Alan and Pam Trefler
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Pegasystems
FUNDING AREAS: Community Health & Wellness, Education & Youth Development
OVERVIEW: Established in 1997 by Pamela and Alan Trefler, the Trefler Foundation’s mission is to support “bold, inventive ideas, local leadership, and ground-up thinking dictated by what our communities really need.” The foundation’s three current initiatives focus on Equalizing Healthcare Access, Enhancing Educational Opportunity and Expanding Economic Security. Grantmaking prioritizes but is not limited to the greater Boston area.
BACKGROUND: Born in Massachusetts, Alan Trefler graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in economics and computer science in 1977. In 1983, he founded Pegasystems, a Cambridge-based company that specializes in developing software for customer relationship management and business process management.
ISSUES:
PUBLIC HEALTH: In recent years, the Trefler Foundation’s grantmaking for health has focused on community health organizations in Boston’s more disadvantaged areas. Recent grantees include Asian Women for Health of Boston, the Kraft Center for Community Health and the Dimock Community Health Center.
EDUCATION & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: Education is the Treflers’ largest area of giving. The foundation’s grantmaking in this area has recently focused on diversity, career exploration in STEM disciplines, mentoring programs for underserved youth, college preparedness and access and out-of-school enrichment programs. Grantees include Year Up Boston, the University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston Partners in Education and the New England Board of Higher Education.
WORK AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: The Trefler Foundation names the expansion of economic security as an area of focus and has recently funded organizations involved in vocational training and placement, pathways to STEM careers and entrepreneurial projects in marginalized communities. The foundation has given to the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, the Robert Ouko Community Library and Technology Center in Marrietta, Georgia and Social Capital, Inc. of Woburn, Massachusetts.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect this couple to stick with their select interest areas for now. Foundation giving has declined over the past several years.
CONTACT:
