Directors

>> Michelle Wright (Chief Executive) trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and played the violin professionally. A chartered marketer, manager and fundraiser, Michelle co-founded Cause4 after leaving the London Symphony Orchestra, where her achievements in private sector fundraising led to her being judged the Best Upcoming Fundraiser at the National Fundraising Awards in 2008.

Since setting up Cause4 Michelle has undertaken major strategic and business development projects, including campaign developments with a number of national charities and consultancy work for FTSE 100 brands developing their cultural sponsorship programmes. Michelle also specialises in philanthropy, having recently developed a number of major philanthropy projects for charities and corporates, and having set up new philanthropic foundations for sports stars, artists and entrepreneurs.

In 2010 Michelle completed her studies as part of the MBA programme at Ashridge Business School and in early 2011 Michelle was awarded a prestigious social enterprise scholarship from Coutts to study at Cranfield School of Management on the renowned Business Growth and Development Programme. Further funding from Goldman Sachs in 2012 enabled study at University College London as part of the 10,000 small businesses programme.

Michelle is a Fellow of the Guildhall School (FGS) and of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).   She is interim Chair of the national music charity Sound and Music and is a mentor for emerging entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs for the Aspire Foundation, the Cranfield Accelerator Network and Emerge Venture Labs.

Michelle was the winner of the female entrepreneur category in the national Natwest Startup awards 2011 and is a top 10 winner in the Ernst and Young Future 100 awards 2011 for entrepreneurs under 35 that demonstrate innovation in progressing a responsible business venture. She is a silver award winner in the 2012 international Stevie Awards for female innovator of the year and is an Accelerate 250 member.

>> Nick Gandon (Chair) co-founded Cause4 after six years as Director of the Cricket Foundation. Having studied at Durham and Oxford Universities, he spent 20 years working in independent schools, occupying a number of senior management positions.

At the Cricket Foundation, Nick devised and implemented the Chance to shine campaign which was launched in May 2005. Chance to shine aims to raise £50 million in order to regenerate competitive cricket throughout state education in Britain – the campaign had raised £34m in four years prior to Nick’s departure.

Nick’s fundraising experience includes success with high net-worth individuals, corporate sponsors and with grant-making trusts. He was instrumental in securing matched-funding from Government and knows his way around its many agencies.

Nick has long-established relationships with significant philanthropists and a plethora of national and international businesses and charitable foundations. His passions lie in sport, education and innovative community projects.

>> Charles Pike (Company Secretary) is Head of Charities and a private-client lawyer at Forsters, specialising in charity law, personal estate, trust, wealth and capital tax planning for both UK and non-UKdomiciled individuals and institutions.

A graduate of Cambridge University, Charles acts for a wide range of clients including charities, entrepreneurs and sportsmen.

Charles supported the set up and formation of Cause4 and is advising on legal issues where Cause4 can be of help to its clients.

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