When Barkley Payne reflects on the recent Invest in Others Awards Gala, held in Boston, Massachusetts, this past September, his first thought is of pride. Not for himself, but for the advisors and financial professionals whose charitable work the event spotlighted.
“At some point during the program Thursday night, I thought to myself, if I am a financial advisor sitting in this room, I would be so proud to be part of this community,” Payne says. “I can’t imagine anyone not leaving there feeling so proud, motivated, inspired to do their very best and to continue to keep giving back and paying it forward in the communities in which we live and work.”
The evening, which featured financial advisor awards including Community Service, Emerging Impact, and Lifetime Achievement, was a record-breaker. Payne, who serves as CEO of Invest in Others (IIO), notes the event set four new organizational records and was punctuated by a $2 million multiyear grant from the US Charitable Gift Trust. “It was just a phenomenal evening,” he says. “Quite frankly, my team and I are still trying to process all the amazing things that happened.”
Payne’s enthusiasm is rooted in decades of nonprofit leadership. His career spans posts with the American Dental Association Foundation, the Orthopedic Research Foundation, and eight years as executive director of the American Medical Association Foundation.
When a recruiter approached him about leading Invest in Others in 2023, Payne wasn’t looking to leave the AMA. But the mission struck a chord. “When I read the job description, I heard fireworks and whistles,” he recalls. “Count me in.” IIO recognizes financial advisors across the country for the amazing charitable work they do in their communities.
The board agreed, selecting him unanimously as only the organization’s second CEO. For Payne, the decision was one of passion. “This is once again one of the most rewarding and fun positions I’ve ever had the honor to hold,” he says.
Payne began his tenure by spearheading IIO’s first strategic plan. “It’s been a year of discovery and investment,” he explains. “As validated through the awards gala, we are taking this organization to greater heights.”
That strategy includes expanding beyond the gala. A grants program, opening this fall, will allow anyone in financial services – not just advisors – to apply for up to $20,000 in funding for their favorite charities. “Unlike the gala, which highlights the advisor’s impact, this program focuses solely on the needs of the charity and their work,” Payne says.
The power of Payne’s work lies in recognition. Each year, Invest in Others receives about 500 applications, which are reviewed anonymously by volunteer judges. The stories they uncover are deeply personal. “It’s all inspiring,” Payne says. “Everyone deserves to be celebrated.”
Perhaps most moving for Payne is the moment he personally calls the finalists. “I feel like Ed McMahon knocking on the door with the Publishers Clearing House check,” he says. “I’ve made grown men and women cry happy tears.”
He is quick to emphasize that the honorees are not in it for the spotlight. “These people are not doing this work for the recognition,” Payne says. “They have full-time jobs helping others with their financial wealth. But they pause to give back because they feel so strongly about a cause. It’s their investment into the charity.”
That ethos aligns seamlessly with the mission: “To amplify and to celebrate and inspire the work of the financial services community.”
Payne’s background in journalism has shaped his approach to storytelling in philanthropy. Early in his career, those writing skills were used for grant writing. Today, he uses them to ensure advisors’ stories are heard.
For younger advisors who may feel overwhelmed at the idea of community service so early in their careers, Payne offers practical encouragement. “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” he advises. “Going to work and getting paid is one thing. But finding time to go to work and not get paid as a volunteer, to really improve the lives of others – that kind of work is priceless. There’s no paycheck that can offer you the return on that investment.”
As Invest in Others approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, Payne is intent on raising awareness of the organization. “The more we can spread this good news – that there is a pathway for you to increase the impact you’re having on your charity – the bigger difference we can make.”
For Payne, philanthropy is not just a career – it’s a calling. And through Invest in Others, he has found a platform to elevate the generosity, compassion, and vision of a community eager to make lasting change.
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