Ali Elnajjar

Siblings Ali and Ghada, Palestinian-Americans originally from Gaza moved to the United States in 1986 when their father pursued his master's and PhD degrees. 

Ali Elnajjar graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in Risk Management & Insurance. After graduating in 2004, Ali worked in the financial services sector and in 2009, established AE Financial & Risk Management, an independent investment advisory firm (RIA). In 2016, Ali co-founded Avicenna Nutraceutical, an R&D and collagen distribution company which was awarded two patents in 2019 and 2021 for methods of producing Undenatured and Hydrolyzed Collagen Type II protein, a raw material ingredient utilized as a natural supplement for joint support. In 2021, Avicenna published its clinical study for the raw material in the Nutrients Journal (Efficacy of Collagen Type II Supplement in Alleviating Joint Discomfort). 

Ghada Elnajjar, also a graduate of the University of Georgia, earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She continued her studies and completed a master’s degree in International Affairs at American University in Washington, DC. Ghada worked at the US-Arab Chamber of Commerce and the US Department of State, and in 2012 joined Ali to help manage the day-to-day operations of the firm. 

EJF received its IRS determination letter on September 29, 2023, approving EJF as a 501(c)(3) private foundation. Shortly after the war on Gaza began, EJF partnered with The Gaza Scholarship Initiative (GSI), an unincorporated organization composed of a team of volunteers - writers, academics, artists, professionals, and concerned individuals. With a common mission of serving the underserved and disadvantaged populations due to their socio-economic conditions or disasters and hardships they face in conflict zones, GSI serves as the independent review and selection committee for the EJF grant-making program (Gaza Student Scholarship and Other Financial Assistance) for displaced students of Gaza. 

As the program has grown, we require your support to sustain the current grant-making program. Thank you in advance for any donation you are capable of providing.