Technical Training Foundation (Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $4.6-5.1 million
Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation/trustee discretion only)
Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,000,000+
Geographic Focus: Primarily Massachusetts (Lawrence, Beverly, North Andover areas) with some national medical research grants
Total Assets: Approximately $60 million

Contact Details

Address: North Andover/Beverly, Massachusetts
EIN: 04-2864138
Classification: Private Grantmaking Foundation (NTEE Code T20)

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. Contact information may be available through IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Key Personnel:

Wensley El-Hefni, Trustee (Widow of founder)
Suzanne Wright, Trustee (Daughter of founder)
Matiullah Amin, Director of Operations

Overview

The Technical Training Foundation, also known as the Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation, was established in 1985 by Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni (1927-2005), an Egyptian immigrant, electrical engineer, and successful entrepreneur who lived in North Andover, Massachusetts. The foundation received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in June 1989 and currently holds approximately $60 million in assets.

Following Dr. El-Hefni's death in 2005, the foundation has been managed by his widow Wensley El-Hefni and daughter Suzanne Wright (an attorney). The foundation continues Dr. El-Hefni's philanthropic legacy with annual charitable disbursements of $4.6-5.1 million, focusing primarily on educational access for disadvantaged students and support for medical/healthcare institutions.

The foundation operates as a private foundation making grants through trustee discretion rather than accepting public applications. For decades, the foundation operated anonymously, providing full college scholarships to marginalized students, particularly students of color in the Lawrence, Massachusetts area. The family was honored in Washington, D.C. as one of 10 community college benefactors in the country by the Council for Resource Development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Instead, grants are awarded through:

Trustee-Identified Opportunities: Grants initiated by foundation leadership based on their knowledge of community needs
Institutional Relationships: Multi-year support for select educational and medical institutions
Major Capital Projects: Significant one-time grants for facilities, equipment, and endowments
Scholarship Support: Direct and indirect scholarship funding for disadvantaged students

Priority Areas

Education:

College scholarships for marginalized and disadvantaged students, particularly in the Lawrence, Massachusetts area
Community college support, especially technical and allied health training programs
Equipment and technology for educational institutions
Financial aid endowments at schools serving students with learning differences
Teacher training and educational resources

Healthcare and Medical Research:

Allied health training facilities and equipment
Medical research repositories and research support
Healthcare technology advancement

Geographic Focus:

Primary focus on Greater Lawrence/Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts
Secondary focus on North Andover and Beverly, Massachusetts areas
National grants for specialized medical research

Known Grant Recipients

Major Grants:

Northern Essex Community College: $1 million for state-of-the-art equipment for the Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center (a 44,000 square foot facility in Lawrence)
Landmark School: Multiple substantial gifts to financial aid program, helping complete $8 million financial aid goal for 50 Forward Capital Campaign
California Pacific Medical Center/Sutter Health: Funding to establish the Ibrahim El-Hefni Liver Biorepository (described as "the only one of its kind," with national acclaim for work on Hepatitis C vaccine development)
Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School (Lawrence): Support through Campion Hall project, generating up to $1.5 million endowment for tuition assistance
Individual Students: Full college scholarships to marginalized students in Lawrence area (provided anonymously for decades)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus suggests they do not fund:

Organizations outside their established geographic focus (unless for specialized medical research)
General operating support for organizations without clear educational or healthcare missions
Capital campaigns unrelated to educational or healthcare facilities
Organizations that do not serve disadvantaged or marginalized populations

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Wensley El-Hefni: Trustee and widow of founder Ibrahim El-Hefni; continues foundation operations since 2005
Suzanne Wright: Trustee and daughter of founder; attorney based in California; has stated she wants to highlight her father's contributions as a Muslim-American

Staff:

Matiullah Amin: Director of Operations ($70,837 compensation, 2024)
Vicky Garcia Garcia: Bookkeeper ($41,340 compensation, 2024)

Founder's Philosophy: Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni believed "if you had an education and worked hard, you could do anything in this country." This philosophy guides the foundation's commitment to removing financial barriers to education for disadvantaged students.

Leadership Priorities: According to available information, the foundation prioritizes:

Supporting technology and equipment over building infrastructure
Providing resources for teacher training and educational programs
Enabling access to quality education for underprivileged youth
Practical educational support that equips institutions and individuals with tools to succeed

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Technical Training Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships with educational and medical institutions.

Grants appear to be initiated in the following ways:

Foundation trustees identify opportunities aligned with the foundation's mission
Long-term relationships with specific institutions (Northern Essex Community College, Landmark School, etc.)
Trustees' personal connections to communities and causes (particularly the Lawrence, MA area)
Institutional partnerships developed over multiple years

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant applications or proposals to this foundation.

Getting on Their Radar

NOTE: The foundation has operated anonymously for much of its history and does not appear to seek new grantee relationships through public channels. However, based on their documented giving patterns:

For Educational Institutions in Massachusetts:

Northern Essex Community College: The foundation has a well-established relationship with NECC, particularly for allied health and technical training programs. NECC administers the "Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Scholarship" for students in technical fields (Engineering, Computer Science, Math, Nursing) with financial need.
Lawrence-area institutions: The foundation has demonstrated deep commitment to educational organizations serving disadvantaged students in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Institutional Connection Points:

Organizations already receiving support from the foundation may be able to facilitate introductions for similar organizations
The foundation's focus on North Andover, Beverly, and Lawrence suggests local institutional connections in these communities

Litigation Note: In 2023, the foundation filed a $250 million lawsuit against Sutter Health/California Pacific Medical Center regarding support for the Ibrahim El-Hefni Liver Biorepository, indicating the foundation actively protects and monitors its grant investments.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through trustee discretion without a formal application or review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

This section is not applicable as the foundation does not accept applications. However, analysis of their documented giving reveals the following patterns:

Types of Projects Funded:

Major capital investments in educational facilities serving disadvantaged populations
Equipment and technology that directly enables student learning in technical/healthcare fields
Scholarship programs and financial aid endowments that remove barriers to education
Medical research with potential for significant public health impact
Long-term institutional relationships rather than one-time gifts

Alignment with Founder's Values:

Organizations serving marginalized students, particularly students of color
Programs providing practical, career-oriented technical training
Institutions in communities with significant socioeconomic need
Projects that demonstrate "if you had an education and worked hard, you could do anything"

Grant Characteristics:

Substantial grants ($1 million+) for transformational projects
Multi-year or endowment support rather than annual operating grants
Preference for funding equipment, technology, and resources over buildings
Recognition of gifts through naming opportunities (El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center, El-Hefni Liver Biorepository)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application methods
Trustee-driven grantmaking: All grants appear to originate from trustee initiative and established relationships
Significant capacity: With $60M in assets and $4.6-5.1M in annual giving, this is a substantial funder when engaged
Geographic focus: Strong commitment to Lawrence, North Andover, and Beverly, Massachusetts communities
Transformational giving: The foundation makes large, multi-year grants that create lasting impact rather than many small grants
Education equity mission: Primary focus on removing financial barriers to education for disadvantaged and marginalized students
Technical/healthcare emphasis: Particular interest in allied health training, technical education, and medical research
Legacy of anonymity: Foundation operated anonymously for decades, suggesting limited interest in public recognition or engagement

Strategic Consideration: Organizations seeking funding should not pursue this foundation through direct outreach. However, institutions in the Lawrence/Merrimack Valley area serving disadvantaged students in technical or healthcare fields may benefit from building relationships with NECC or other known grantees, as the foundation appears to support networks of aligned organizations.

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Technical Training Foundation (EIN 04-2864138), Form 990-PF data for 2024 fiscal year. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42864138 (Accessed January 9, 2026)
CauseIQ - Technical Training Foundation profile, financial data from 2020 tax filings. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/technical-training-foundation,042864138/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)
The Boston Globe - "Daughter carries on with father's donation legacy" (May 6, 2012). http://archive.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2012/05/06/daughter_carries_on_with_fathers_donation_legacy/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)
Northern Essex Community College - "NECC Breaks Ground for El-Hefni Health and Technology Center" (April 13, 2012). https://www.necc.mass.edu/newsroom/2012/04/13/necc-breaks-ground-for-el-hefni-health-and-technology-center/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)
Northern Essex Community College - "Health Workers Prepare for Careers in New El-Hefni Center" (March 24, 2014). https://www.necc.mass.edu/newsroom/2014/03/24/necc-cuts-ribbon-for-el-hefni-allied-health-technology-center-in-lawrence/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)
Eagle Tribune - "North Andover family honored for helping students go to college" (2014). https://www.eagletribune.com/news/local_news/north-andover-family-honored-for-helping-students-go-to-college/article_ea238968-b487-5592-9a9a-b1f4b34091e6.html (Accessed January 9, 2026)
Landmark School - "Something My Dad Would've Done" (Donor story about Suzanne Wright and the El-Hefni Educational Foundation). https://www.landmarkschool.org/our-school/landmark-stories/donor-stories/something-my-dad-would-ve-done (Accessed January 9, 2026)
Greenberg Glusker - "Greenberg Glusker Represents Technical Training Foundation in lawsuit against Sutter Health and California Pacific Medical Center Over Failure to Support Liver Research Repository" (2023). https://www.greenbergglusker.com/publications/greenberg-glusker-represents-technical-training-foundation-in-lawsuit-against-sutter-health-and-california-pacific-medical-center-over-failure-to-support-liver-research-repository/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)
Becker's Hospital Review - "Sutter Health looking at $250M liver depository lawsuit" (2023). https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/legal-regulatory-issues/sutter-health-looking-at-250m-liver-depository-lawsuit/ (Accessed January 9, 2026)
Northern Essex Community College Scholarships - "Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Scholarship". https://necc.academicworks.com/opportunities/2693 (Accessed January 9, 2026)