November is Rotary Foundation month so here is a little reminder of what the The Rotary Foundation is and what it achieves.The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions.
Mission:
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
The 7 areas of focus:
Through its 7 areas of focus, Rotary is dedicated to causes that build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever.
- Peace and Conflict Prevention / Resolution
- Disease Prevention and Treatment
- Water and Sanitation
- Maternal and Child Health
- Basic Education and Literacy
- Economic and Community Development
- Environment
More info on our 7 causes, go here.
Our Foundation is an enabling Foundation. It asks us to donate or contribute like so many other charities but it also asks us to get involved and utilise the funds. We give but we also receive. Our Foundation is able to achieve its mission through the generous contributions and active participation of Rotarians and friends of Rotary.
The main recipient of donations to The Rotary Foundation is the annual fund. When we donate, half our contributions are directed to the District Fund and the other half makes its way to the World Fund. Both help support and enable Rotary projects to become reality through grants.
District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in local communities and communities abroad. The district chooses which activities it will fund with these grants.
Global grants support large-scale international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in one or more of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. Grant sponsors form international partnerships and work together to develop projects that respond to real community needs.
Through the Foundation, Rotary members find satisfaction in serving others. The Foundation offers countless opportunities for all members, alumni, and their friends to do good in their communities and in the world — and to make a real, life-changing difference for people in need. Additionally, people around the world come to recognise Rotary as an agent of positive change in the world.
We as Rotarians, should be immensely proud of The Rotary Foundation.
It is vital that we continue to contribute to The Rotary Foundation both as clubs and as individuals.
I acknowledge the contributions being made by clubs to The Rotary Foundation and encourage you to continue doing so. I believe the work of The Rotary Foundation effectively establishes Rotary’s brand as the world leading humanitarian focussed organisation it is. Please consider this when reviewing your club’s contributions.
As Rotarians, we should consider The Rotary Foundation as our personal charity of choice. Many Rotarians contribute directly to The Rotary Foundation, through avenues like the Centurian program, the newly formed Polio Plus Society, the Paul Harris Society, bequests, endowments and major donations. I thank all members who contribute directly and encourage others to consider doing so. All of these personal contributions get reflected in the total The Rotary Foundation contributions for a club.
For more information, go The Rotary Foundation website here.