B1G Foundation

What B1G Foundation does

B1G Foundation, also styled as BIG Foundation or Black Isle Group (BIG) Foundation, is a UK-registered non-profit charitable foundation founded in 2017 by Tim and Beth Richardson as the philanthropic arm of Black Isle Group. Headquartered in London with 1-10 employees, the foundation invests in community and environmental projects where 'education and enterprise will achieve sustainable change,' primarily in Kenya (Sasenyi, Itinyi/ Tsavo, and the Muhaka/Kaya Muhaka coastal region) alongside smaller UK-based local initiatives such as park clearing with Hands On London, Trussell Trust food bank collections, and Heropreneurs veteran mentoring.

Its core products and programs are volunteer engagement experiences and fundraising events rather than technology. The portfolio includes annual family and corporate volunteering trips to Kenya (delivered operationally through a core partnership with Camps International), a completed Itinyi Primary School nursery classroom project (2018-2020), the Muhaka/Kaya Muhaka project tied to UNESCO-listed Mijikenda Sacred Forests (2021-2023), the Support Kenya 'Bra Appeal' (~2000 bras distributed via 25 women's groups), and The BIG Walk, an annual multi-stage UK fundraising walking event with £1,000 minimum stage sponsorships and beneficiaries including the Veterans Foundation.

The foundation's business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams include individual donations via JustGiving and EasyFundraising, corporate CSR partnerships and project sponsorships (with named partners such as OODLE GROUP and The Fry Group), and event-driven fundraising through The BIG Walk. Customer segments span UK corporates seeking CSR/team-development experiences, individual volunteers seeking purposeful travel, and beneficiary communities in Kenya. There is no pricing model in the commercial sense, no disclosed revenue, and no equity funding; operations are owner-led by the founding Richardson family with cross-leverage from Black Isle Group.

Name

B1G Foundation

Legal name

BIG Foundation

Website

https://big-foundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

B1G Foundation is a UK-based non-profit founded in 2017 by Tim and Beth Richardson that funds community and environmental projects in Kenya and the UK through corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and volunteer programs, serving corporate CSR clients, individual volunteers, and beneficiary communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation services
• Community development programs
• Environmental conservation projects
• Education access initiatives
• Volunteer travel experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The foundation accepts individual donations through JustGiving platform and direct bank transfers. Donors contribute to support community and environmental projects in Kenya and local UK initiatives.
2. Corporate Social Responsibility Partnerships: Companies engage the foundation for unique leadership and team development opportunities through corporate volunteering trips and project sponsorships. This provides businesses with CSR activities while generating revenue for the foundation.
3. Fundraising Events: The BIG Walk annual fundraiser invites participants to sponsor walking stages, with each stage having a minimum sponsorship target of £1,000. Donations also accepted via JustGiving and bank transfer.
4. Project Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors pay for essential project materials, such as building materials for the Itinyi nursery classroom project where 20 corporate volunteers participated in construction.
5. Online Shopping Integration: Volunteers can make free donations when shopping online through EasyFundraising, with a portion of purchases directed to the foundation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

B1G Foundation is a UK-registered charitable foundation (established 2017) and the charitable arm of Black Isle Group that delivers community, education, and environmental projects in Kenya and the UK. It sells volunteer program placements, fundraising events, and corporate partnership/sponsorship opportunities, channeling donations and volunteer labor into on-the-ground initiatives such as nursery education, livelihoods, and local community programs.

Product overview

B1G Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2017 by Tim and Beth Richardson, operating as the charitable arm of Black Isle Group. The Foundation offers community and environmental volunteer programs primarily focused on Kenya, featuring structured initiatives including volunteer trips, The BIG Walk fundraising event, the Support Kenya/Bra Appeal, and local UK projects. The portfolio includes both international projects (Itinyi Nursery Project completed 2018-2020, Muhaka Project 2021-2023) and local initiatives (park clearing, food banks, Heropreneurs mentoring). All programs aim to achieve sustainable change through education and enterprise while providing leadership development opportunities for volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volunteer Programs (Kenya & UK)

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 children able to learn in new nursery classroom
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Camps InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamps International serves as the operational partner for Kenya-based projects, providing accommodation at Camp Tsavo, logistical support for volunteer activities, and integration with community projects. They have provided new classrooms, water storage facilities, and feeding programs at schools. The partnership enables the foundation's annual family and corporate volunteering trips to Kenya.
• Hands On LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHands On London runs the Brighten Up London environmental campaign. B1G Foundation partners with them for local UK environmental projects such as park clearing activities in Holland Park, London.
• Trussell TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB1G Foundation organizes food bank collections, particularly during Christmas, with donations contributed to the Trussell Trust to support those in need across the UK.
• HeropreneursminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Isle Group experts provide mentoring to ex-military men and women on their journey from Armed Forces careers to running their own businesses, advised through behavior change, leadership development, and talent analytics.
• EasyFundraisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEasyFundraising platform enables supporters to make free donations when shopping online, with a portion of eligible purchases directed to B1G Foundation.
• JustGivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJustGiving platform used for The BIG Walk fundraiser donations and general foundation donations, providing online fundraising infrastructure and visibility.
• OODLE GROUPminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOODLE GROUP participates in corporate volunteering programs, with CEO Jonny Clayton providing testimonial about the life-changing impact of the project on their team.
• The Fry GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Fry Group participates in corporate volunteering programs, with CEO Jeremy Woodley and employees like Amanda Newell participating in Kenya projects.
• Veterans FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BIG Walk fundraiser supports Veterans Foundation and the Veterans Lottery, celebrating the 'Blue Light' and Veterans communities as part of the pandemic frontline heroes celebration.
• RE-ACTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRE-ACT appears as a supporting partner for The BIG Walk initiative.
• Black Isle GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of the foundation, founded by Tim and Beth Richardson. Tim Richardson serves as CEO of Black Isle Group and Founder of B1G Foundation. Black Isle Group experts mentor Heropreneurs participants and participate in foundation projects.
• World VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMama Mercy worked with World Vision when representing the community, contributing to the broader ecosystem of organizations supporting women's empowerment and community development in the Tsavo area.
• Wildlife WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMama Mercy collaborated with Wildlife Works as part of her community development work, supporting environmental and conservation initiatives in the Maungu area of Tsavo.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camps International: Camps International is the operational partner for B1G Foundation's Kenya programs and itself operates a near-identical model: school-building volunteering trips, community development in Tsavo/Muhaka, and corporate volunteer engagement. It is simultaneously a partner and the closest direct competitor in international corporate volunteering.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Conservation-focused NGO with corporate partnership programs and Kenya field operations including community-based conservation in coastal/Muhaka-adjacent regions. Comparable on the environmental conservation and community engagement dimensions.
• Projects Abroad: Global volunteer travel organization offering international volunteering trips in Africa (including Kenya), education, and community development projects. Competes directly for the same individual-volunteer and corporate-CSR customer base.
• Raleigh International: UK-based charity running structured international volunteer expeditions focused on community development and environmental projects, with corporate partnership programs. Highly comparable in model, geography, and target donor/volunteer base.
• IVHQ (International Volunteer HQ): Large-scale international volunteer travel platform offering affordable programs in 50+ countries including Kenya. Targets similar individual and corporate volunteer customers with comparable community/environmental projects.
• GVI (Global Vision International): International volunteer and intern organization running community development, education, and conservation programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Directly comparable in service offering, customer segments, and Kenya presence.
• African & Caribbean Development Foundation: UK-based charity focused on community development and education projects in African communities. Shares target geography (Kenya/Tsavo region), beneficiary communities, and corporate partner engagement model.

Others

• Trussell Trust: UK food bank network that B1G Foundation partners with for local UK projects. Comparable as a UK charity with corporate volunteering opportunities and community-development funding model, though focused domestically.

Broad incumbents

• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): Large, established UK-based international development charity running volunteer placement, education, and community programs across Africa. Broader scale and geographic reach than B1G but comparable mission and donor base.
• Comic Relief: Major UK charitable foundation funding international development, education, and community projects in Africa. Shares grantmaking foundation structure and donor base, though operates at vastly greater scale through mass fundraising events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/b1gfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/B1GFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/b1gfoundation/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b1g-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about B1G Foundation