What is the Rotary Foundation? The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. It has grown from an initial contribution of US $26.50 to more than US $55 million.

Foundation History: In 1917, Arch C. Klumph, Rotary's sixth president, proposed to the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an "endowment fund for Rotary . . . for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational and other avenues of community service." A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US $5,000, the fund was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International. Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to "hold, invest, manage, and administer all of its property. . . as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purposes of RI." Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of US$500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. The ISCC - created by Rotarian Edgar F. "Daddy" Allen - since grew into the Easter Seals organization.

The Great Depression and World War II both impeded significant growth for the Foundation, but the need for promoting a lasting world peace generated great post-war interest in developing Foundation programs. After Rotary founder Paul P. Harris died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created for the purpose of building the Foundation. Strong support and involvement of Rotarians worldwide ensures a secure future for The Rotary Foundation as it continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace.

Foundation Support: The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of The Foundation. The financial support The Foundation receives today will help secure many better tomorrows for people all over the world through The Rotary Foundation's humanitarian and educational programs.

Your gift may be given to the Annual Programs Fund or The Permanent Fund, our endowment. Each fund supports Foundation programs in a different way. The Rotary Foundation accepts gifts of cash, publicly-traded securities, some closely-held securities, life insurance, real-estate, and other tangible property including art, jewelry and collectibles. The Foundation accepts deferred gifts and bequests and urges donors to include The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in their final estate plans or will.

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EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR (EREY)
What is the value of a human life? Saving 5 million children from paralysis is the legacy of supporting the annual programs fund.
EREY:
$100 per member
If every club in our district gave $100, the total would be $48,000.
If every person in our district gave $100, the total would be $150,000. That would mean $75,000 would come back to the District in 3 years.
EREY supports:
· Ambassadorial Scholars: Foundation’s longest running program
· GSE program
· Rotary Centers for International Studies – World Peace scholars. One of the first peace scholars was from the Hamilton Rotary District.
· Humanitarian Grants programs – club and district projects
· Matching grants
· Polio Plus
Contributions have not kept pace with the world’s needs. “Shape a peaceful tomorrow for all the children of the world.”
Annual Funds:
The money is sent to TRF in Chicago where it sits for three years earning interest. At the end of the three years, 50% of the money is sent back to the District to be used for District and club programs – grants for the community. 100% of your donation goes to help people; none of your money is used for administrative costs. Because of the decline in annual fund support, there will be no ambassadorial scholars for the next couple of years. One year our District could not support the GSE team; TRF gave us a special allocation that year.
Polio Plus called to many people for donations. Now, the major focus is on water initiatives. 3.5 million people will die because of unclean water; over 50% of those will be children.
Decisions on the use of district funds are made by the District Foundation Committee. The committee consists of club members. Rotarians review; Rotarians monitor.

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The Rotary Foundation also offers a variety of Life Income Agreements to donors. Your charitable contribution may also be made as a pledge payable over a number of years. We gratefully acknowledge and appreciate the charitable contributions of our donors. As a donor, you receive recognition for your charitable contribution.

Paul Harris Fellow recognition, named for the founder of Rotary (view his page here), is given for gifts of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund. Benefactor recognition is awarded to donors to The Permanent Fund. Donors of US$10,000 or more receive Major Donor recognition.

The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world. One of the major humanitarian programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide by the year 2000.

Through its Educational Programs the Foundation provides funding for some 1200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.

The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Included in this section is information pertaining to the history of The Rotary Foundation, its financial support, its Alumni programs, training and resources, and the SHARE system.

What is Share? Through SHARE, Rotary districts share in the decision-making process by choosing which Rotary Foundation programs they wish to support and participate in. The Rotary Foundation's programs are funded through voluntary contributions made by Rotarians and others who believe in the Foundation's mission. Their support demonstrates their commitment to enhance the quality of life for all people, to create greater understanding among nations, and to advance the quest for peace in the world.

The Share system is the mechanism by which Rotary Foundation program awards are distributed worldwide. Through it, contributions to The Rotary Foundation are transformed into Ambassadorial Scholarships, Matching Grants for International Humanitarian Projects, Group Study Exchanges and more.

At the end of every contribution year, each Rotary district's contributions to the Annual Programs Fund are divided into two funds: 40 percent is credited to the World Fund (WF) and 60 percent is credited to the District Designated Fund (DDF). The 40 percent credited to the World Fund is used by the Foundation to pay for the worldwide programs available to all Rotary districts, regardless of specific contributions.

The 60 percent credited to the DDF is used by the district to fund the Foundation programs in which it chooses to participate, such as Ambassadorial Scholarships, credit toward the sponsor portion of a Matching Grant, or an extra Group Study Exchange. Because districts share decision-making about program funding with the Trustees, every Rotarian has a voice in planning for the future. Each year, district officers, in consultation with Rotarians in their district, allocate lump sums of DDF to one or more of four broad categories: humanitarian, educational, program enhancement, and donation.

Within those broad categories are the many Foundation programs in which districts may choose to participate. The Rotary Foundation has a unique funding cycle that utilizes contributions for programs three years after they are received. The three-year cycle gives districts time for program planning and participant selection, and allows the Foundation to invest the contributions.

The earnings from those investments pay for all administration, program operations and fund development costs. The system is called SHARE because the name defines what the system does: Rotarians SHARE their resources with their fellow Rotarians around the world. The Trustees SHARE some of their decision-making responsibility with the districts. Rotarians SHARE Rotary with the world through their Foundation.

The funds given to the Annual Fund in 1997-98 are available for the Share System in 2000-01. This means that 60% of the funds contributed or $61,688.69 is available to the District Designated fund, that is, the District will decide where these funds will he directed to help people around the world.

About the Rotary Foundation Programs
The Rotary Foundation provides a window of opportunity to serve the world through many of these programs.
There are 2 categories of programs that are supported by the Foundation, namely:
· Humanitarian Comprised of:
Discovery Grants, Rotary Volunteers, 3-H, Helping Grants, Matching Grants, New Opportunities, PolioPlus, Peace Program.
· Educational Comprised of:
Ambassadorial Scholarship, Group Study Exchange, Grants for University Teachers.

Discovery Grants: The Discovery Grants program helps Rotary clubs and/or districts carry out the preliminary travel and planning necessary to develop a specific international service project.
This grant provides up to US$3,000 to a Rotary club or district to help cover travel and related expenses to carry out the planning necessary to continue or finalize future plans for an international service project. The Carl P. Miller Discovery Grants program is funded by interest earned on a US$1 million endowment left by RI President Carl P. Miller and his wife Ruth. Districts may also apply for a Discovery Grant using their SHARE District designated Funds.
Criteria
· Any Rotary club, district, or group of clubs or districts may apply.
· Grant must be used for travel by a Rotarian, or a team including at least one Rotarian, from the coun- try of the sponsor club or district to another country involved in the proposed international project. Grants cannot be used to fund travel to conferences, nor to travel to another country for fund-raising activities.
· Project must involve at least two countries.
· The sponsor must have a written invitation from a Rotary club or district officer in the host country (or if a non-Rotary country, from an officer of another organization involved in that project).
· The invitation must include an offer of home hospitality or an explanation of why home hospitality is not available.
· Funding priority given to planning mission trips that
- have the potential for becoming an international/World Community

Service project
- make maximum use of funding; appropriate number of team members
- show possibilities for active Rotary involvement and identification
- show initial groundwork completed; local investigation capabilities exhausted
- will investigate and/or plan for a speciftc project
- demonstrate unique program content
Rotary districts may fund Discovery Grants using their District Designated Fund. These grants
· are called simply Discovery Grants as opposed to Carl P Miller Discovery Grants
· will be non-competitive, they must still meet all the program criteria and require completed applications.

Four Important Points for Clubs/Districts Interested in a Discovery Grant
1.) The application must be accompanied by a letter of invitation and home hospitality from the host Rotary club/district. This letter must specifically state that the hosting Rotary club/district will offer home hospitality or that they are unable to offer it.
2.) Applications which show that prior planning and communication have taken place between the two Rotary clubs/districts involved have a greater likelihood of being approved. Don't wait until just before the application deadline to contact a participant Rotary club.
3.) The Discovery Grant mission should be to plan for a project which will be a Rotary project with Rotary identity and is not just a project of another organization.
4.) Carefully consider the number of team members that will participate in the Discovery Grant mission.Ensure that each member has a specific role to play

Grants for Rotary Volunteers
The Grants for Rotary Volunteers program provides subsidies to qualified individuals who volunteer their services and expertise in a country other than their own.
This grant differs from the Rotary Volunteers program as it provides funding from The Rotary Foundation for these humanitarian service efforts when certain criteria are met.The Rotary Volunteers program provides information on international volunteer opportunities and records individuals who are willing to offer their volunteer services abroad.
The Grants for Rotary Volunteers program offers individual Rotarians an opportunity to serve when it might not be otherwise financially feasible by providing subsidies for volunteer service.The primary objective is for volunteers to assist in those areas of the world that require expertise in raising their basic standard of living.

Currently, each grant provides a partial subsidy to help cover expenses for four to eight consecutive weeks of international service by Rotarians, Foundation alumni, and Rotaractors. Non-Rotarians may also be eligible for funding if they serve in a registered Rotary or an approved 3-H or Matching Grants project, subject to the approval of the Trustee Chairman. The standard provision of the grant is the lowest economy-class round-trip airfare and up to US$50 per diem (subject to available funding). In addition to the regular Grantsfor Rotary Volunteers program, the Trustees have approved a three-year pilot plan for Long-Term Rotary Volunteer Grants, beginning in 1998-99. Volunteer costs will be funded by District Designated Funds at US$20,000 per volunteer. The district is responsible for selecting and preparing the volunteer and for designating funds. The volunteer must serve for one year and must perform direct service to those in the hosting Rotary club's site while training others to carry on their work.

Criteria
· Any Rotarian, Foundation alumnus, or Rotaractor.
· Up to 20% of the program's budget is available, on a first-come, first-served basis, for non-Rotarians, if they serve in a registered Rotary project or an approved 3-H or Matching Grants project.
· A letter of invitation outlining the volunteer activity from the Rotary club nearest the project site.
· A minimum of four weeks service; Long-Term Rotary Volunteer Grants require a service term of one year.
· Submit report to Foundation within 30 days of service; address local clubs and community groups regarding service experience.

3-H Grants: The Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants program funds long- term, self-help grassroots development projects that are too large for one club or district to implement on their own. 3-H Grants range from US$100,000 to US$500,000 paid out over 2 to 5 years.
The 3-H Grants program funds long-term, self-help grass-roots development projects which are too large for one club or district to implement on their own. 3-H Grants range from US$100,000 to US$500,000 paid out over 2 to 5 years.
Criteria
· Provide significant long-term benefits of a self-help nature to a large number of people.
· Projects must be self-sustaining after the 3-H Grant funds have been expended.
· All projects must involve Rotary clubs and districts in at least two different countries with a significant number of Rotarians actively participating in the project.
· The projects must be clearly identified with Rotary and initiated, controlled, and implemented by Rotarians.
· Rotarians must contribute ten percent (10%) of the 3-H Grant total (up to a maximum of US$25,000)before any portion of the grant can be disbursed.

3-H Planning Grants: The 3-H Planning Grants program is designed to subsidize the advance planning activities of Rotary clubs and districts designing 3-H projects of a significant size and impact.After reviewing a 3-H proposal, staff may determine that a project could make a significant impact in a region given further planning. If the project already meets 3-H Grants criteria, it may first apply for a 3-H Planning Grant. The grant may be used to offset such advance planning costs as feasibility studies, international and local travel, basic meeting costs, and essential materials. Grants are awarded up to US$20,000 on a competitive basis.
Criteria:
· Same as for the 3-H Grant

Rotary Helping Grants: The Helping Grants program is designed to provide support for those very worthy international humanitarian service projects in a country other than that of the sponsoring club/district. These projects are similar to Matching Grants projects; however, significant participation by local Rotarians is either limited or impossible. Based on a 50% match of club/district contributions, the maximum grant amount is US$15,000.
The Helping Grants program also provides awards to projects in non-Rotary countries and/or where the local Rotary club cannot provide significant Rotarian involvement and oversight due to inaccessibility or distance from the project site. Therefore, Helping Grants projects must be initiated, sponsored, and monitored by a Rotary club or district (outside of the country where the project will take place). That club or district must assume full leadership and responsibility for the project.
Criteria
· The project must have Rotary identification, even if it will take place in a non-Rotary country.
· Individual travel expenses will not be funded.
· If the project will take place in a Rotary country, the local club must send written endorsement of the project and state the conditions which limit or prevent active project involvement.
· Funding for the construction of individual family basic shelters (i.e. very basic single family homes)is allowed - US$2,000 maximum award from the Foundation - all other types of construction are prohibited.

Important Points for Clubs/Districts
· The sponsor Rotary club/district must be willing to provide oversight and monitoring of the project.
· Travel and construction expenses are not eligible for funding.
· Do not forward any funds to The Rotary Foundation unless/until a grant is approved. Funds that are sent to the Foundation before a grant is approved will hinder and delay the payment process.
· Sponsor contributions (non-SHARE) are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

Matching Grants: The Matching Grants program assists Rotary clubs and districts in carrying out humanitarian international service projects in cooperation with Rotarians in another country. The Foundation provides up to a one-to-one match of club and district funds (maximum award - US$50,000). The project must involve active, personal Rotarian participation.
Criteria
· Must provide for an international humanitarian service project.
· Cannot be used for the purchase of land, salaries, individual travel expenses, seminars, conferences, international exchanges, and/or the operational or administrative expenses of any organization.
· Funding for the construction of individual family basic shelters (i.e. very basic single family homes) is allowed - US$2,000/shelter is maximum award from the Foundation - all other types of construction are prohibited.
· Contributions must be at least equal to the amount being requested from The Rotary Foundation. In addition, at least half of the contribution must be contributed by the clubs/districts from outside the project site country.
· Funding will be provided for upcoming projects only, pending review and approval by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation.
· The project must involve active, personal Rotarian participation. Club members of both the local club/district in the project country and in the international sponsor country must commit to actively assist with the project's implementation.
· If the project will be conducted in cooperation with a non-Rotary organization, the Rotary sponsor must clearly demonstrate that the project is initiated, controlled, and conducted by Rotary and must provide for visible Rotary identification. The non-Rotary organization must be reputable and responsible and must agree to participate and to cooperate fully in all related financial review activities.
· No more than eight (8) Matching Grants projects conducted with a single cooperating organization will be awarded each Rotary year. Applications for projects conducted with a single cooperating organization will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
· Applicants who show the most Rotarian involvement, particularly involvement demonstrated by a financial commitment, in both the project and international countries, will receive special consideration.
New Program Information
· Effective 1 July 1997, the following is the new requirement regarding funding for construction projects - Under the Humanitarian Grants programs, funding of construction is limited. Acceptable construction projects include service roads, wells, reservoirs, dams, latrines, toilet blocks, and water supplies. These projects are eligible as long as the construction does not result in a structure in which individuals live,work, or spend a substantial amount of time such as buildings, containers, and shelters or carry out any type of activity, such as schools, hospitals, and clinics, including any type of manufacturing, processing and/or storage. Repairs, renovations, and/or restorations of existing construction are eligible only if they are not changing the scope of the original construction and only up to a maximum of US$2,000. The one exception to the construction policy is that, beginning 1 July 1997 through 30 June 2000, The Rotary Foundation will award Matching Grants, Helping Grants and 3-11 Grants for the construction of shelters for underprivileged families.
· The Trustees support microcredit and revolving loan fund programs as important and successful mechanisms to alleviate poverty Matching Grants may be approved for up to US$10,000 per grant for revolving loan fund projects when all conditions established for such projects are met.

New Opportunities Grant: The New Opportunities Grants program provides a window of opportunity for districts to receive funding from The Rotary Foundation for World Community Service and other international activities. Funded through the District Designated Fund (DDF), New Opportunities Grants give districts the freedom to design service projects which are new and unique and allow districts to use their DDF for those projects which do not meet all the eligibility criteria of existing Rotary Foundation programs.
Criteria
· The scope of the project must fall within the mission of The Rotary Foundation and meet Rotary ideals;
· The project must have demonstrable humanitarian benefits and meet a demonstrated need;
· The project must be international in scope, i.e. the DDF must be used for a project in a country other than the district's own (NOTE: Exceptions could be made for projects within multi-country districts);
· The DDF awarded may not be used for the purchase of land or buildings or the construction of substantial buildings (substantial being defined as any structure in which people will live, work or spend a great deal of time each day);
· The project must not directly benefit a Rotarian, an employee of a club, district, or other Rotary entity,or of Rotary International, or a spouse, lineal descendant, a spouse of a lineal descendant, or an ancestor of any living Rotarian or Rotary employee;
· The project must not duplicate an existing Rotary Foundation or Rotary International program;
· The project must exclude any liability of The Rotary Foundation or to Rotary International except for the amount of the DDF grant;
· The project must include signfficant Rotarian involvement in either the sponsoring or recipient district;
· The grant may not be used to provide funding to another organization or to fund another organization's program/project;
· The project must be distinct, i.e. of a different type or category of project from any other projects for which the same applicants have already received a grant in the past (this does not prevent the replication of successful projects that benefit different communities/people).

PolioPlus: The PolioPlus Program provides grants for obtaining polio vaccines, mobilizing community resources, and supporting operational costs related to international efforts to immunize children and eradicate polio worldwide. By the year 2005, Rotarians' contributions to the global polio eradication effort will approach US$400 million. In addition, millions of dollars of in-kind and personal contributions have been made by and through local Rotary clubs and districts. Of even greater significance are the hundreds of thousands of volunteers at the local level which provide support at clinics or mobilize their communities for immunization against polio. More than one million Rotarians worldwide have contributed toward the success of the polio eradication effort.

Grants are now available for special eradication activities in selected countries where the government,the World Health Organization (WHO), UMCEF, Rotary, and other donor agencies have drawn up a co-operative plan showing their respective roles, support, and activities. A PolioPlus Grant proposal may be submitted to support vaccine, essential equipment, supplies, and additional social mobilization and surveillance activities specifically directed to the final stages of polio eradication. The Rotary Foundation will assist Rotarians in developing appropriate proposals.

PolioPlus Partners Program:
PolioPlus Partners is a new initiative of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International through which all Rotarians can join in the battle to eradicate polio. The purpose of PolioPlus Partners is to help Rotarians in polio-endemic regions obtain the tools and supplies necessary for polio eradication by targeting three critical needs:
· Social Mobilization for National Immunization Days;
· Assistance to polio laboratories; and
· Assistance to polio medical officers/epidemiologists.

Advocacy for PolioPlus: Advocacy for PolioPlus describes the Rotarian activities that communicate to leaders at global, national, and local levels the benefits of the eradication of polio by the year 2000 so that financial, technical, and other resources required to reach this goal will be committed on a timely basis. Through advocacy, Rotarians seek to
· inform funding sources in potential donor nations of the urgency to make special contributions to the unmet needs of polio eradication programs in polio-endemic countries;
· urge leaders in polio-endemic countries to maintain the highest possible level of routine immunization against polio and all vaccine-preventable diseases; and
· inform the general public about the benefits of polio eradication so as to obtain their support for this goal and for all programs which combat vaccine preventable diseases.

Rotary Peace Program: The Rotary Peace Programs Grants program is designed to support conferences and other activities which promote cooperation, goodwill, and development. The program provides grants of up to US$25,000 for the purpose of utilizing the worldwide membership, programs, and resources of Rotary to
· achieve greater knowledge of the issues that enhance cooperation between nations,
· cultivate goodwill and peaceful understanding among people, and
· promote economic and human development.
As of 1996, grants may now be awarded for activities other than conferences. However, funded programs must include a plan for follow-up activities which may utilize other programs of RI and The Rotary Foundation.
Criteria
· Events should be self-supporting in a substantial manner and funding should be requested only for the balance that will not be covered by the registration fees and local funding.
· Subject matter must be of broad human concern, extending beyond the institutional or personal benefit of Rotary and its membership.
· Activities must involve understanding and cooperation among people of two or more nations and have subject matter relevant to the particular geographic area in which the program is held.
· Events must have significant attendance from all countries involved.
· Program must have the endorsement of the current RI Director or Rotary Foundation Trustee representing the zone or alternating zone.
· Program sponsors must ensure that there is appropriate government support to facilitate the involvement of all participants.

Call for Applications
The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies (RPCS) Program announces a call for applications for the July 2008 program session. The deadline for completed applications to be submitted to The Rotary Foundation for this session is 1 December 2007. This professional development program is held in Bangkok, Thailand, through which up to 30 participants embark on three months of intensive study instructed by some of the leading specialists in the peace and confict resolutions fields. The ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on future peace and conflict resolution efforts worldwide. Read more information and download the brochure & application on the Rotary International website here.

Ambassadorial Scholarship The Ambassadorial Scholarships Program, which began in 1947, is the oldest and best known program of The Rotary Foundation. The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships Program remains the same today as it was in 1947: to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries.
· Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship: covers transportation, tuition, fees, room and board for one academic year of study in another country (up to US$23,000).
· Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship: defrays the costs of degree-oriented study in another country for two or three years (US$11,000 annually).
· Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship: covers three or six months of intensive language training and cultural immersion in another country (up to US$10,000 for 3 months or US$17,000 for 6 months).
· NEW - Japan Ambassadorial Scholarships Pilot Program: three-year pilot program beginning in 1997-98; available as a SHARE option for Japanese districts only to donate to low-income Rotary districts to bring more Ambassadorial Scholars to Japan.
· NEW - Vocational Study Scholarship Pilot Program: three-year pilot program beginning in 1998-99; each district is eligible to submit one application for a worldwide competition for one of approximately 15 vocational training scholarships of three to nine months' duration (flat grants of US$10,000 or US$15,000 depending on nature of training proposal).
Criteria
· Applicants must have completed at least two years of university or college course work, or must have a secondary school education and have been employed in a recognized vocation for at least two years when the scholarship begins.
· In general, all applicants must be citizens of a country in which there is a Rotary club.
· Rotaractors are eligible and encouraged to apply.
· Applicant cannot be a Rotarian; an Honorary Rotarian; an employee of a club, district or other Rotary entity or of Rotary International; a spouse, lineal descendant (child or grandchild by blood or legal adoption), or an ancestor (parent or grandparent by blood) of any living person in the foregoing categories; a spouse of a lineal descendant.

Group Study Exchange: The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program provides grants for teams of outstanding non-Rotarian business and professional persons to travel between paired Rotary districts in different countries. Teams spend four to six weeks abroad where they study their host country's institutions, economy,and lifestyles; observe their own professions in that country; and discuss ideas with local citizens while developing friendships.
Primary awards include least expensive round-trip transportation between districts and a grant of up to US$1,000 for language training self-study or at an educational institution based upon eligibility. Additional subsidies include:
· GSE Internal Travel for low-income districts (up to US$600 for single-country districts; up to US$2,000 for multi-country districts),
· GSE District Conference attendance by visiting team in host district (up to US$500),
· SHARE Program Enhancement Orientation (in US$100 increments up to US$500), and
· SHARE Program Enhancement - Language Trafrdng Additional (in US$100 increments beyond the US$1,000).
New Group Study Exchange Variations
· Additional Team Members. Up to two additional non-Rotarian team members may be added to the team through an allocation of SHARE District Designated Funds (DDF).
· Specialized GSE. Team variations may include single vocational and cultural teams as well as those related to one of Rotary International's areas of emphasis, such as Literacy or Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention. Districts may also combine their efforts to form joint-district teams.
· Neighboring Country GSE. An exchange between two districts which have a common border or exist in close proximity. Districts may participate in an exchange with their neighbors at a greatly reduced SHARE catalog cost.
· PolioPlus GSE. Pilot program funding up to five exchanges per year. Team members are expected to have experience with Rotary's PolioPlus efforts. Exchanges will be of two to three weeks' duration with funding for travel only. Only polio-endemic or recently endemic countries are eligible for this special program.
· New Rotary Country GSEs. Beginning in 1998-99, District 5890 (Texas, USA) will donate a total of nine GSE awards to areas in Eastern Europe for exchanges with U.S. districts. Upon exhaustion of District 5890's awards, the Foundation will begin awarding one World Fund GSE per program year to Special Extension Areas with 10 or more clubs.
· Exchange with Non-Rotary Countries. Districts may use District Designated Funds to allow a team from a non-Rotary country to participate in GSE on an exception basis and with Trustee approval. The catalog cost will be the same as for a regular Group Study Exchange, US$12000.
· All-Rotarian Exchange with New Rotary Countries. Up to five Rotary district all-Rotarian teams may be approved annually on an exception basis. Exchange should focus on trainlng which promotes and enhances Rotary in these new areas.
Criteria Except as noted, criteria apply to all GSE programs.
· One GSE per district may be applied for through the World Fund (WF).
· A second GSE may be applied for through SHARE District Designated Funds at a catalog cost of US$12,000.
· Teams will be comprised of four non-Rotarians (professional or business people) and a Rotarian team leader.
· Spouses are not allowed to travel with or participate on the same Group Study Exchange team.
· Team leaders may not include district governors, district governors-nominee, or immediate past district governors. Past district governors may serve as team leaders provided that there has been an open selection process offering this leadership opportunity to district Rotarians and where special requirements of the exchange, such as language, vocation, or other needs result in the past district governor being chosen as the best qualified candidate.
· GSE District Application must be received no later than 1 November of each Rotary year. Failure to submit an application by this deadline greatly reduces your district's likelihood of receiving a pairing for the coming program year.
· Team member applicants must live or work in the sending district, currently be employed in a recognized business or profession on a full-time basis, and preferably would be within an age range of 25 to 40 in order to fulfill the rigorous and extensive demands of international travel and active participation in multi-week activities which would enable the experiences to have a maximum impact upon their long-term careers.
· Hosting district is responsible for providing at least 5 vocational study days per team member. Vocational study days must be tailored to match the professions of the individual team members.
· Paired districts exchange teams between 1 July and 30 June of the award year, unless both paired districts specifically request that the exchange be completed over two years rather than one.

University Teachers Grants: Grants for University Teachers to Serve in Developing Countries began in 1985-86 as a pilot program to promote international understanding, blending two of Rotary's most important emphases:volunteer service and education. The purpose of the Grants for University Teachers is to build international understanding and friendship while strengthening higher education in low-income countries. Two grant options are available: US$10,000 for 3-5 months of service; US$20,000 for 6-10 months of service.
Criteria
· Applicants may be either Rotarians or non-Rotarians.
· Applicants must hold (or if retired, have held) a college or university appointment for three or more years, but need not hold (or have held) a specific rank.
· The applicant's home and prospective host countries must contain at least one Rotary club.
· Rotary University Teachers shall teach an academic field useful to the host country.
· Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the language of their prospective host country.

Rotary Foundation Alumni: The objective of the Foundation's Alumni Relations program is to cultivate alumni as effective advocates of Rotary Foundation programs, to provide additional volunteers for district/club projects and activities, as a resource for Rotary club membership, and as a source of potential donors to The Rotary Foundation.
Objectives for district Alumni Relations efforts:
· develop a current, accurate district alumni directory or database
· create an alumni news bulletin and/or electronic bulletin board for alumni programs/activities
· start an alumni speakers/performers bureau
· organize a district or regional alumni association
· keep clubs informed of availability of alumni as a resource for programs and activities
· invite alumni to serve as advisors to district Scholarships/GSE selection committees
· enlist help of alumni to identify future program participants
· encourage alumni to participate in the Rotary Volunteers Program or serve as a University Teacher, as appropriate
· appoint alumni instructors for inbound/outbound Scholar or GSE orientation programs
· feature alumni at your district conference
· support selection of alumni for Rotary club membership
· ask alumni to contribute to The Rotary Foundation
· organize alumni reunions in your district
· involve in major gift solicitation
· encourage alumni to speak about their Rotary experience to other service organizations and church groups
· have alumni serve as mentors for Interact and/or Rotaract members

Fund Development: The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of The Foundation. The financial support The Foundation receives today will help secure many better tomorrows for people all over the world through The Rotary Foundation's humanitarian and educational programs.
Funds are raised from the followings:
· Annual Giving Annual Giving is the cornerstone of The Rotary Foundation's funding efforts. The Annual Programs Fund finances the district's participation in international projects of the Foundation.
· Major Gifts Major Gifts are gifts of at least US$10,000 made either to the Annual Programs Fund or to the Permanent Fund of The Rotary Foundation.
· Permanent Fund The Permanent Fund (formely called "The Rotary Foundation Endowment for World Understanding and Peace") is an endowed fund which is invested in perpetuity, with a spending portion that benefits the Foundation programs annually.
· Donor Services Donor Services performs a variety of customer service functions in direct,extensive contact with donors, and their club and district officers within assigned geographical territories.

About SHARE: The SHARE System is The Rotary Foundation's unique contribution allocation system,which allows districts to determine how contributions are spent and enables districts to participate in the Foundation's programs which are of the most interest to them.
Through SHARE, all district Annual Giving is totaled at the end of the contribution year and is divided into two funds, with 60% credited to the District Designated Fund (DDF) and 40% credited to the World Fund (WF).
Each district is given an opportunity to allocate its DDF to fund the programs listed as SHARE options. The World Fund pays for the other programs for which every district may apply such as the annual Group Study Exchange, 3-H Grants, Matching Grants, Grants for Rotary Volunteers, Rotary Peace Programs, and any new pilot programs.

Paul Harris Fellow/Multiple Paul Harris Fellow: Anyone who contributes - or in whose name is contributed - a gift of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund may become a Paul Harris Fellow. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion. Donors are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition when their cumulative giving reaches US$1,000.
For additional gifts totaling US$1,000 or more, a Paul Harris Fellow:
· is recognized as a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
· may also choose to honor someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow with their Foundation Recognition Points, formerly called "available credit"
· is eligible to receive a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow pin with additional stones.
Recognition levels are determined based on the following guidelines:
Recognition Total Pin Level
US $2,000 to 2,999.99 one sapphire
3,000 to 3,999.99 two sapphires
4,000 to 4,999.99 three sapphires
5,000 to 5,999.99 four sapphires
6,000 to 6,999.99 five sapphires
7,000 to 7,999.99 one ruby
8,000 to 8,999.99 two rubies
9,000 to 9,999.99 three rubies

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of contributions are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition?
A: All contributions to the Annual Programs Fund and/or restricted gifts are eligible.

Q: Can a business or organization be a Paul Harris Fellow?
A: No. Occasionally, a donor contributes US$1,000 and wishes to recognize a business or organization. In these instances, since Paul Harris Fellow recognition can only be presented to individuals, a Certificate of Appreciation is given instead.

Q: Can I name someone else a Paul Harris Fellow?
A: Yes. There are two ways to do this:
You may make a contribution of US$1,000 and ask that the recognition be awarded to another person.
Or you may contribute Recognition Points to another person. Recognition Points are accumulated when a Paul Harris Fellow has made a personal contribution in addition to his or her initial gift of US$1,000. At the same time that the donor's recognition level increases through this new gift, he or she also accrues Recognition Points, which can be transferred to other donors' accounts. If 1,000 Recognition Points are transferred to one person, that individual becomes a Paul Harris Fellow.

The Recognition Points can also be split between multiple accounts. For example, if 1,000 Recognition Points were divided equally between two people who had not previously contributed to the Foundation, each of those individuals would need to contribute only an additional US$500 to become Paul Harris Fellows.

Q: Can Recognition Points also be used to name Multiple Paul Harris Fellows?
A: Yes. A donor who is already a Paul Harris Fellow becomes a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow if 1,000 Recognition Points are transferred to his or her account.

Q: When do Recognition Points expire?
A: Foundation Recognition Points no longer expire.
For further information on Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition, contact your Donor Services representative. Be sure to include your district number when sending any correspondence.

Rotary Foundation Sustaining Members
Anyone who commits to the Foundation in writing to make a minimum gift of US$100 or more every year to the Annual Programs Fund will be recognized as a Sustaining Member. Sustaining Members receive a membership card and a sticker to affix to their club name badges for each year that they participate in the program.

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Arch Klumpf, born June 6th, 1869, Founder of the Rotary Foundation.

The Rotary Foundation was started in 1917 by Arch Klumpf, sixth President of Rotary International, who convinced a Rotary Convention of the need for an endowment for "doing good in the world" in charitable, educational, or other avenues of service.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships:

The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program is Ambassadorial Scholarships, established in 1947. Since that time, more than 30,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today, the Ambassadorial Scholarships Program of The Rotary Foundation is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. Through grants totaling approximately US$26 million, recipients from some 69 countries will study in more than 64 different nations. The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. Today, the program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies.

District 7150 regularly awards an Ambassadorial Scholarship worth between $23,000 and $25,000 each year to a worthy candidate from our District. Candidates should be in the last year of regular college or a recent graduate who would like to spend a year of graduate study in another country. We will accept applications via local Rotary Clubs until July 31, 2002 for study in the academic year of 2003-2004. Chair Norm Kolb asks that "club presidents and secretaries to be on the lookout for good candidates in their towns and cities and forward their applications to me". Norm's address is in the District Directory.

Download the Ambassadorial Scholarships Leaflet, and an Ambassadorial Scholarships Application Form. Further information is available on the RI Website's Ambassadorial Scholar webpage.

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