The Rotary Foundation District Grants

Updated January 2025

The Rotary Foundation District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and communities abroad.  Each district chooses which activities it will fund with these grants.  Rotary Clubs within our District should complete the application form at the bottom of this page before 25 April 2025.  

What district grants support

You can use district grants to fund a variety of district and club projects and activities, including:

• Humanitarian projects, including service travel and disaster recovery efforts
• Scholarships for any level, length of time, location, or area of study
• Youth programs, including Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotaract, and Interact
• Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about their field or to learn more about it themselves

You have plenty of freedom to customize your service projects.  Refer to information found on the Members Only side of the Rotary International website by logging in using your My Rotary account.

How they are funded

Districts may use up to 50 percent of their District Designated Fund (DDF)  to receive one district grant annually.  This percentage is calculated based on the amount of DDF generated from a district’s Annual Fund giving three years prior, including Endowment Fund earnings. Districts are not required to request the full amount available.  The funding is received as a lump sum and then distributed to Rotary clubs.  Click here for an explanaion of DDF.

Qualification

Clubs need to become qualified to apply for district grants.  Qualification sessions in Cumbria & Lancashire are usually held each autumn.  The next session is being held on Monday 3 February 2025.  Further details can be obtained from the District Foundation Team.  

All applications should become familiar with the Terms and Conditions for Foundation Global / District Grants, and understand the essentials of complying with the MOU (Memo of Understanding).  

Detailed information can be found on the Rotary International website by logging in with your My Rotary account.  In addition there are several very useful online learning courses on the RI Learning Centre.

Click here for help accessing the Rotary International website : 

• How to access the Rotary Grants Centre and resources including ‘Terms and Conditions for Grants’ 
• How to access the RI Learning Centre

How clubs request funds - complate a District Grant Application Form

District Grant Applicaton Form 2025 - 2026  (Word)

If your club is seeking district grant funding, you can apply directly to Sam Jones who is our District Grants Officer.