Rotary Foundation

 
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is Rotary’s charity and Rotarians Charity of choice
 
The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation, supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. It is registered in the USA as an International Charitable Trust.
 
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Its motto is simply “Doing Good in the World”.
 
The Rotary Foundation, established as an endowment fund in 1917, enjoyed modest growth until 1947 when Rotarians made a significant number of contributions in memory of Paul Harris who died in January 1947. That same year The Foundation launched its first programme, Graduate Fellowships (today called Ambassadorial Scholarships) sending 18 students abroad to 7 countries. Today, more than 1200 Rotary Scholars are studying abroad every year.
 
Rotary club and Rotarians raise and contribute funds to The Rotary Foundation annually enabling humanitarian work to be done around the globe.  Clubs are regularly apply for use of these funds for local and international projects providing access to funding not otherwise achievable given their size.
 
Today the fund is almost US$1 billion. Its unique funding model provides for a perpetual capital resource which annually funds thousands of club projects all over the world through Rotary District and Global grants.
 
To help strengthen club efforts and the outcomes of our projects on communities,  the Foundation has identified six causes - our "Areas of Focus" -  as priorities for funding...
 
 
Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation have developed many very influential partnerships that  support and expand the scope and effectiveness of the humanitarian programmes and projects throughout the world.  One example is the partnership to eradicate polio from the world with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with others.
 
The Rotary Foundation has been recognised as the world's Outstanding Foundation of 2016 by the International Association of Fundraising Professionals.  This unique award honours organisations that show philanthropic commitment and leadership through financial support, innovation, encouragement of others, and involvement in public affairs.
 
For further information about Rotary projects and programmes: