As an organisation, The Hope Foundation is open and transparent. HOPE implements international best practice in governance. You can download our most recent financial statements below.
We recognise our responsibility to you, our donors, sponsors, volunteers and fundraisers.
HOPE is committed to safeguarding children. We implement best practice guidelines and provide child protection training and capacity building for all staff who work directly with children and vulnerable adults.
Our membership of representative organisations ensures that we are supported in keeping up-to-date on procedures, legislation and developments that impact on our work. Some examples of best practice in Governance include:
- Our founder and Honorary Director Maureen Forrest does not take a salary
- Modest staff salaries: the average earned is €31,000
Numerous pro-bono professional service-providers and special rates help to keep administration costs down. - HOPE is a signatory of the Comhlámh ‘Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Organisations’. Comhlámh is Irish for solidarity, and is a member and supporter organisation for those working for social justice, human rights and global development.
- HOPE is a member of Dóchas, the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations, and subscribes to its ‘Code of Conduct on Images and Messages’
- HOPE is a member of The Wheel, a leading support and representative network for the community and voluntary sector in Ireland
- HOPE is a member of the Charities Institute Ireland, the body formed from the merger of ICTR and Fundraising Ireland in 2016 and adheres and implements the ICTR ‘Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising’. We have been awarded ‘Triple Lock’ membership by the Cii, demonstrating our commitment to best practice in all aspects of transparent reporting, ethical fundraising and governance.
Thanks to all our supporters for their commitment and dedication to the work of The Hope Foundation. Together we are changing the lives of abandoned children and working for the most underprivileged in our global community.
HOPE Board Members
Dr. Dermot O’ Mahoney, Chairman
Chairman, Port of Cork 2002-2012
Member of the Governing Body of University College Cork, Deputy Chair, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon. Treasurer
Investment Committee – National University of Ireland
Investment and Risk Committee – Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
Chairman – Finance Committee – Life Assurance Association of Ireland L.I.A
Chairman S.S. Peter and Paul’s Group – Scouting Ireland.
Maureen Forrest, Honorary Director / Secretary
Maureen has over 25 years’ experience in development work. Maureen obtained a Diploma in Development Studies from University College Cork and before founding The Hope Foundation, she gained development experience in war-torn, impoverished communities in Rwanda, Swaziland and Somalia. Since setting up The Hope Foundation in 1999, Maureen has overseen the charity’s operation and development.
Mairead Sorenson, Vice Chairman
Mairead is Chairman of Butler’s Irish Chocolates, a leading luxury chocolatier which was founded in Dublin in 1932. Butlers Chocolates is a family owned company and employ 250 staff.
Butlers Chocolates is committed to The Ethical Trading Initiative, sourcing ethically traded ingredients and believes that the ethical trading policies and supplier alliances promote fair treatment
Jenny Browne, Overseas Director
Jenny worked as a teacher in Sion Hill Secondary School in Blackrock, Dublin. She has over 12 years of aid/development experience overseeing HOPE’s work and projects in Kolkata, India.
Anthony Childs
Anthony went to school in St Andrews College in Booterstown County Dublin (1978-1984) and then completed a BSc in Advanced Management in College of Commerce, Rathmines (1984-1988). The degree was awarded by Trinity College, Dublin (2.1 Hons). He joined the Futures and Options Desk in Goodbody Stockbrokers in January 1989, where he went on to become Head of International Bonds and Equities before leaving to join Davy in July 1994 on their International Bond Desk.
Madeleine Cummins, Hon. Asst. Secretary
Madeleine is General Manager & Schools Programme Coordinator at The Hope Foundation. She is responsible for the management of HOPE’s main office in Cork as well as the coordination of HOPE’s school programmes throughout Ireland, including HOPE’s Immersion Education Programme. Madeleine originally qualified as a nurse.
Marie Kennelly Director, Asst. Treasurer
Member of Network Cork and Planning Director of Goulding Chemicals Ltd
Michael Murphy
Michael is a Farmer and is Director of seven companies. He holds a Masters in Business Administration and is founder of the Positive Farmers Conference.
Frank O’Connellm
Frank retired as Director of Retail with Dublin Airport Authority in 2008. During his career he worked for over 15 years in advertising and held several Art & Creative Director positions. He has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Stirling and holds an MA from Dublin City University. He is a member of the Supervisory Board of Düsseldorf Airport and is President of the European Travel Retail Council (ETRC). He represents Europe on the Duty Free World Council.
Graham Healy
Graham is a Managing Director at Accenture with responsibility for sales in Health & Public Service (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America). He holds a BSc Business Information Systems and an MSc Management Information Systems from University College Cork. Graham is also a member of the BIS Advisory Board in UCC and the BIS Alumni Association.
Dr. Michael Molloy
Dr Molloy is a Consultant Rheumatologist at Cork University Hospital.
Dr. Mary O’Shaughnessy
Dr. Mary O’Shaughnessy is a lecturer with the Department of Food Business and Development at University College Cork, Cluster Head of Development in Food Business & Development and researcher in the Centre for Co-operative Studies, UCC. She holds an MSc in Rural Development and was awarded a PhD on Survival Strategies and Rural Based Social Enterprises.
Rose McHugh
Rose is qualified accountant and a non-executive director of Origin Enterprises Plc, IMRO and XiuLan Hotels Ltd, the company that owns the Fota Hotels Collection. She was formerly executive director and head of corporate finance at Merrion Capital; was deputy CEO of SWS Group and a Director of Taxation with Ernst & Young. She served two terms as Chairman of BordIascaighMhara (BIM) and is a former non-executive director of Bordna Mona. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, an Associate of the Institute of Taxation in Ireland and has a law degree and MBA from University College Cork. She is a member of the Institute of Directors.
Rosie Stroud
Rosie is the Chair of The Hope Foundation in the UK and a member of The Hope Foundation Ireland. She works at senior level with CliniMed Ltd, a large Healthcare Company in the UK. She originally trained in nursing and gaining RGN and RNMH qualifications in Ireland.
