May 2024 - Connecting the Dots
By: Sarah MacGillivray, Secretary, and Public Image Coordinator, District Foundation Committee, RC of Bath Sunrise
Over the past few years, I have enjoyed putting together an article on OUR Rotary Foundation, with the aim of helping to educate Rotarians in our district on just how much OUR donations help to do good work around the world. I hope folks have learned a little something each month, I know I have! There has been exciting news to share over the years, but none seems as exciting as the generous donor in our District who helped to spark the ShareForever Million Dollar Challenge. This month, I am thrilled to share that we are over three-quarters of the way to meeting the million-dollar challenge, and we have every confidence we will be able to celebrate the million-raised mark (two million dollar total!) by the time we get to the district conference on June 29…with YOUR help!For more about ShareForever, District Grants Update and Financial Management, Programs of Scale, the Cadre of Technical Advisors, and Service Awards, read on:
Do you still have questions about ShareForever, and how you might make your gift to TRF Endowment? There are two upcoming webinars scheduled for May 8. Please join us at either 4:00 pm or 7:00 pm. Registration is required, and a zoom link will be sent prior to May 8. To register for the 4:00 pm webinar click HERE and for the 7:00 pm webinar click HERE
District Grants Update:
Congratulations to the clubs who were able to complete all of the qualifying steps by the end of April, and remember that you need to submit your final paperwork using the new grant module by the end of May (final deadline for all submissions is June 1). One of the items to check off to qualify is setting club goals for Foundation giving. For the current Rotary Year, we are the only district in Zone 32 that has 100% of its Clubs submitting goals. For next year we already have over twenty Clubs with annual fund goals in Rotary Club Central, and most have set PolioPlus goals. This is fantastic work, thank you all!
In addition to the 4 Rotary moments that I have for you this month, I thought it might be helpful to share information that was sent from our Zone 32 Foundation Team about Rotary Direct, as I know there are some folks out there that may still have questions.
One way you can help Rotary continue to do good in the world is by encouraging members to enroll in Rotary Direct (https://my.rotary.org/en/rotary-direct), our Foundation's recurring giving program.
Last year, OUR Foundation raised over US $427 million and funded more than 1,100 global grants, 470 district grants, and 310 disaster response grants to help communities thrive. Rotary Direct is one of the easiest and most secure ways for our donors to support the Foundation: because contributions are automated, donors don't need to worry about sending checks or remembering to make an annual contribution on time.
Rotary Direct saves time and reduces administrative costs. Monthly, quarterly, and annual gift options are available. Members can enroll at the Rotary Direct page (https://my.rotary.org/en/rotary-direct), return a completed Rotary Direct enrollment form (Click HERE for form) For more information, you can refer to these frequently asked questions.(Click HERE for FAQ)
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WHAT ARE THE BEST FINANCIAL PRACTICES FOR GRANT FUNDS?
Because grant funds come from donor contributions, it’s important for sponsors to manage these funds prudently, transparently, and in accordance with Rotary Foundation policies.
Some good ways to do that are to:
- Follow your spending plan to distribute and use grant funds for their stated purpose and in a timely manner.
- Make project-related payments by check or other traceable method.
- If payments are made electronically by one person, maintain a paper record showing that the payment was approved by both signatories.
- Maintain detailed receipts and record each transaction. Your ledger should list each transaction and note the date, the amount, and the reason for it.
- Share information so you can manage grant payments smoothly and keep funds secure.
Thank you for helping Rotary maintain the highest level of grant oversight.
WHAT ARE PROGRAMS OF SCALE?
The Programs of Scale process awards funding to successful member-led programs so they can implement larger, higher-impact initiatives in our areas of focus.
Each year, The Rotary Foundation grants one Programs of Scale award of US$2 million to a club- or district-sponsored program that has proven its effectiveness and is ready to expand.
The programs need to use sustainable, evidence-based methods and have outcomes that can be measured. This allows us to track our progress and share what we learned in order to increase our impact — one of our Action Plan priorities.
WHAT IS THE ROTARY FOUNDATION CADRE OF TECHNICAL ADVISERS?
The Cadre of Technical Advisers is a group of Rotary members who offer their expertise and advice to clubs and districts that are planning and carrying out grant projects around the world. They also strengthen the impact of Rotary’s grants by safeguarding Foundation funds.
Cadre members provide guidance about conducting community assessments, incorporating sustainability, setting up monitoring or evaluation plans, and properly managing the financial aspects of a project.
More than 550 Cadre members who speak more than 80 languages come from 75 countries. You can connect with Cadre members who have expertise in a specific area of focus or in a particular language, country, or district.
WHAT KIND OF ROTARY FOUNDATION SERVICE AWARDS EXIST?
Rotary members use their skills, time, and talent to support our programs. These awards are some of the ways that we can recognize people’s contributions:
- The Rotary Foundation District Service Award honors members at the district level who are making a difference through the Foundation’s programs. It’s awarded by the district governor.
- The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service honors one member from each district each year who has been actively involved in service related to the Foundation. This award will be given out this year at the celebration on June 29, our District Conference and Changeover at the Isle of Shoals!
- The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award is the Foundation’s highest service award and recognizes exemplary service that extends beyond the district level and is sustained for a long period.
Help nominate a worthy Rotary member for one of these awards today! Or consider an award that is unique to our own District 7780. We have the Dr. Susan Black Champion of Service award. Nominations for this year’s award were due on April 30, so if you missed your chance to submit this year, consider doing so for next year’s award. This award will also be given at the Isle of Shoals event on June 29.