis and his deep understanding of the region's complexities make him uniquely qualified to lead MFA's humanitarian efforts.
"Every life we touch, every family we help, brings us closer to a world where no one has to flee their home in search of safety."
As CEO of Multifaith Alliance, Shadi oversees all aspects of the organization's operations, from humanitarian aid delivery to advocacy efforts. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding MFA's reach to serve refugees and displaced communities across multiple regions, including Syria, Ukraine, Gaza, and beyond.
Shadi's personal journey from successful businessman to refugee to humanitarian leader embodies the resilience and determination that MFA seeks to foster in the communities we serve. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the importance of international cooperation in addressing humanitarian crises.
Marlene Adler
Head of Operations
Marlene Adler closed her eight-year career as Vice President of Marketing at Bear Stearns by joining Walter Cronkite to ...
Betsy Dribben
Head of Advocacy
Betsy Dribben, Head of Advocacy for Multifaith Alliance, is an attorney with decades of international political and pol...
Ahed Festuk
Logistics Manager
Ahed Festuk has worked as Multifaith Alliance's Logistics Manager since 2019, overseeing MFA's humanitarian aid shipment...
Hope Leone
Grants and Partnerships Manager
Hope Leone joined the MFA team in the fall of 2020 as a Development & Cultivation coordinator, assisting with a portfoli...
Leontia D'Silva
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Leontia D'Silva joined MFA in the summer of 2023, bringing nearly 5 years of experience in marketing and communications....