The Lord Forte Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £66,724 (2024/25)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Twice yearly trustee meetings (approx. 26 weeks)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £50,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland)
• Application Status: Grant programme suspended as of 2020; current status requires verification

Contact Details

Email: jlewendon@roccofortehotels.com

Phone: 020 7321 2626

Website: lordfortefoundationdotcom.wordpress.com

Address: Rocco Forte Hotels Ltd, 70 Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6NY

Overview

The Lord Forte Foundation was established in 1987 by Charles Forte, Baron Forte of Ripley (1908-2007), the legendary Italian-born Scottish hotelier who built the Forte Group into one of the world's leading hospitality conglomerates. With total income of £79,799 and expenditure of £66,724 in the 2024/25 financial year, the Foundation operates with a focused mission: to encourage excellence within the fields of hospitality, encompassing the hotel, catering, travel and tourism industries within the UK. The Foundation is closely connected to Rocco Forte Hotels, founded by Lord Forte's son Sir Rocco Forte and daughter Olga Polizzi following the 1996 hostile takeover of the Forte Group. The Foundation's five volunteer trustees, including Sir Rocco and Olga Polizzi, receive no remuneration and bring deep industry expertise to their grant-making decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Individual Awards: £1,000 upwards - Support for students and professionals requiring help with their studies to achieve excellence in hospitality
• Institutional Grants: £1,000 - £50,000 - Funding for universities, colleges, and training centres providing hospitality education, research, or innovative projects
• Application Method: Fixed deadlines (when operational), twice-yearly trustee meetings

Note: Grant programme was suspended April 2020 - verify current status before applying

Priority Areas

• Hospitality Education: University programmes, vocational training, professional development
• Excellence & Innovation: Innovative educational projects benefiting multiple beneficiaries
• Student Support: Financial assistance for disadvantaged students pursuing hospitality careers
• Professional Training: Advanced programmes developing managers into industry leaders
• Research Projects: Hospitality industry research by educational institutions
• Wine & Beverage Training: Specialist education in wine service and beverage management

What They Don't Fund

• Projects outside hospitality, hotel, catering, travel and tourism sectors
• Capital building projects unrelated to training delivery
• General operating costs without educational outcomes
• International projects (though some training may occur overseas)
• Non-educational hospitality activities

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Governance and Leadership

Sir Rocco Forte - Chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, succeeded his father as CEO in 1983, knighted in 1994 for services to tourism industry

Olga Polizzi, CBE - Director of Design and Deputy Chairman at Rocco Forte Hotels, former Main Board Director at Forte plc

Nick Scade, MBE - Chairman of the Academy of Food & Wine Service, former MD of Michelin-starred Boulestin Restaurant, MBE for contributions to hospitality education

Andrew McKenzie - Managing Director of The Vineyard Group since 1998, “Hotelier of the Year” 2009, extensive senior roles across major hotel groups

Geoff Booth - Vice Principal of Westminster Kingsway College, Director of School of Hospitality and Business Enterprise, 35 years management experience

All trustees serve voluntarily without remuneration, demonstrating commitment to Lord Forte's legacy.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: Grant programme was suspended April 1, 2020. Contact Foundation directly to verify current status before applying:

• Email: jlewendon@roccofortehotels.com
• Phone: 020 7321 2626

When operational:

• Individuals: Complete application form detailing educational goals, programme of study, career aspirations, financial need
• Institutions: Outline project, beneficiaries, innovation elements, outcomes, budget, timeline

Decision Timeline

• Trustees meet twice annually
• Processing time: Several months from submission to decision
• Notification method: Contact Foundation for details

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With annual expenditure £66,724-£120,500 and grants £1,000-£50,000, likely 2-10 substantial grants annually plus smaller individual awards.

Reapplication Policy

No public information available. Contact Foundation directly for guidance on unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

• Clear Excellence and Innovation: Foundation explicitly seeks “innovation and excellence” in hospitality education. Showcase novel approaches and creative solutions to industry challenges
• Measurable Beneficiary Impact: Quantify how many students, trainees, or professionals benefit immediately and in subsequent years
• Direct Hospitality Connection: Explicitly demonstrate relevance to hotel, catering, travel and tourism industries using sector-specific terminology
• Alignment with Trustee Expertise: Applications aligned with luxury hotels, hospitality education, food and wine service may receive particularly informed consideration
• Support for Disadvantaged Groups: Projects supporting social mobility and second chances resonate with Foundation's mission (e.g., Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, The Clink Charity)
• Professional Development Focus: Show clear professional progression pathways, particularly for developing managers into industry leaders
• Educational Rigor: Partner with respected institutions and demonstrate quality educational standards
• UK Focus: Beneficiaries and institutions must be UK-based, demonstrating clear benefit to UK hospitality sector

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Verify Programme Status First: Confirm grants programme has resumed following 2020 suspension before investing time in applications
• Target Twice-Yearly Cycle: Plan applications well in advance and confirm submission deadlines directly with Foundation
• Emphasize Innovation AND Excellence: Show how your project pushes boundaries while maintaining high hospitality education standards
• Quantify Future Impact: Demonstrate both immediate beneficiaries and long-term industry improvements
• Speak Industry Language: Use sector-specific terminology and demonstrate understanding of hospitality challenges and opportunities
• Consider Social Impact Angle: Projects supporting disadvantaged groups align well with funded initiatives while advancing hospitality careers
• Budget Realistically Within Range: With grants £1,000-£50,000 and annual giving under £70,000, pitch requests appropriate to Foundation's scale

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Savoy Educational Trust
• The Innholders' Charitable Foundation
• Gerard Basset Foundation
• The Humanitarian Trust
• The John Mason Family Trust
• The Albert Dawson Educational Trust
• The Shanly Foundation
• Lady Gould's Charity
• Huntingdon Freemen's Trust
• Viquaran Nisa Noon and Firoz Khan Noon Educational Foundation

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities: THE LORD FORTE FOUNDATION (298100) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=298100 -
2. Lord Forte Foundation Official Website - https://lordfortefoundationdotcom.wordpress.com/ -
3. Lord Forte Foundation: Meet the Trustees - https://lordfortefoundationdotcom.wordpress.com/meet-the-trustees/ -
4. Lord Forte Foundation: Projects Supported - https://lordfortefoundationdotcom.wordpress.com/projects-supported/ -
5. OpenCharities: THE LORD FORTE FOUNDATION - http://opencharities.org/charities/298100 -
6. University of Strathclyde: Lord Forte Foundation Award - https://www.sbs.strath.ac.uk/feeds/news.aspx?id=984 -
7. Institute of Hospitality: Master Innholder Scholarships - https://www.instituteofhospitality.org/master-innholder-scholarships-for-2023-now-open/ -
8. The Gold Service Scholarship: About the Prize - https://thegoldservicescholarship.co.uk/about/prize/ -
9. The Clink Charity: About - https://theclinkcharity.org/the-charity -
10. Wikipedia: Charles Forte, Baron Forte - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Forte,_Baron_Forte -