Our Rotary Foundation

Doing Good in the World

Village Briefing, Water & Sanitation Project in Nepal. Sponsored by Rotary Clubs of Garstang & Over Wyre and Gorkha, Nepal

The Charity of every Rotarian

The Rotary Foundation was the vision of Arch Klumph in 1917. The idea was to set up an Endowment for the purpose of 'Doing Good in the World'.

Over a century later it has grown to be a major charity that helps Rotarians fund their projects nationally and internationally. Nearly $100m is now spent annually on these projects.

They encompass:

Disease Prevention & Treatment
Water & Sanitation
Maternal & Child Health
Basic Education & Literacy
Economic & Community Development
Peace & Conflict Prevention & Resolution
Supporting the Environment

Since 1985 Rotarians have been major sponsors of a plan to eliminate Polio, literally, from the face of the earth. Today there are only two countries where polio is endemic; Pakistan and Afghanistan. Thanks to the $2.1 billion that Rotarians have raised over the 36 years we have gone from 350,000 cases a year to less than 100.

Our Foundation also sponsors mature students for second degrees in Peace Studies at universities across the world. We also support Vocational Training Teams to share skills across countries as well as more technical scholarships.

The basic grants for Rotarians and their Clubs are Global Grants valued at a minimum of $30,000 and small District Grants for up to £1,500.

These pages give an introduction to all these aspects of Our Foundation. You can find out more through your Club’s Foundation Lead, through District or from Rotary GB&I or RI websites.

Contact John McGill about this page:

Our Rotary Foundation pages:

Borehole for fresh water in Uganda. Photo Rotary International

Recent Foundation Grants

more Examples of Rotary Clubs using Foundation Grants for projects at home and aboard

Administering polio drops to a child in Nigeria. Image Rotary International

Polio Eradication

more An update about polio around the world (2 pages below this)

Sun Never Sets on Rotary

Rotary Foundation Seminar

more Recording November 2023

Peace Seminar

more Recording September 2023

Vocational Training Team Seminar

more Recording July 2023

Global Grants

more Who to contact

District Grants

more Applications sought for District Grants

Local Disaster District Grants

more Grant application form for emergency disaster grant aid within Cumbria and Lancashire.