The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.

During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent over $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.

 

Why should I donate to The Rotary Foundation?

Your donation makes a difference to those who need our help most. More than 90 percent of donations go directly to supporting our service projects around the world.

How does The Rotary Foundation use donations?

Our 35,000 clubs carry out sustainable service projects that support our six causes. With donations like yours, we’ve wiped out 99.9 percent of all polio cases. Your donation also trains future peacemakers, supports clean water, and strengthens local economies.

What impact can one donation have?

It can save a life. A child can be protected from polio with as little as 60 cents. Our partners make your donation go even further. For every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $2.

How much of the donation goes towards the programs?

91% of donations are directly spent on programs. The Rotary Foundation has achieved a 4 star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest rating possible.
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THE ROTARY FOUNDATION IN DISTRICT 5280

District Rotary Foundation Chair

Elsa Gillham, PDG

 
Doing good in the world, both locally and abroad, is the most well-recognized aspect of The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Through the cultural bridges and understandings built, TRF can deliver both efficiently and effectively. The unique position of Rotarians in numerous countries and communities, coupled with unparalleled integrity embodied in The Four Way Test, makes TRF able to solve big problems while demonstrating sincere care and a vision of sustainability. District 5280 has always been a top donor worldwide and continues to lead. Funding for programs above is largely tied to District 5280 contributions over time, making generosity a priority. The Rotary Foundation is comprised of three Funds working together in providing for programs: Annual Fund, Endowment Fund and PolioPlus.
 

Foundation Grants

The district provides both community and global grants. Using Rotary Foundation grants, our 34,000 clubs worldwide develop and carry out sustainable humanitarian projects, and provide scholarships and professional training to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sustain mothers and children, improve education, and strengthen local economies. District community grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and communities abroad. Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. Grant sponsors form international partnerships that respond to real community needs. Find out more
 

Foundation Programs

As well as awarding grants around the world, district and global grants totalling in the hundreds of millions each year, the Rotary Foundation runs three targeted programmes: Vocational Training Teams, Scholarships and Polio Plus.
 

Polio Plus

Rotary, along with our partners, has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. We are close to eradicating polio, but we need your help. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, here are some ways to make a global impact and protect children against polio forever.

Peace Scholarships

Each year, Rotary selects individuals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at one of our peace centers. In just over a decade, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 900 fellows for careers in peace building. Many of them go on to serve as leaders in national governments, NGOs and international organizations.

 

Vocational Training Teams

Vocational training teams are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about a particular field or to learn more about their own. The program, which can be funded through district and global grants, continues to greatly help host communities solve problems and improve the quality of life. 

 

Scholarships

Scholarship funding is provided through the Rotary Foundation Global Grant. It funds graduate-level coursework or research covering anywhere from one to four academic years. Clubs and districts can create their own scholarships funded by district grants for any form of studies or with global grants for graduate studies in an area of focus. 

 

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Got Questions?

As an international District, contributing to TRF has differing tax benefits depending on which country the Rotarian resides. In any case, advantages of contributions can be discussed with District 5280 Foundation committee.