Ali Elnajjar

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

Ali Elnajjar earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia in Risk Management & Insurance. After graduating in 2004, Ali worked in the financial services sector and in 2009, founded AE Financial & Risk Management, an independent investment advisory firm (RIA). In 2016, Ali co-founded Avicenna Nutraceutical, an R&D and collagen distribution company. Avicenna was awarded two patents in 2019 and 2021 for methods of producing Undenatured and Hydrolyzed Collagen Type II protein, a raw material ingredient used 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 before completing a master’s 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 it as a 501(c)(3) private foundation. Shortly after the war on Gaza began, EJF partnered with The Gaza Scholarship Initiative (GSI), a coalition of volunteers - writers, academics, artists, professionals, and concerned individuals -  who share a mission of serving the underserved and disadvantaged populations facing significant hardships such as socio-economic disadvantage, displacement due to the impact of war and other international emergencies and disasters. GSI serves as the independent review and selection committee for the EJF's grant-making program, Gaza: Student Scholarship and Other Financial Assistance, which supports displaced students from Gaza. 

As the program grows, we rely on your support to sustain the various charitable benefits the grant-making program supports. Your donation, no matter the amount, helps us continue providing critical aid to individuals in need. Thank you for your generosity.