15:11, 25 April 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
When you think of being philanthropic, one of the first people to come to mind is Mike Clare.
The previous Founder, Chairman and CEO of Dreams Plc, Mike describes himself as a serial entrepreneur - but what sets him apart is his dedication to philanthropy through it all.
He set up The Clare Foundation to create positive change across his home county of Buckinghamshire, using kindness to tackle the root of unhappiness.
Of course, at Smiley News, this is right up our street - so we reached out to Mike to pick his brain about philanthropy, and how you can use your business smarts to create a positive impact in your community.
Yes, giving something back to the community, especially in Beaconsfield and Buckinghamshire, where I was born and raised, is something I have always felt was important. My father was in Beaconsfield Rotary and my mother was in Beaconsfield Inner Wheel, so service clubs are somehow in my blood. I used to be in Beaconsfield Rotaract and then I moved on to Beaconsfield 41 Club. I have a particular affinity with hard-working families that have fallen upon hard times and are more vulnerable in society. I always liked the idea of putting something tangible back into the third sector, which is why we established a work hub in 2009 (a bit like a Regus but exclusively for charities) based in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire.
The Clare Foundation was an idea I had for several years. When I sold my main business, Dreams, I had more time on my hands, and I had an opportunity to buy the Saunderton Estate.
The idea was to help Buckinghamshire charities become more commercial and efficient, so less money is wasted on their administration and more goes to their beneficiaries.
It was about sharing my experience and business acumen with charity leaders to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of organisations.
I also had a bigger vision of making Buckinghamshire the happiest county in the UK. Being happy means helping so many different sectors, whether they are homeless, disabled, children or the disadvantaged. We want everyone to be happy.
Whilst my loyalties are sometimes divided between national charities and those centred in Buckinghamshire, at The Clare Foundation, we have worked to create collaborations between national charities delivering results and impact in Buckinghamshire. I also have personal involvements with Outward Bound, Tall Ships Trust, CBUK, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Peter Jones Foundation, to name a few.
Philanthropy is the cornerstone of wealthy organisations and personalities being placed to make a difference in the community and society for the betterment of all people. It is my belief that anyone who has wealth should work with or engage in making lives better for all of those around us.
The Clare family and I have, for many years, even before we established the Clare Foundation, supported, collaborated and funded projects and programmes to help those less fortunate.
I know amongst my peers, friends and business associates, many are inspired by the good work of charities. On a global scale, philanthropy certainly had a peak during the pandemic.
Quite often, there is a connection between a charity and an individual or organisation, or it can just feel like the right thing to do. Sometimes, charities will bring a tear to your eye and pull on your heartstrings. At The Clare Foundation, we are more focused on efficiency. We would love to make a thousand charities 5% more efficient, as it would make a huge difference.
I think it is vitally important that as a businessman, we continue to communicate with each other to promote the best version of our organisations to help those who need it most. The environment, the retention of history and culture, the promotion of the arts and the many other good things that need the attention of business leaders and organisations with deep pockets.
There is a level of work required to build trust, understanding and create a collaborative mindset so that there is a ‘win-win’ for both organisations.
Most businesses have a particular charity that they encourage their employees to support, but not always. It certainly is a challenge to balance the needs of a business (and shareholders), treat employees favourably, as well as look after customers. But ‘done right’, helping charities can also become motivational for staff.
The Clare Foundation has announced the return of Angels’ Den for 2025, offering charities the opportunity to secure funding to support individuals and communities across Buckinghamshire. Organisations must either be based in or operate within Buckinghamshire to be eligible.
Applications are now open and the deadline is noon on Monday, 19th May 2025.
Submissions should be sent to: [email protected]
For application guidelines, visit: https://theclarefoundation.org/launch-of-angels-den-2025
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Fore. This charity is transforming lives and society by turbo-charging exceptional small charities and social enterprises. Support them here.
The Brother’s Trust. This charity is run by Tom Holland’s family, aiming to shine a light on charities where generous donations can be used to maximum effect. Find out more.
The Henry Smith Charity. This is a grant giving charity that aims to use its resources to help people and communities in the UK. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Partnership for the Goals.
