What is the Rotary Foundation? The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation which supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs.

Foundation History: In 1917, Arch C. Klumph, Rotary's sixth president, proposed to the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an "endowment fund for Rotary . . . for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational and other avenues of community service." A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US $5,000, the fund was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International. Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to "hold, invest, manage, and administer all of its property. . . as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purposes of RI." Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of US$500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. The ISCC - created by Rotarian Edgar F. "Daddy" Allen - since grew into the Easter Seals organization.

The Great Depression and World War II both impeded significant growth for the Foundation, but the need for promoting a lasting world peace generated great post-war interest in developing Foundation programs. After Rotary founder Paul P. Harris died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created for the purpose of building the Foundation. Strong support and involvement of Rotarians worldwide ensures a secure future for The Rotary Foundation as it continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace.

Foundation Support: The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of The Foundation. The financial support The Foundation receives today will help secure many better tomorrows for people all over the world through The Rotary Foundation's humanitarian and educational programs.

Your gift may be given to the Annual Programs Fund or The Permanent Fund, our endowment. Each fund supports Foundation programs in a different way. The Rotary Foundation accepts gifts of cash, publicly-traded securities, some closely-held securities, life insurance, real-estate, and other tangible property including art, jewelry and collectibles. The Foundation accepts deferred gifts and bequests and urges donors to include The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in their final estate plans or will.

The Rotary Foundation also offers a variety of Life Income Agreements to donors. Your charitable contribution may also be made as a pledge payable over a number of years. We gratefully acknowledge and appreciate the charitable contributions of our donors. As a donor, you receive recognition for your charitable contribution.

Paul Harris Fellow recognition, named for the founder of Rotary, is given for gifts of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund. Benefactor recognition is awarded to donors to The Permanent Fund. Donors of US$10,000 or more receive Major Donor recognition.

The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world. One of the major humanitarian programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide by the year 2000.

Through its Educational Programs the Foundation provides funding for some 1200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.

The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Included in this section is information pertaining to the history of The Rotary Foundation, its financial support, its Alumni programs, training and resources, and the SHARE system.

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About the Rotary Foundation Programs

The Rotary Foundation provides a window of opportunity to serve the world through many of these programs. There are 2 categories of programs that are supported by the Foundation, namely:
· Humanitarian Comprised of:
Discovery Grants, Rotary Volunteers, 3-H, Helping Grants, Matching Grants, New Opportunities, PolioPlus, Peace Program.
· Educational Comprised of:
Ambassadorial Scholarship, Group Study Exchange, Grants for University Teachers.

PolioPlus: The PolioPlus Program provides grants for obtaining polio vaccines, mobilizing community resources, and supporting operational costs related to international efforts to immunize children and eradicate polio worldwide. By the year 2005, Rotarians' contributions to the global polio eradication effort will approach US$400 million. In addition, millions of dollars of in-kind and personal contributions have been made by and through local Rotary clubs and districts. Of even greater significance are the hundreds of thousands of volunteers at the local level which provide support at clinics or mobilize their communities for immunization against polio. More than one million Rotarians worldwide have contributed toward the success of the polio eradication effort.

Grants are now available for special eradication activities in selected countries where the government,the World Health Organization (WHO), UMCEF, Rotary, and other donor agencies have drawn up a co-operative plan showing their respective roles, support, and activities. A PolioPlus Grant proposal may be submitted to support vaccine, essential equipment, supplies, and additional social mobilization and surveillance activities specifically directed to the final stages of polio eradication. The Rotary Foundation will assist Rotarians in developing appropriate proposals.

PolioPlus Partners Program:
PolioPlus Partners is a new initiative of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International through which all Rotarians can join in the battle to eradicate polio. The purpose of PolioPlus Partners is to help Rotarians in polio-endemic regions obtain the tools and supplies necessary for polio eradication by targeting three critical needs:
· Social Mobilization for National Immunization Days;
· Assistance to polio laboratories; and
· Assistance to polio medical officers/epidemiologists.

Advocacy for PolioPlus: Advocacy for PolioPlus describes the Rotarian activities that communicate to leaders at global, national, and local levels the benefits of the eradication of polio by the year 2000 so that financial, technical, and other resources required to reach this goal will be committed on a timely basis. Through advocacy, Rotarians seek to
· inform funding sources in potential donor nations of the urgency to make special contributions to the unmet needs of polio eradication programs in polio-endemic countries;
· urge leaders in polio-endemic countries to maintain the highest possible level of routine immunization against polio and all vaccine-preventable diseases; and
· inform the general public about the benefits of polio eradication so as to obtain their support for this goal and for all programs which combat vaccine preventable diseases.

Fund Development: The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of The Foundation. The financial support The Foundation receives today will help secure many better tomorrows for people all over the world through The Rotary Foundation's humanitarian and educational programs.
Funds are raised from the followings:
· Annual Giving Annual Giving is the cornerstone of The Rotary Foundation's funding efforts. The Annual Programs Fund finances the district's participation in international projects of the Foundation.
· Major Gifts Major Gifts are gifts of at least US$10,000 made either to the Annual Programs Fund or to the Permanent Fund of The Rotary Foundation.
· Permanent Fund The Permanent Fund (formely called "The Rotary Foundation Endowment for World Understanding and Peace") is an endowed fund which is invested in perpetuity, with a spending portion that benefits the Foundation programs annually.
· Donor Services Donor Services performs a variety of customer service functions in direct,extensive contact with donors, and their club and district officers within assigned geographical territories.

Paul Harris Fellow/Multiple Paul Harris Fellow: Anyone who contributes - or in whose name is contributed - a gift of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund may become a Paul Harris Fellow. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion. Donors are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition when their cumulative giving reaches US$1,000.
For additional gifts totaling US$1,000 or more, a Paul Harris Fellow:
· is recognized as a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
· may also choose to honor someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow with their Foundation Recognition Points, formerly called "available credit"
· is eligible to receive a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow pin with additional stones.
Recognition levels are determined based on the following guidelines:
Recognition Total Pin Level
US $2,000 to 2,999.99 one sapphire
3,000 to 3,999.99 two sapphires
4,000 to 4,999.99 three sapphires
5,000 to 5,999.99 four sapphires
6,000 to 6,999.99 five sapphires
7,000 to 7,999.99 one ruby
8,000 to 8,999.99 two rubies
9,000 to 9,999.99 three rubies

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of contributions are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition?
A: All contributions to the Annual Programs Fund and/or restricted gifts are eligible.

Q: Can a business or organization be a Paul Harris Fellow?
A: No. Occasionally, a donor contributes US$1,000 and wishes to recognize a business or organization. In these instances, since Paul Harris Fellow recognition can only be presented to individuals, a Certificate of Appreciation is given instead.

Q: Can I name someone else a Paul Harris Fellow?
A: Yes. There are two ways to do this:
You may make a contribution of US$1,000 and ask that the recognition be awarded to another person.
Or you may contribute Recognition Points to another person. Recognition Points are accumulated when a Paul Harris Fellow has made a personal contribution in addition to his or her initial gift of US$1,000. At the same time that the donor's recognition level increases through this new gift, he or she also accrues Recognition Points, which can be transferred to other donors' accounts. If 1,000 Recognition Points are transferred to one person, that individual becomes a Paul Harris Fellow.

The Recognition Points can also be split between multiple accounts. For example, if 1,000 Recognition Points were divided equally between two people who had not previously contributed to the Foundation, each of those individuals would need to contribute only an additional US$500 to become Paul Harris Fellows.

Q: Can Recognition Points also be used to name Multiple Paul Harris Fellows?
A: Yes. A donor who is already a Paul Harris Fellow becomes a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow if 1,000 Recognition Points are transferred to his or her account.

Q: When do Recognition Points expire?
A: Foundation Recognition Points no longer expire.
For further information on Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition, contact your Donor Services representative. Be sure to include your district number when sending any correspondence.