News

The Fore announces today that, after nearly five years in post, Mike Tye will shortly stand down as Chair.

Mike was recruited at the end of 2021, when The Fore was still part of The Bulldog Trust, a family foundation established by the late Richard Q Hoare in 1983, to steer the organisation to standalone status and put in place the foundations for future success.

The first ambition was successfully achieved in July 2023 when, with the support of two of the original Advisory Board, The Fore transitioned to become a new, independent charity. Over the following year, an extremely strong Board of Trustees was recruited to support The Fore’s next phase of ambition and strategy, led by CEO and Founder, Mary Rose Gunn.

With a clear vision to “Create a society that solves its own problems,” The Fore has now distributed over £13 million to turbo-charge the work of 650 of the very best grassroots charities, alongside full wrap-around support to guide their success.

Having chaired the new organisation through its first three years, Mike feels now is the right time to pass the baton to his successor. A further announcement about the new Chair’s appointment will be made in due course.

Speaking about his decision, Mike explained “I have loved every moment of my time with The Fore. I was committed to the organisation from the first time I met Mary Rose and understood what she was trying to achieve. We shared a common ambition to fully establish the organisation and then scale it, and its impact, as rapidly as possible. I am proud of what has been achieved over the last 5 years, and particularly grateful to our Board of Trustees for their unflagging efforts and support. I am sad to leave such a wonderful role and organisation, but I am clear that this is the right time for someone new to lead the Board for the next phase of The Fore’s successful growth. I wish Mary Rose and her executive team every success. I shall, of course, remain an active advocate of The Fore’s work; and continue to donate funds from my family’s foundation”.

Mary Rose Gunn added: “We could not be more grateful to Mike. He has guided me and the organisation through a huge period of change as The Fore has matured into a successful, independent charity.  Mike’s wisdom, insight and energy will be greatly missed but he leaves us in an extremely strong position, with everything in place for our next phase. Looking to the future, we are excited to play an ever-greater role in championing change across the funding sector and unlocking more support for talented grassroots leaders who have solutions to society’s greatest challenges.”