Fatima Saidi’s extensive experience in fundraising, grantmaking, and development, coupled with her role as National Campaign Director for We Are All America (WAAA), highlights her strong organizational leadership and advocacy background. At WAAA, she leads collaborative efforts with similar organizations, enhances organizers’ skills, manages communications and operations, and raises funds to support the campaign’s mission. Fatima’s primary aim is to uphold and augment the United States’ commitment to providing a secure haven for individuals seeking refuge, safety, and freedom, fostering inclusive communities by bringing together people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
Born in a small village in Ghazni, Afghanistan, Fatima’s early life was marked by displacement due to the Taliban’s presence, leading her family to seek refuge in Quetta, Pakistan. Her journey continued in September 2013 when she arrived as an international student at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Throughout her academic years, she gained valuable experience through internships with various reputable organizations, including the International Institute of St. Louis in Missouri, the United Nations, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Kabul, Afghanistan, and the World Hazara Council in Vienna, Austria.
In 2017, Fatima graduated from Bates College with a double major in Political Science and Religious Studies. She then excelled as a Development Coordinator and Grant Writer at the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment in Boston for two years. In December 2020, she advanced to the role of Development and Relations Manager at the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC), where she made significant contributions. Notably, she worked very closely with Ethnic Community-Based Organizations (ECBOs) and secured funding for grassroots community operations during COVID-19 while Maine was experiencing a substantial influx of newly arrived asylum seekers. Her dedication and passion for advocacy led her to join We Are All America in the summer of 2023.
