# Golfer’s foundation closes

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/04/03/golfers-foundation-closes/
- Published: 2019-04-03T07:37:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Golfer Rory McIlroy’s charitable foundation has ceased operations, according to
a report in a Belfast newspaper.**

A spokeswoman for the company which handles enquiries about the Foundation told 
the Irish News that the Rory Foundation is ‘no longer active.’

‘Rory is adopting a private philanthropic policy,’ the spokesperson said.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

[The Rory Foundation](http://www.rorymcilroy.com) is registered in England and reported**
income of £1.4 million** and expenditure of £2 million up to December 2017. The 
accounts were submitted in October 2018 and did not suggest that the Foundation 
intended to cease operations.

The Irish News has speculated that McIlroy’s permanent move to the United States
and his announcement that he will not play in this year’s Irish Open, which in previous
years was a major part of his fundraising, may have something to do with the decision
to close the Foundation. The company filing for the Foundation gives Monaco as McIlroy’s
place of residence.

The Rory Foundation was established in 2013 to offer support to children’s charities.
The Cancer Fund for Children, Mencap and Sports Changes Lives have been major recipients
of grants from the Foundation. McIlroy also said in 2017 that he had pledged a further
€1.2 million for a new children’s respite centre on Ireland’s west coast.

The Foundation’s most significant fundraising activities were events around major
golf tournaments in Ireland and ticket sales for the competitions.

While there has been no indication what direction McIlroy’s philanthropy will take,
in an interview with Coutt’s Bank in 2017 he said he could foresee inevitable changes
in direction for the Foundation.

> “I can foresee inevitable changes in direction for my Foundation in the years 
> to come and indeed, one of our latest projects has seen the Foundation begin to
> expand its work beyond the UK and Ireland by becoming involved with Sport Changes
> Life, a charity which brings Americans to Ireland and the UK to help coach and
> train young people.”

 * **[Major golfers to boost fundraising for Rory McIlroy Foundation](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/02/17/major-golfers-to-boost-fundraising-for-rory-mcilroy-foundation/)(
   17 February 2015)**
 * **[Rory McIlroy pledges up to £500,000 for Mencap Northern Ireland](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/06/12/rory-mcilroy-pledges-up-to-500000-for-mencap-northern-ireland/)(
   12 June 2015)**
 * **[Golfer makes £1 million donation](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/05/16/golfer-makes-1-million-donation/)(
   16 May 2014)**