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How District Funds Work

Supporting Funds Overview

Contributions to the Rotary Foundation funds enable Rotarians to carry out humanitarian and educational projects on a regional, national and international basis.

Donors may direct their gifts to three main funds: the Annual Programs Fund, which supports the Foundation’s worldwide humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs; Permanent Fund, an endowment; and the special PolioPlus Fund

There are also two additional funds available for support: Rotary Peace Centers and Approved Foundation Grants.

There are many ways Rotarians can participate. Here is a summary of giving opportunities.

Annual Funds Programs

Endowment Fund

SHARE

You can designate the spendable earnings from your endowed gift to SHARE, which makes a portion available to support, club, and district projects.

World Fund

The World Fund provides the necessary funding for our highest priority activities around the globe. Fifty percent of SHARE-designated contributions are applied to the World Fund. You can also designate the spendable earnings from your endowed gift entirely to the World Fund, to be used for critical activities.

WAYS TO SUPPORT ROTARY’S FUTURE

Planned giving

The Foundation offers several ways to structure your gift of a lifetime, which may provide U.S. tax and other financial benefits to you and your loved ones.

Areas of focus

You can strengthen one of Rotary’s top priorities by designating your gift to an area of focus:

  • Promoting peace
  • Fighting disease
  • Providing clean water
  • Saving mothers and children
  • Supporting education
  • Growing local economies
  • Environment

HOW DOES THE ENDOWMENT FUND WORK?

A portion of available earnings from our Endowment Fund supplements Foundation activities and helps strengthen our future commitments. Your contributions are invested in perpetuity. A percentage of the total value of the Endowment Fund is spent annually to benefit current and future Foundation grants and programs. The Foundation has set a goal of $2.025 billion in Endowment Fund assets and gift commitments by 2025.

The Foundation has recognition opportunities for your gift that include:

  • Benefactor
  • Bequest Society membership
  • Major Donor
  • Arch Klumph Society membership

Polio Plus Fund

Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. For as little as $0.60, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.

Gifts to the PolioPlus Fund are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition. You can maximize support for polio eradication within your club and your community by organizing a fundraiser.

Approved Foundation Grant Fund

Contributors are not restricted to contributing to foundation grants involving their own clubs or districts. Contributors are encouraged to contact their district foundation to make arrangements to contribute to projects originated in their region. Click on the resource button to contact the appropriate foundation officer who can assist you.

Use the Rotary’s Online Contribution System to participate in Rotary’s Approved Foundation Grant Program.

Peace Centers

Rotary Peace Centers

Each year, up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellows are chosen to participate in a master’s degree or certificate program at one of our partner universities. Fellows study subjects related to the root causes of conflict and explore innovative solutions that address real-world needs. We have peace centers around the globe at:

Learn more about Rotary Peace Fellowships

You can support the Rotary Peace Centers program with your gift. Naming opportunities are available.