The Fore Team

Mary Rose has been a pioneer in the grant making space since 2012.  She founded The Fore in 2017 after a four year pilot run under the umbrella of The Bulldog Trust.  Until 2022 she ran The Bulldog Trust and its public programmes at Two Temple Place alongside The Fore.  Previously she 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. From 2020-2022 she served as a Commissioner on the Law Family Commission on Civil Society.

Rachel has spent her career building organisations, programmes and partnerships that turn ambitious ideas into sustained impact. Before joining The Fore, she spent a decade with Village Capital, most recently as their Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, working across social innovation, entrepreneurship and organisational strategy. Earlier in her career, Rachel worked in private equity, hospitality and tech. She holds a Master’s in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge.

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. 

Elspeth works with current and potential funding partners and manages the Pro Bono Programme, matching skilled volunteers to small charities within The Fore’s portfolio as trustees, mentors, advisors, and project volunteers. Elspeth studied business at the University of Leeds and has a passion for using business practices and models to create social change. She is a trustee for Know Your Worth, a charity helping girls with their self-esteem.

Rob works with current and potential funding partners to make their philanthropy enjoyable and high-impact. He also plays a key role in comms at The Fore, producing our podcast, Brace For Impact. Before joining The Fore, Rob worked in hospitality management, founding his own business in 2020. He is also the co-founder of Dinner on the Hill, a community initiative that provides monthly free three-course restaurant style meals to families facing food insecurity in Lewisham.

Kelly works closely with the Programmes team to deliver our funding rounds and curate The Fore’s wraparound support programmes. Having studied Psychology at undergraduate level and volunteered with children’s charities, Kelly is committed to supporting applicants and our Strategic Applicant Consultants, as well as helping to nurture our community of portfolio charities.

Lucy works closely with both the Programmes and Partnerships team at The Fore, delivering support where needed. She studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Durham University, where she had a particular interest in business ethics and corporate social responsibility. She is keen to help bridge the gap between the private and charity sectors, having volunteered at a winter night shelter for people experiencing homelessness and a programme providing hot meals for low-income families during the school holidays.

Ahinoa works with the Programmes team, supporting the delivery of the organisation’s grant programmes and events. She works across programme coordination, communications and partnerships, helping bring people together across The Fore’s network of social entrepreneurs, funders and supporters. Ahinoa studied Chinese Studies and Philosophy at Lancaster University and previously served as an executive member of a university cultural society, organising events celebrating community and cultural exchange. Her academic interests in global development and social impact continue to inform her work supporting purpose-driven organisations.

Emma works within the Partnerships team, stewarding fundraising prospects and supporting the Brace For Impact podcast. She studied Psychology at the University of Manchester, where she volunteered with a number of local charities. She then worked in young people’s mental health, before moving into community events coordination at a Sheffield-based think tank.

Maria was The Fore’s Programme Manager from 2020 to 2022. She established and currently runs impact measurement courses for our portfolio charities – ‘Introduction to Impact’ and ‘Demonstrating Impact: Practice & Innovation’ – and supports them with additional 1:1 evaluation support. She previously worked in grants management and research and evaluation at Social Investment Business, as well as having worked for small charities such as Brighton Oasis Project. Maria now pursues a career in the arts. She is Co-Director of NDP Circus, Artistic Director of Company Scheherazade and produces the South Hams Festival. She works as a Choreographer, Director and Movement Director with organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company. She also advises arts organisations on fundraising and impact measurement.