The Flinn Foundation Welcomes Newest Trustee Najah Bazzy

Najah Bazzy, founder and CEO of Zaman International, has long known how to transform compassion into action. For more than two decades, she’s stood beside women and children facing poverty and trauma, building Zaman into an internationally recognized nonprofit that uplifts marginalized families with dignity and practical support.

Now, Bazzy brings her insight and lived experience to the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation as its newest Board Trustee.

A meaningful first step into philanthropy

In early December 2025, Bazzy was formally inducted into the Board during a luncheon at the Detroit Athletic Club, where she met fellow trustees and honored recipients of the Foundation’s Leonard W. Smith Mental Health Hero Awards. While she brings prior board experience, this marks her first role on a philanthropic foundation board.

“I’m just really proud to have this as my first experience on a philanthropic board,” Bazzy says. “To witness the generosity of the Foundation and to see the legacy of Leonard Smith, which was talked about so beautifully.”

But it’s not just legacy that draws Bazzy in, it’s also growth. “I want to understand how philanthropy works in a space I haven’t yet known,” she says. “At Zaman, we’ve been the recipients of Flinn Foundation dollars. I’ve seen the impact. But now I get to learn how a philanthropic board aligns with donor intent, how it vets applications, and how it remains true to its purpose. That’s a whole new lens for me.”

As a registered nurse with experience in transcultural health care, Bazzy is known for her strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and deep commitment to systems that honor the dignity of the individual. She says her time in the ICU working with patients undergoing bypass surgery informs her leadership philosophy to this day.

“You don’t have to remove the entire heart to solve a problem. You find a way to bypass the blockage, restore the flow and bring life back. That’s how I lead at Zaman. It’s how I think about systems and people.”

Bringing lived experience to the table

Bazzy’s path is marked by humility and impact. Zaman’s one-stop model for poverty relief includes food, clothing, shelter support, vocational training and a health clinic, all under one roof. In its three decades, Zaman has served 500,000 individuals in southeast Michigan and 5 million globally. The organization’s core values of dignity, integrity, and stewardship are deeply embedded into every interaction, something Bazzy believes will serve her well as a Flinn Trustee.

Her leadership is also grounded in faith. “I speak to God a lot,” she says. “Having that reliance on a higher power is very special.” This spiritual alignment, she says, is what helps her remain centered amid the emotional weight of her work.

She’s also excited to learn from her peers. “Every board is different, and I want to grow as a leader by learning from others,” she says. While Bazzy values the importance of creating space for new voices in leadership, she is committed to bringing her time, energy, and insight to the Foundation for as long as she can meaningfully contribute.

Bazzy sees her board role as both a responsibility and a privilege. “Leadership is humility. I’m honored they see me as someone with the integrity and intellectual capacity to serve. That trust means everything.”

She also believes that giving doesn’t have to be measured in big numbers to be meaningful. “I’ve learned that philanthropy isn’t about the size of the gift — it’s about the longevity and purpose of giving,” Bazzy says. “It’s about putting hope into action.”

Together with the Flinn Foundation Board of Trustees, Bazzy is welcomed by President and CEO Andrea Cole. “We very much welcome Najah’s thoughtful insight and look forward to her unique perspective as we carry out our work,” says Cole. “We are excited to have her as a Board member.”

Learn more about the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation. Meet the Flinn Foundation Board of Trustees.