Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation transforms donations and gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, the Foundation taps into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into priorities such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to tackle challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.

Learn more about The Rotary Foundation’s six areas of focus .

Promoting Peace

Today, 60 million people are displaced by armed conflict or persecution. Through partnerships with leading universities, Rotary Peace Fellows develop skills to strengthen peace efforts, train local leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and support long‑term peacebuilding in affected areas. Rotary provides up to 100 peace fellowships per year at Rotary Peace Centers.

Learn how Rotary projects address the structural causes of conflict

Fighting Disease

More than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of medical costs. Rotary works to improve and expand access to low‑cost and free health care in underdeveloped areas. Members educate and mobilise communities to prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, and support medical training facilities where they are most needed.

See how Rotary projects provide low‑cost health care

Providing Clean Water

More than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities, and at least 3,000 children die each day from diarrhoeal diseases caused by unsafe water. Rotary projects help communities develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and support studies related to water access and hygiene.

See how Rotary is building sustainable clean water and sanitation facilities

Saving Mothers and Children

At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. Rotary provides immunisations and antibiotics, improves access to essential medical services, and supports trained health care providers for mothers and children. Projects focus on sustainability by empowering local communities to take ownership of health care programmes.

Watch how Rotary helps bring health care to mothers and newborns in rural Haiti

Supporting Education

Sixty‑seven million children worldwide have no access to education, and more than 775 million adults are illiterate. Rotary works to strengthen communities’ capacity to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.

Watch how a Rotary grant helps bring tablet technology to students in Fiji

Growing Local Economies

Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. Rotary carries out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work. Rotary also helps strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished areas.

See how Rotary helps workers achieve better wages and working conditions