We stay small at first
Twelve hubs, not one hundred, in year one. Each hub documented before it is replicated.
About CJF India
Rooted in India. Connected to the world.
CJF India is the newest regional foundation in the Courtney Jordan Foundation family. We carry a global mission into Indian realities: poverty prevention through education, enterprise and community strength.
Our mission in India
The measure of giving is what becomes possible.
CJF India enables people to earn and save, to learn and stay healthy, to influence decisions at home and in the community, and to connect to networks of support.
We believe lasting change comes when communities are enriched with the skills and resources to build the individual: with self confidence, an understanding of rights, the ability to earn an income, and the respect of family and community.
Hand up, not hand out
Support is designed to end the need for itself. A scholarship that leads to a job. A seed grant that leads to ten jobs. A water point that stays repaired because the community owns it.
Access before aid
Tuition paid on time. A tool in hand. A mentor on call. A market that will buy. Small access unlocks large effort.
Culture first · संस्कृति पहले
We learn language, festivals, farming seasons, school calendars and local leadership before we propose anything. We hire locally and decide locally.
Where we come from
From Durham to New Delhi.
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2011
It begins in Durham
Founded as the Courtney Jordan Group in Durham, North Carolina, with three local programmes: the Wellington School for education, the Durham Youth Alliance for youth development, and 2nd Chance 180 for homelessness prevention.
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2016
A foundation is born
Under the vision of founder Courtney Jordan and acting President Mandee Woodard, the group becomes the Courtney Jordan Foundation.
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2017
Help One, Save Many
A new name, a sharper mission, and the motto that guides every branch.
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2018
Going global
Operations move to London, to work more closely with multilateral partners and the Commonwealth network.
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2020 onward
A family of foundations
CJF Bangladesh grows education hubs serving 18,000 children and young people each year and supports more than 2,500 women entrepreneurs. CJF America is re established in 2022. CJF Sri Lanka and CJF Philippines follow.
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1 Nov 2026
CJF India
Announced in New Delhi and led by Dr. Rajesh Sharma. Led in India, for India, with global learning behind it.
Leadership
Dr. Rajesh Sharma
President, India Operations
Dr. Sharma leads CJF India’s strategy, partnerships and field operations. He also serves as Executive Director of International Business Development for Neyius, connecting Indian ambition with global networks, capital and technology. His mandate from the global board is clear: build an Indian institution that listens first, measures honestly and multiplies opportunity.
Dual role disclosure: all decisions related to Neyius require advisory review and a written record.
Read his First 100 Days planGlobal stewardship
One family, many soils.
Courtney JordanFounder
Mackenzie RobinsonEVP Philanthropy
Dr. Noah BurchExecutive Director and COO
Chandak KhatunDeputy Director
Rosie AlvarezInterim President, North America
Dr. Mahmudul HasanPresident, Bangladesh
Aruna PereraPresident, Sri Lanka
Maria Lourdes SantosPresident, Philippines
What makes CJF India different
Small first, to learn well.
We work through Indian systems
Government schools, anganwadis, primary health centres, panchayats, SHG federations and local NGOs. No parallel systems.
We publish failures
Quarterly field notes share what did not work and what we changed. Trust grows with honesty.
We measure independence
Not how many attended, but how many can now read, earn, save and teach others without us.
India Advisory Circle forming by February 2027
We are inviting educators, public health professionals, SHG leaders, small business mentors, youth representatives, and CSR and legal advisors. No honorary names: only working mentors who visit field sites.
Nominate a mentor