Members of the Goonj Community!
Goonj was born 25 years ago with the humblest ambition — to provide India's most disadvantaged people with one of the most fundamental human needs: clothing. We did not seek the support of large INGOs, because we believed that this was our problem to solve, and an organization that was of, by and for the people of India would have the greatest chance of lasting success. We did not fundraise, because we did not agree with the hierarchy that put "donors" at the top and "beneficiaries" at the bottom of the ladder. We did not seek to offer "charity," because we felt it robbed people of their dignity. Instead, we used clothing as a form of "currency" to pay people for public work projects that raise the standard of living in rural villages and urban enclaves across India.
Today, Goonj has more than 1,500 staff, countless volunteers and impacts the lives of millions of Indian people every year. We have also earned a global reputation for our unique approach to social impact work and are being asked to share the Goonj philosophy with NGOs, Social Entrepreneurs and students around the world.
We created the Goonj Foundation to help us share what we've learned, and to continue to fuel more learning as we innovate and expand our work across India.
We are truly humbled and grateful that you are willing to join us on this journey
Namaste!
- Anshu Gupta | Board Chair
OUR CHARTER
The Goonj Foundation invests
in two strategic areas.
Critical funding to scale Goonj’s work
across India.
Ensuring civil society leaders and social entrepreneurs around the world understand how to apply the Goonj philosophy to transform their work.
THE FOUNDATION AT WORK
Upcoming Chaupals
in the US and UK !
A Chaupal is a profoundly important feature of rural life across India. It is a place where communities come together celebrate their lives and share their challenges. It offers a unique opportunity for true freedom of speech and expression to everyone and is the primary way villagers sort out their disputes and problem solve about the issues of the day.
It is primarily through Chaupals that the people of Goonj learn what disadvantaged people most need, teach people about opportunities to improve their lives and, frankly, gather the resources we need to be effective in our work.
LOCATION: LOS ANGELES, CA DATE: SEPTEMBER 2024
We are currently planning for our 2024 Chaupal in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Please let us know your interest and we'll add you to our invitation list.
LOCATION: BAY AREA, CA DATE: SEPTEMBER 2024
We are currently planning for our 2024 Chaupal in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please let us know your interest and we'll add you to our invitation list.
LOCATION: LONDON, UK DATE: OCTOBER 2024
We are currently planning for our 2024 Chaupal for the UK/Europe. Please let us know your interest and we'll add you to our invitation list.
JOIN US
Make a difference.
At Goonj, everyone has an important contribution to make — through their wisdom, their talents, their labor or their financial resources.
If you have an interest in contributing your talents, time or resources to the work of Goonj and the Goonj Foundation, please reach out through the link below.
Goonj at Work Around the World
2015 Ramon Magsaysay Award - Acceptance Speech by Anshu Gupta
Redefining Philanthropy
Anshu Gupta | National Geographic
Big Chat with Bill Toliver
Saving the Lives of Women
with a Piece of Cloth
Big Chat with Bill Toliver
Anshu GUPTA
穿針引線 Needles and Machines
The Man Who Transformed The Culture of Giving
Circular social innovation
in India
Big Chat with Bill Toliver
Mindset over matter:
Forbes India
