Cotton On is Australia’s largest fashion retailer, but it is their commitment to education, youth mental health, and climate action that sets them apart from a typical business.

From selling $5 tote bags, water bottles or reusable face masks to their youth-based market, the Cotton On Foundation has become a model for how Australian businesses can make a transformative impact in international development.

In this episode, Philanthropod’s host, Anubha Rawat, sits down with Logan Whitaker: Global Engagement Manager at the Cotton On Foundation. Together, they explore the Cotton On Foundation’s journey, model and aspirations moving forward. Beginning in 2007 with the reconstruction of a single classroom in Uganda, the Cotton On Foundation now supports 22 schools in Uganda, alongside climate and mental health initiatives across four continents.

At the centre of their model is a commitment to partnering with government schools and fostering their financial independence through trust-based relationships and mobile money systems for fee collection. They also take a whole-of-systems approach - including focusing on leadership and identifying opportunities to support students past primary school, to high school, and even to vocational studies where possible. In many ways, the Cotton On Foundation occupies a unique space between international development funder and implementer.

Looking ahead, the Cotton On Foundation is now aiming to complete its mission in Uganda - a vision that requires the construction of 19 additional schools. Presenting a unique opportunity for the sector, they are now seeking businesses, corporates, and funders to partner with them to ensure that Uganda’s rapidly growing population has access to quality education for generations to come.

This episode is recommended listening for anyone interested in the evolving role of corporate foundations within Australia’s changing international development and philanthropic landscape.

Learn more about the Cotton On Foundation here: https://cottonongroup.com.au/the-good-we-do/cotton-on-foundation/

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