Facts about the Rotary Foundation 

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to support the efforts of Rotary International in the fulfillment of the Object of Rotary, Rotary’s mission, and the achievement of world understanding and peace through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs.

PROGRAMS

PolioPlus. By Rotary’s centennial in 2005, contributions to the global polio eradication effort will surpass half a billion US dollars. Rotarians have mobilised by the hundreds of thousands to ensure that children are immunised against this crippling disease and that surveillance is strong, despite the poor infrastructure, extreme poverty, and civil strife of many countries. Since the PolioPlus Program’s inception in 1985, more than two billion children have received oral polio vaccine. To date, 122 nations around the world have benefited from PolioPlus grants. As of June 2001, Rotary has committed more than $438 million to global polio eradication. 2000-01 expenditure: $34.0 million.

PolioPlus Partners is a program that allows Rotarians to participate in the polio eradication effort by contributing to specific social mobilisation and surveillance activities in polio-endemic countries. As of 30 June 2001, 5,601 clubs in 446 districts have participated in 251 PolioPlus Partners projects, supporting National Immunisation Days and other polio eradication activities around the world.

Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants fund large-scale, one to three year projects that enhance health, help alleviate hunger, or improve human development. Since 1978, 257 projects in 61 countries have been funded at a cost of almost $69 million. In 2000-01, 23 new projects approved. Program awards were $6.4 million.

3-H Planning Grants subsidise the advance planning activities of Rotary clubs and districts designing 3-H projects of a significant size and impact. 2000-01: Two grants approved. Awards: $29,000.

Matching Grants provide matching funds for international service projects of Rotary clubs and districts. Since 1965, over 13,500 Matching Grant projects in 165 countries have been funded at a cost of almost $137 million. In 2000-01, 2,310 new grants approved for projects in over 116 countries. Program awards were $23.5 million.

Helping Grants provide a 50% match of club and district funds up to $15,000 for international service projects in non-Rotary countries or in countries where the local Rotary clubs cannot provide significant Rotarian involvement and oversight. 2000-01: 42 grants approved for projects in 16 countries. Program awards totalled $484,000.

New Opportunities Grants provide districts with an opportunity to use their District Designated Funds (DDF) for unique international humanitarian service projects that advance Rotary ideals and may not meet the eligibility criteria of other programs. In 2000-01, 94 New Opportunities Grants were approved, totalling $551,000, for projects in 47 countries.

Rotary Peace Programs partially subsidise international conferences that focus on conflict resolution and ways to enhance the search for peace. Since 1987-88, 56 conferences have taken place in different regions of the world. In 2000-01, two district and five Presidential peace conferences were awarded grants totalling $151,000.

Grants for Rotary Volunteers subsidise the expenses of Rotarians, Foundation Alumni, and Rotaractors who volunteer their services in a country other than their own. In 2000-01, 400 grants were approved for volunteer service in 40 countries. Program awards were $1.2 million.

Discovery Grants provide seed money to Rotary clubs and districts to help investigate potential international service projects. In 2000-01, 34 Carl P. Miller Discovery Grants and 81 DDF-funded Discovery Grants were awarded totalling $295,000.

Disaster Relief Grants provide support from district SHARE funds. 2000-01: 184 grants were approved in 10 different countries. Awards: $824,000.

Community Assistance Program Grants provide funds for projects that increase involvement or strengthen relationships in the sponsor’s community or country. 2000-01: 623 grants totalling $1.1 million.

Humanitarian Transportation Grants provide funds to cover the costs of transporting donated humanitarian supplies and equipment. 2000-01: 33 grants, totalling $113,000.

Ambassadorial Scholarships. The Foundation sponsors one of the largest and most international scholarship programs in the world. Scholars study in a country other than their own where they serve as unofficial “ambassadors of goodwill.” Since 1947, more than 34,000 scholars from some 110 countries have received scholarships at a cost of almost $396 million. In 2000-01, 1,084 scholars from 67 countries studied in 70 countries. Program awards were $18.9 million. Endowed Scholarships: 42.

Rotary Grants for University Teachers are awarded to faculty members to teach in a developing nation for three to ten months. Since 1985, 278 university teachers have shared their expertise with a college or university in a developing country. In 2000-01, 33 university teachers from seven countries taught in 25 countries. Program awards were $360,000.

Group Study Exchange (GSE). These annual awards are made to paired Rotary districts to provide travel expenses for a team of non-Rotarians from a variety of vocations. Rotarian hosts organise a four- to six-week itinerary of educational and cultural points of interest. Since 1965, more than 42,000 individuals (about 8,500 teams) from more than 100 countries have participated at a cost of almost $76 million. In 2000-01, 582 teams travelled abroad. Program awards were $3.8 million.