Meet Farhad Kabiri: Small Things' New Director of Operations
Farhad, our new Director of Operations
Farhad Kabiri's calling has always been clear: he's here to help.
Before he assumed the role of Director of Operations for Small Things Philly, before he traveled the world to support humanitarian missions, before he oversaw massive global projects and received his Master’s degree and started a family, Kabiri was a teenager in Afghanistan, living near a camp and receiving aid from a nonprofit organization.
A Good Heart, From Afghanistan to Aid Work
“When the response was there to support the community, I was like, ‘Wow, this is a very rewarding job,’” Kabiri recalled. “It's not only doing your routine tasks, but you also need to have a good heart… it's not only the support you are giving to the people, it's the kindness you transfer to the community.”
After receiving his Bachelor’s degree, Kabiri began an internship with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to assist with its livelihood and education programs. Following his three-month internship, he remained with CRS as a field officer, supporting operations for the next four and a half years.
“That was the first time [I was] in an international organization, and learning the basic things,” Kabiri said. “I was really excited.”
A Global Career in Humanitarian Operations
In the years following his time with CRS, Kabiri worked as a specialist for Chemonics International (a USAID partner) and as a senior program officer for World Vision International. Through his work with U.S.-based nonprofits, he was eligible for a specialized visa, opening the door to come to the United States. Following a mission in Afghanistan, Kabiri would go to Manila to attend the Asian Institute of Management. He received his Master’s in Development Management in 2018.
“And after that, I just started being everywhere.”
With the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Kabiri spent a year on a mission back in Afghanistan. Then a year in Myanmar. Then a year in Iraq.
“When you are a humanitarian worker, your bag should be packed, always,” Kabiri said. “When there is a call, you just need to go, regardless… There are so many challenges. Imagine being out of the country, and all of a sudden you’re just called to go to Myanmar.”
Despite the demand of a constantly transient position, Kabiri knew he was doing what he needed to do, what was ingrained within him.
“Maybe God created me that way. Sometimes… We just work to support our families financially, but it also depends on how you enjoy the work that you are doing, and I am really enjoying what I have been doing in this sector.”
Responding to Crisis in Ukraine and Iraq
Following his year in Myanmar, where he managed a €36 million budget, Kabiri took a three-month sabbatical in 2020 to spend time with his wife and son. However, by the end of his break, Kabiri was restless and ready to heed the next call to action.
That call, when it came, was from a German nonprofit named Welthungerhilfe (WHH). They asked Kabiri to go to Ukraine and help respond to the newly developing humanitarian crisis. For the first time, Kabiri was not working in what is considered a developing country, but rather an established European country with an entirely different context.
After a year working in Ukraine, Kabiri relocated once more to Iraq, where he served as the Head of Project & Head of Office for WHH. In these two roles, he oversaw all programs and operations, as well as the food security and livelihood divisions.
Halfway through 2025, Kabiri completed his work with WHH, returning to the States and his family. This time, he was ready to stay.
Bringing Global Experience to a Philadelphia Nonprofit
In March 2026, Kabiri became the Director of Operations for Small Things. With a lifetime of experience in the nonprofit sector, a deep understanding of operations management, and prior focuses on programs combating food insecurity and promoting individual development, Kabiri is prepared for the role.
With that, he is also aware of the differences between this role and his past positions. After updating his LinkedIn profile to include his new role at a Philadelphia nonprofit, friends reached out to voice their surprise that there was even a need for humanitarian aid in the U.S.
“If you look at my background from working in countries like Afghanistan and into Myanmar, Iraq, and into Ukraine, which is a completely different setup, and now to the US… [it is] kind of dynamic in terms of the context but one thing which connects all these together is there's always need and there should always be support for the people,” Kabiri remarks. “I have been implementing. I was exposed to different, larger organizations, and I was [doing] more developing… Now I would like to take the lead in creating new systems.”
Having now been at Small Things for three months, Farhad Kabiri is familiar with its mission and hopes to expand the operation's scope and reach.
“I'm really happy to be kind of part of this journey for Small Things, supporting the communities here… I still have that good heart from the beginning. You need to carry this good heart everywhere, regardless of which country or which context you are working with… There is a real need here, maybe in a different approach, but there are still needs, and I'm happy to be part of the journey.”
