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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

The Annual Programs Fund makes it possible for Rotary clubs to transform lives around the globe. The APF supports worldwide humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs.

The Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative encourages all Rotary club members to help Rotary reach our goal to support The Rotary Foundation financially each year.

Designating a Gift

You can direct your Annual Fund gift to SHARE, the World Fund, or an area of focus fund.

SHARE is the primary source of funding for Rotary Foundation programs. It’s also the only Annual Fund designation that generates funding for the District Designated Fund. Rotary districts use their DDF to pay for the Foundation activities they choose to participate in.

World Fund contributions provide the Foundation’s portion of funding for approved grants. Through the World Fund, the Foundation Trustees can allocate funds where the needs are the greatest.  

The Seven Areas of Focus contributions provide the Foundation’s portion of funding for activities addressing critical humanitarian issues and needs. 

All options are available for one-time or recurring contributions.

Support of the Annual Programs Fund is the key to serving communities worldwide in Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus.

The Seven Areas of Focus

  1. Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
  2. Disease prevention and treatment 
  3. Water and sanitation 
  4. Maternal and child health 
  5. Basic education and literacy 
  6. Economic and community development
  7. Environment

Rotarians and non-Rotarians can direct contributions to SHARE, the World Fund, or an area of focus fund.

SHARE is the primary source of funding for Rotary Foundation programs. It’s also the only Annual Fund designation that generates funding for the District Designated Fund. Rotary districts use their DDF to pay for the Foundation activities they choose to participate in.

World Fund contributions provide the Foundation’s portion of funding for approved grants. Through the World Fund, the Foundation Trustees can allocate funds where the needs are the greatest.

Use the Rotary’s Online Contribution System to participate in Rotary’s Annual Programs Fund.

Download: Multiple Donor Form (PDF)    Designated contributions to: Annual Programs Fund, World Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners

Endowment Fund

Establish your legacy by ensuring The Rotary Foundation can meet the world’s vital needs for generations to come. Your gift helps us prevent disease, promote peace, and advance communities well into the future.

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

Rotary, along with our international partners, has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. We are close to eradicating polio, but we need your help. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, here are some ways to make a global impact and protect children against polio forever.

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

Rotarians can make cash contributions to specific projects approved by the Foundation. Donations, which must be directed to an approved grant number, will be directly applied to the grant and further Rotary’s humanitarian work around the world. Grants may be either local or international in nature.

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

Through academic training, study, and practice the Rotary Peace Centers program develops leaders who become catalysts for peace and conflict prevention and resolution in their communities and around the globe. Graduates of the program are reintegrating refugees in Sudan, creating jobs for disadvantaged women in India, and supporting reconstruction in devastated regions of the world.

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.