The Rotary Foundation
One hundred and nine years of doing good in the world. Funded by Rotarians, directed by communities, delivered as grants — from clean water in East Africa to peace fellowships in Uppsala.
A century of giving, a global reach
Every year, Rotary clubs around the world fund thousands of projects through The Rotary Foundation — from local literacy programmes to international peace scholarships.
- 109 Years of impact
- 7 Causes funded worldwide
- 300 Million in annual grants (US$)
- 65 Clubs across Ireland
A charity owned and run by Rotarians
The Rotary Foundation was set up in 1917 with a single donation of $26.50 from Rotary’s outgoing president, Arch Klumph. He suggested an endowment for “doing good in the world.” Today that endowment has passed US$1 billion and the Foundation distributes more than US$300 million in grants every year.
The Foundation isn’t an outside charity that Rotarians give to. It’s the giving arm of Rotary itself — our clubs raise the money, our committees identify the projects, and Rotarians on the ground deliver the work. There is no professional fundraising staff knocking on your door. There is just a worldwide network of members, choosing each year what good to do next.
From a $26.50 donation to a $1 billion endowment
Eight moments that shaped what The Rotary Foundation is today.
Scroll, swipe, or use the arrows to move through the timeline.
Seven causes, one framework
Every Foundation grant supports one of seven Areas of Focus — the causes that shape Rotary’s global work.
Promoting peace — peacebuilding, conflict prevention, peace fellowships at universities around the world.
Fighting disease — prevention and treatment programmes, including the final push to end polio.
Providing clean water — water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure in low-resource communities.
Saving mothers and children — maternal and child health programmes, immunisation, midwife training.
Supporting education — basic education and literacy, teacher training, scholarships.
Growing local economies — community economic development, microenterprise, vocational training.
Protecting the environment — the seventh and most recent cause, added in 2021.
Rotary's seven Areas of Focus.
What we do in Ireland
The District Foundation Committee coordinates Foundation work across the 65 clubs of Rotary Ireland — north and south. Our role is to:
- Support & guidance — helping district and club leaders meet their Foundation goals.
- Training & education — workshops and resources so clubs understand what’s available and how to use it.
- Fundraising — promoting gifts to the Annual Fund, the Endowment Fund, and PolioPlus.
- Grant management — helping clubs apply for and run Global Grants and District Grants.
- Recognition — honouring major donors and celebrating success stories from clubs across the island.
Every gift, no matter how small, becomes part of something far larger. That is the magic of giving through Rotary.
Foundation Chair, Rotary Ireland — District 1160
Eight ways into the Foundation’s work
From peace fellowships to the Endowment, from how grants flow to how donors are recognised — here’s where to learn more about each part of The Rotary Foundation.
Peace
Rotary Peace Fellowships, the seven Peace Centers, and the Positive Peace framework.
Grants
Five funding instruments, from district seed funding to multi-year Programs of Scale.
Areas of Focus
Seven causes that shape every Rotary global grant — from disease prevention to environment.
Giving
The Annual Fund, the Endowment, the Disaster Response Fund, and six ways to give.
Recognition
Sustaining Member, Paul Harris Fellow, Major Donor, Arch Klumph Society, club banners.
Alumni
125,000+ Foundation programme participants — our worldwide network of advocates.
Healthy Communities Challenge
A $30 million joint initiative with World Vision and the Gates Foundation.
Ending Polio
PolioPlus: Rotary's top philanthropic priority. 99.9% of polio eliminated since 1985.
The Rotary Foundation Reference Guide
A complete overview of how the Foundation works — from the Annual Fund and PolioPlus to grants, recognition, and giving structures. Published by Rotary International.
Continue a century of doing good.
A hundred years of grants, scholarships, and projects — funded by ordinary Rotarians, delivered to communities everywhere. The next chapter starts with you.