About The John Ernest Foundation
Who We Are
TJEF is a Treillage of amazing people around the world with passion for making the world a better place, one step at a time. The glue that holds the broad global network together is fostered by the following Board Members and Officers.
The John Ernest Foundation Americas Board Members
Jessie Chen, Shanghai
Patricia Colin, Mountain View
Ryan Esposto, San Francisco
Dr. Stanley Fischman, Woodside
Kenneth Kaufman, Palo Alto (Chairman)
Randall Niemeyer, Mountain View (Treasurer)
Ryan Perry, San Jose (Secretary)
Robert Patterson, Atherton
James Glover, Los Gatos
Matt Margolin, Silicon Valley
Andrew Fowler, Stanford
The John Ernest Foundation Americas Officers
Kenneth C. Kaufman, Executive Chairman
Ryan Perry, Secretary
Randall Niemeyer, Treasurer
Pamela Ehret, Information Officer
Terence White, Website Editor
Morton and Associates, Accountant
Lilya Sorensen, Bookkeeper
The John Ernest Foundation Europe Board Members (TJEF Europe Website)
Nikolaus Schrader, Hamburg (Chairman of the Board)
Niels Kröner, London (Vice President)
Alexander von Cramm, Munich (Treasurer)
Christian Groenke, Berlin (Member)
Jürgen Döring, London (Member)
Torsten Laufenberg, Cologne (Member)
Jonathan Gifford, Budapest (Member)
Mario Haeuptli, Zurich (Member)
The John Ernest Foundation Europe Officers
Kenneth C. Kaufman, Chairman, College of Mentors
Nikolaus Schrader, Chairman
Niels Kroener, Secretary
Alexander von Cramm, Treasurer
Mario Haeuptli, Website Editor
What TJEF Does
The John Ernest Foundation (TJEF) endeavors to utilize the diverse expertise and abilities of talented people worldwide who are linked together in a common mission: to assist and promote the advancement of individual and community goals and visions in achieving a more positive world. TJEF recognizes that many worthy people do not always have the means to empower their dreams. We hope to provide resources to assist them.
By accessing a powerful network of leaders in business, education, social, scientific and environmental arenas, the focus is not financial support but rather "people–power." Experienced individuals are matched up as potential mentors who guide and assist the selected objectives. Each objective is considered financially and administratively separate from the Foundation. TJEF is able to help a selected number of objectives with clearly defined mission and structure as put forth in a Memorandum of Understanding. (MOU). TJEF does its best to galvanize resources for those with a hope, a dream or a plan. The Foundation assists individuals and organizations to reach their full potential in various ways. TJEF offers its mentoring capabilities to those we work with to aid them in clarifying their goals and in achieving their objectives. For example, TEJF's assistance may come in the form of personal coaching, supporting and advising in college admissions process, or tackling a job search. For organizations, we may make introductions to useful contacts, potential staff, partners and even sponsors. Our global network of people with expertise, experience and exuberance contribute their impressive abilities where most helpful. Mix it all together and the results can often be astonishing.
TJEF is intrigued by the good that is possible to create in our world, a world of diverse charitable, business, education, athletic, and cultural and social interests. Everyone deserves a chance. TJEF wants to provide that chance to a few good people and organizations where possible. In that spirit, TJEF does not limit the scope of objectives. We welcome different ideas and unique approaches and appreciate the "tried and true."
Proposed objectives are presented for consideration to the TJEF Board of Governors in the Americas or the Vorstand in Europe.
How We Do It
...with access, not funds.
TJEF supports new Objectives on the basis of need, resource ability and how the objective is engaged to support the values of a more humane, more positive world. We are fortunate to be able to call on our many generous volunteers in the Treillage, who provide relevant expertise, contacts and/or sponsorship of a particular objective. We provide access not funds. Objectives we support are generally finite and varied. New objectives are presented for Board approval and all receive fair consideration by either the Board of Governors (America) or the Vorstand (European Board). New objectives are assigned a caretaker who determines and speaks for the objective's viability and whether it falls within the TJEF philosophy. The objective must have reasonable timelines, milestones and completion dates. Once accepted, the objective is initiated and the caretaker oversees its progress. Established objectives are then reviewed bi-annually by the appropriate Board. The TJEF philosophy aspires that those we have helped continue to pass their help onto others.
TJEF is an established non-profit entity and we therefore try to cover our administrative expenses through voluntary contributions and in most cases a small percentage of any objective funds.
For every new objective, we will sign a Memorandum of Understanding. (MOU). We will not undertake an objective that implies obligations that we cannot meet-either in mentoring or through networked financial support.
Why We Do It
...we enjoy it.
The John Ernest Foundation is based on a simple premise. We want to connect and work with others to make our world better. TJEF believes in the limitless potential of people to do good for themselves and others. Our efforts are not unlike good old-fashioned barn raising. The TJEF community comes together to chip away at accomplishing goals that benefit individuals and various groups. We see possibility and promise in the faces of those we help. Although several of TJEF's objectives strive to expose and reduce horrible suffering, we also assist objectives based on spreading friendship, beauty and joy. Our college of mentors works to identify and utilize personal strengths and can help focus organizational problems towards solutions.
Why do we do all of this? We enjoy exercising our responsibility to society and supporting good causes. We do it because of our conviction that the humanity of people is a tool for reconciliation and hope. By understanding and harnessing this power, it is possible to build a cascading effect of kindness, inspiration and dedication. We hope that the good we help foster self perpetuates. As individuals within the Foundation we also devote our time because we learn things beyond our daily lives and because we enjoy using the TJEF associations ourselves.
