The Mission of The Rotary Foundation

Just like Rotary International, The Rotary Foundation has a Mission Statement – it complements and is consistent with the RI Mission Statement and together they make a powerful statement of what can be, and is, achieved by Rotarians.

WORDS Dennis Shore. Trustee. The Rotary Foundation.

As we do these days, we consult our friendly AI companion to provide a definition of a mission statement: A concise declaration explaining why an organisation exists, what it does, who it serves and its core values, guiding its present and future decisions.

So how does The Rotary Foundation’s mission statement stack up? Right on the mark I would suggest:

The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment and alleviating poverty.

Rotary provides service to others, promotes integrity and advances world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
Advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace has been in Rotary’s DNA for most of its existence and continues to underpin all that we do. Our priority to eradicate polio is consistent with this goal, as are the outcomes from our seven Areas of Focus, all of which make the world a better place and address many of the underlying causes of conflict.

The Rotary Foundation exists to support Rotarians. There would be no Rotary Foundation without Rotary, but Rotary would be nothing like we know it without The Rotary Foundation. Just think about all the memorable Rotary Foundation programs through the years – from Ambassadorial Scholars to Global Grant Scholars and Rotary Peace Fellows. From matching grants to global grants and 3-H grants, which kick-started our polio eradication mission in 1979 by funding the program that saw polio eliminated from the Philippines. This became the basis of our End Polio Now campaign.

Past RI President Paulo VC Costa captured the impact perfectly at the 1996 Rotary Convention:

“[The] Rotary Foundation [is] the masterpiece of Rotary International. It transforms our most daring dreams into the most splendid realities…

The Rotary world and the political world are aware that The Rotary Foundation is the most visible expression of Rotarian generosity – a generosity that not only brings benefits but also brings help and cooperation to solve the problems that effect mankind… The Rotary Foundation achieves the best that mankind can possibly achieve.”

As current chair of The Rotary Foundation, RI Past President Holger Knaack recently said: “The Rotary Foundation is more than just a source of funding; it is an invitation to endless opportunities. It’s a living expression of who we are as Rotary.”

The vision of Arch Klumph back in 1917 ‘to do good in the world’ shines as bright today as it did then – and that vision has become a reality. Continuing commitments to polio eradication and annual giving by Rotary members have sustained the vision and are greatly appreciated. Support for the Endowment Fund, particularly through a bequest, will ensure that vision shines
brighter – forever!