The Rotary
Foundation
The Rotary
Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International.
The money which is contributed before May 30 of each year is invested for three years. The
income from that money during that time is used to administer the foundation. The Foundation has been run very
efficiently and there has been income left over which is added to the principal. After
three years, sixty percent of the monies donated from our district (and a pro-rata share
of the unused interest) is transferred back to our district. It is those funds that allow
our district to provide the district World Community
Service match, to send students to other countries through the long term exchange
program, to award two college students from our district $25,000 to study abroad for a
year, pay for six professionals from our communities to go to another country to exchange
ideas and host six professionals from that country to do likewise, and to help pay for
district world community projects. The remaining 40 percent is used for matching grants
for world community service projects around the world, polio plus partners, Health and
Humanity grants, grants to help clubs determine the exact needs and obtain the necessary
contacts for the club to start a project, grants to help pay for the cost of a Rotarian to
go to another country and be a Rotary Volunteer, and other philanthropic activities. It is
really amazing the good that comes out of money donated to the Rotary Foundation.
Our club matches every dollar donated by one of our
members, up to $500. If a member donates $50 or more per year you are considered a
sustaining member. At such time that a person has donated $500 (with a club match of $500)
that person will be awarded a Paul
Harris Fellow.
Please note that even if a person is already a Paul
Harris Fellow, Rotary still needs that person to make regular donations to the Rotary
Foundation, because any gift made over three years ago has been used to better the world
and new monies are needed each year. Current Paul Harris Fellows who continue to give to
the Foundation can achieve additional Paul Harris levels or can donate a Paul Harris
Fellow to a spouse, child, or member of the community who has exemplified Service Above
Self.
To visit the Rotary Foundation Webpage please click here.
