Honoring Professor Farhoud Kafi’s 50-year legacy in education.
The Kafi Foundry Foundation (KFF) is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to advancing economic literacy that equips and empowers future generations to create positive change.
MEET FARHOUD KAFI: EDUCATOR, ENTREPRENEUR, FAMILY MAN
Farhoud Kafi was a recognized leader in the fields of economics, education, and entrepreneurship. He touched the lives of thousands of students and fellow educators for over 50 years as a professor of Economics at several Boston-area institutions, including Babson College, Suffolk University, and Hult International Business School.
Driven by the fundamental belief that high- quality education should be both accessible and impactful, Professor Kafi’s passion for spreading knowledge took him far outside the classroom. As President of Babson Global, he expanded educational programs in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. As Senior Associate Dean at Hult, he established new campuses in China, Dubai, and elsewhere in the United States.
Professor Kafi rooted his pedagogical approach in the belief that economic principles, when applied properly, can help overcome just about any obstacle and instill positive transformations in countries and communities alike. This inspired him to co-found the Boston Education Consulting Group (BECG) in 2016, a collaborative group of professional educators providing services to higher learning institutions to reach a transformative scale and compete globally.
Leaving his home country of Iran in the mid-1960s, Professor Kafi pursued his higher education first in Pakistan, then in the United States. In 1972, after receiving his Master’s degree in Economics from Northeastern University, he started teaching – and didn’t stop until moments before his scheduled heart surgery in October 2024.
On October 20, 2024, Professor Kafi passed away from complications after heart surgery.
Professor Kafi left an indelible mark on every educational landscape he touched, as well as on the lives of his colleagues and students. His generous spirit and love of teaching were so strong that one former student recounted, “He was so patient, optimistic, and approachable. He was an ordinary man with an extraordinary disposition. He was an angel amongst men.”
To honor Professor Kafi’s 50-year legacy, his son Yashar created the Kafi Foundry Foundation. Yashar aims to continue his father’s aspirations of cultivating learning and advancing economic literacy, in the hopes of equipping future leaders, empowering communities, and creating positive change.
Objectives
Empower Economic Understanding
Provide educational resources, programs, and scholarships focused on economics and related fields to equip students and educators with essential economic literacy, fostering a more informed and economically resilient society.
Champion Lifelong Learning and Growth
Develop initiatives that encourage a growth mindset, emphasizing personal development, curiosity, and critical thinking at every stage of life, reflecting Professor Farhoud Kafi’s passion for continuous improvement and knowledge.
Support Community-Driven Change
Fund and partner with local and global initiatives that apply economic principles to create practical solutions for social and environmental challenges, empowering communities to make sustainable, positive impacts.
Mission Statement
KFF’s mission is to inspire tomorrow’s leaders with sound economic principles and to foster a more informed and economically resilient society by providing educational resources, programs, and scholarships focused on economics and related fields.
Donate Now
KFF, founded in October 2024, is developing its programming to fulfill its mission and objectives. At present, it maintains a scholarship fund whose inaugural disbursement will take place in the fall of 2026. Your financial support will allow KFF to expand its scholarship fund, provide future support to educators, and develop innovative educational programs and experiences, reflecting Professor Kafi’s passion for knowledge and improvement.