GiveOut announces today that its founding Executive Director, Rupert Abbott, is to step down in early 2025 once the charity has identified his successor.
London, 16 September 2024 – GiveOut, the award-winning LGBTQI community foundation, announces today that Rupert Abbott, its founding Executive Director, will step down in early 2025. Rupert will continue in his role until a successor is appointed and will then support the transition and be available in an advisory capacity.
Rupert joined GiveOut in late 2017 and oversaw the launch of the organisation in early 2018. Under his leadership, GiveOut has grown from an idea to an established community foundation, bringing the LGBTQI community and corporate allies together to provide almost £3 million in new funding to support LGBTQI human rights activism worldwide.
This funding has contributed to life-changing and sometimes life-saving work, with safe houses and community centres built in some of the hardest places to be LGBTQI, discriminatory laws overturned, cutting edge research and successful campaigns for inclusion, and vital support for LGBTQI people during crises.
After almost seven years of impact, GiveOut is in a strong and sustainable position, with a committed Board, dedicated team, wide-ranging supporter base, and a clear focus on its mission to grow giving for LGBTQI rights.
The search for Rupert’s successor will launch on 18 September, led by the executive search firm Peridot, with the aim of appointing a new Executive Director by early 2025.
Rupert Abbott, Executive Director of GiveOut, said:
“Building and leading GiveOut has been one of the highlights of my life. I’m profoundly thankful to Elliot, our brilliant trustees and staff past and present, our community of supporters, and our inspirational grant partners. I’m very proud of everything we have achieved together.”
“I feel the time is right to step back, take some time to rest and recharge, and explore some of my other passions, bringing what I have learned through my time at GiveOut to support positive impact in new ways.”
“I will always care deeply about GiveOut and remain committed to helping in any way I can through this transition and beyond.”
Elliot Vaughn, GiveOut’s Founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees, said:
“We are so grateful to have been able to work with Rupert in launching and growing GiveOut and deeply appreciate his leadership and contributions over the past seven years. Rupert’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing GiveOut as a force for good in the LGBTQI movement.”
“We look forward to identifying an exceptional successor who will build on the brilliant foundations Rupert has laid. GiveOut is in a strong position as we embark on the search for our new Executive Director – with committed supporters, a small but mighty staff team and an engaged board.”
“We are fortunate in having Rupert’s support well into 2025 and in a spirit of shared commitment to continuing our vital work and a high quality transition to new leadership in due course.”
For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Luke Smith
020 8156 7643
luke@giveout.org