November is Foundation month -- a celebration of OUR Rotary Foundation. As you probably know, The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit organization supported solely by contributions from Rotary members and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. This support makes it possible to fund projects, with Foundation grants, that bring sustainable improvement to communities in need around the world. This year our district has already sent grant funds to fourteen Clubs for their projects. In our last Rotary year, a total of 33 Clubs took part in a district or global grant-funded humanitarian project!
But do you know the history of The Rotary Foundation? It all started with one simple idea, at the 1917 convention by the then outgoing Rotary president, Arch Klumph. He suggested creating an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world” and The Rotary Club of Kansas made the first contribution of $26.50. Then at the 1928 convention, The Rotary Foundation was formally named, Click here for a brief history of The Rotary Foundation.
Charity Navigator gives the Rotary Foundation 4 stars, their highest rating! So you may rest assured that your donations are being put to good work. Here are just a few ways to make a donation, large or small!
Giving Made Easy
Rotary Direct is Rotary’s recurring giving program. Have a small amount deducted (as low as $10) from your bank account or added to your credit card every month, quarter, or year. You decide the amount, method, and timing. It's easy to sign up--just visit rotary.org and sign into Member Access. Click on Contribute to The Rotary Foundation.
Raise for Rotary uses a peer-to-peer fundraising model that lets us leverage our social networks to raise money for Rotary causes. Members, donors, and participants use Raise for Rotary to support The Rotary Foundation by creating fundraisers for birthdays, anniversaries, athletic challenges, and events like World Polio Day, to share with their friends and family online. It is mobile-friendly, making it easy to post fundraisers and updates on social media to expand support for a favorite Rotary cause. Visit https://raise.rotary.org/ for more information. Raise for Rotary can generate funds for Polio Plus, the World Fund, and specific areas of focus but it may not be used for Annual Fund (SHARE) contributions.
When you shop at smile.amazon.com. Amazon donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases, at no cost to you, to the charity of your choice. Why not choose The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International?
When you give to the Rotary Foundation SHARE fund, nearly half that money returns to our district three years later to be directed toward local district grant projects and global initiatives as determined by your Club’s applications and the District Rotary Foundation Committee members, all fellow-Rotarians from our Maine and New Hampshire Clubs.
Want to know more? Our team would be delighted to offer a speaker about any Rotary Foundation initiatives for your upcoming Club meeting. Just email District Foundation Chair, Dave Underhill (dave.underhill.nh@gmail.com) and we’ll make it happen.
Thank you for supporting OUR Rotary Foundation in November, and every month of the year.