A Legacy of Quiet Impact: Courtney Jordan Honored in Southern Business Review for Transformational Work Across America
Published by CJF America | July 2025
Durham | Selma | Rocky Mount | Louisville | Myrtle Beach
In its widely circulated feature story, “The Quiet Generosity of Lesser-Known Billionaire Philanthropists,” Southern Business Review recognized a select group of global leaders whose wealth has been wielded not for attention, but for action. Among them: Courtney Jordan, founder of The Courtney Jordan Foundation and architect behind the national nonprofit initiative CJF America.
For our team and the communities we serve, this recognition is both an honor and a validation. Because long before accolades arrived, the work was already happening—on the ground, in the margins, and often in silence.
Building More Than Centers—Building Hope
Through Cornerstone America, CJF America has reimagined the future of under-resourced communities by developing SmartHubs, youth academies, and trauma-informed community centers across the Southeast and Midwest. These hubs are not just buildings—they are pipelines of opportunity.
Programs supported by Jordan’s philanthropic engine include:
CJF Youth Alliance Offering mentoring, college readiness, cultural exposure, and financial literacy to Black, Brown, Indigenous, and rural youth ages 8–21. Cornerstone SmartHubs Full-service, walkable centers that combine food access, mental health services, afterschool care, and entrepreneurship labs under one roof—present in Durham, Roxboro, Rocky Mount, South Boston, and expanding. GED, Adult Literacy & Workforce Programs Empowering adults who have been pushed to the periphery of economic growth to reclaim their potential and earn credentials with dignity. Housing & Family Stability Initiatives Providing direct support to single-parent households, seniors, and unhoused residents through emergency aid, transitional housing, and long-term planning.
As Southern Business Review writes,
“Jordan’s belief that ‘true wealth lies in how we use our resources to uplift others’ is not a tagline—it’s a truth practiced daily in the neighborhoods he serves.”
America First, But Not Alone
While Jordan’s philanthropic footprint spans continents, his roots—and his deepest commitments—remain in the American South. From Selma to South Boston, from Franklin to Florence, CJF America’s work is led by locals, guided by love, and grounded in systemic change.
And yet, Jordan’s approach rejects saviorism. Instead, he plants the seeds, empowers community leaders, and steps back. The goal is not to rescue—it is to rebuild, sustainably and equitably.
No Cameras. Just Change.
Jordan has never needed a press release to validate impact. His focus has always been on action over applause. That’s why Southern Business Review’s acknowledgment of his quiet giving means so much—not because it elevates his name, but because it affirms that this kind of leadership matters.
At CJF America, we follow that same ethos. We aren’t chasing praise. We are chasing outcomes. And in every child taught, every home secured, every entrepreneur funded, we see the reward.
Read the full article from Southern Business Review:
The Quiet Generosity of Lesser-Known Billionaire Philanthropists
To partner with CJF America or bring a Cornerstone SmartHub to your city, contact us:
📧 hello@cjfamerica.org
🌐 www.cjfamerica.org
📍 Offices in NC, SC, KY, GA, VA, FL, TN, and Puerto Rico