With 1.16 million members around the world, Rotary International is arguably the biggest service organisation ever. Many people think Rotary is a charity. It is not, but the foundation of its success is.
Its own charity is called The Rotary Foundation. It was created in 1928 – 23 years after Chicago lawyer Paul Harris and three business pals set up Rotary. ‘Foundation’ essentially is the word Americans use for an established charity.
And the Rotary Foundation is certainly well-founded and well established. The way it works in partnership with Rotary International is unique. Every year, Rotarians pledge to each raise a certain amount (many aim for $100 – £76.39 at the time of writing). Much of that comes straight out of members’ pockets as personal donations, but some is raised by holding fun fundraising events.
These donations to The Rotary Foundation, which go into the Annual fund, are kept by the fund for three years before being allocated in two parts; the first part goes to the World Fund which supports Rotary projects throughout the world (such as Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign – see the panel on this page – while the second part goes to the SHARE fund to be used for club projects following Rotary’s Areas of Focus.
Every year The Rotary Foundation gets the highest award from Charity Navigator, recognising the high returns and minimal running costs.
So Rotary members contributing to The Rotary Foundation do so knowing that in three years they can pick which projects they would like a Rotary Foundation grant to support.
So even small clubs like Leicester Novus, currently with only 15 members, can embark on substantial projects. We could not, for example, have built the Peace Garden at Falcons School which school staff, parents and governors appreciate so much. We have supported other clubs enabling them to tackle enormous international projects including buying a fleet of 32 e-Ranger motorbike ambulances well-suited to the rugged terrain in Mbale, Uganda, and currently supporting a maternity unit in Atangi, between Kampala, Uganda, and the Kenyan border.
As Novus Rotary members, we are always pleased to hear that we have reached our self-imposed target at the end of each Rotary year on June 30.
The club has just had it confirmed that, under President Ranjit Singh Mann, the club donated £1720 to the Rotary Foundation — a lot more than the members’ $1500 target.
Ranjit said: “This is a great result, indicative of how generous Rotary members are. And the good news is that in three years’ time, when Sarita Shah is our president, any of our members can suggest a project anywhere in the world, that deserves to have support from The Rotary Foundation.”
Last edited: 15:15 on Saturday, 15/07/2023
