“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance”
- Robert Kennedy
At the Barlow Impact Group (B.I.G.) we want to be that ripple of hope. We are committed to B.I.G. Ideas, B.I.G. Investments and B.I.G. Grants - all designed to create B.I.G. change and a future where there is equal opportunity for all humankind.
In 2020, The Barlow Foundation moved from a traditional philanthropic model to being at the forefront of impact investment and granting whereby all our resources are activated for true change. Re-named the Barlow Impact Group, 100% of our capital is invested into businesses and initiatives that have a social impact return.
We believe philanthropists are merely a drop in the ocean as the facilitators of change, it is those on the front line who truly know the solutions to society’s greatest problems. We seek to listen to them and back them so they can grow and do what they do even better.
As our logo symbolises, at B.I.G, we want to be that first drop that allows change-makers to cause the ripple that in turn creates the real change.
B.I.G. Investments, B.I.G. Grants and B.I.G Ideas are all designed to accelerate positive impact in the world. We hope to encourage others to focus on backing big hearted innovators and change makers driving true sustainable change.
Our B.I.G. initiatives include:
B.I.G. Change
An annual grant of $1 million to innovators with systems change initiatives that seek to reduce inequalities in the Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific.
B.I.G. Investments
100% of the corpus is invested for social impact through impact investments, ESG investments and concessional loans.
B.I.G. Future
A program led by the younger generation of the Barlow family aged under 25 and dedicated to backing climate crisis solutions.
B.I.G. Ideas
We gather and share our knowledge to be transparent and inspire others to invest for social impact. We also offer accommodation, office and function space at our headquarters at The Irish Linen House to help change makers amplify their own voices.
The pillars that guide Barlow Impact Group include:
Relationship building - we build respectful, honest, engaging and innovative relationships and partnerships to achieve lasting change.
Joy - creating social impact is a great honour and brings us immense joy and we want to share that joy with our partners.
Maximum Impact - we utilise all financial and social capital for greatest possible impact.
Transparency - we continually learn from others as well as share our knowledge and process.
Forward thinking - we support innovative thinkers and new approaches to problem solving.