
Mary Rose Gunn
Chief Executive
Mary Rose has been a pioneer in the grant making space since 2012. She previously ran The Bulldog Trust and its public programmes at Two Temple Place, and worked within politics and the media. She is a Trustee of INTBAU and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 2018 she was named as one of the Pioneers Post’s 100 Women In Social Enterprise. In 2020 she became a Commissioner on the Law Family Commission on Civil Society.

Francis Shaw
Head of Programmes and Impact
Francis has considerable experience working in both the private and social sectors. Before joining The Fore, Francis managed the delivery of a programme worth over £45 million that sought to support communities improve their neighbourhoods and quality of life. Francis oversees the delivery and impact monitoring of The Fore’s support programmes, including the grant, workshop and training elements. Francis also volunteers as a grant panelist at a charity that supports refugees into employment.

Kate Hoyles
Partnerships Manager
Kate is responsible for helping to build our corporate and funding partnerships. Working together with our Fundraising Director, she ensures that we can extend our grant programmes to more innovative charities. Kate joined The Fore team in 2021. Her work has helped to scale our grants programme to over a hundred more small charities since then. Kate previously worked in Market Research for a consultancy. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Kelly Ruder
Programme Officer
Kelly first joined The Fore as Social Impact intern and is now in a permanent role. Her eye for data and analytical skills help track our industry leading impact as a grant maker. Kelly studied Psychology at university. She now helps nurture our community of portfolio charities. Kelly is responsible for sending out workshop, training and volunteering opportunities. She also designs our impact survey, and compiles insights to drive The Fore’s strategy and inform our team.

Alex Edwards
Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager
Alex has several years’ experience in administration, project management and running successful events. She was Visitor Services Manager for exhibitions at Two Temple Place, responsible for welcoming thousands of guests. She then went to the Museum of London, to manage their extensive volunteering programme. A change in direction led her into proofreading which she now does freelance, alongside her part-time role as Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager at The Fore.