Understanding Rotary grants

PICTURED: Rotary members from 21 districts, in partnership with UNICEF, are working with local governments to develop and implement immunisation programs to protect 100,000 children from rotavirus, pneumococcal disease, and cervical cancer across nine South Pacific Island countries, including Kiribati and Fiji. The Rotary Give Every Child a Future project is committed to strengthening the immunisation programs in each country so that these vaccines continue to be delivered to future generations of children. This project was supported by 23 separate global grants, each with respective details on the country where the project was taking place.

Empowering local and global impact. Rotary Foundation grants fuel meaningful projects – both local and global – turning fundraising into action.

WORDS Mark Anderson. Rotary Foundation Major Gifts Officer.

We often hear the word ‘grant’ in Rotary circles.

But what does it really mean?

A grant is an amount of money provided by an organisation for a specific purpose. Within Rotary, we have three key types of grants:

• District grants
• Global grants
• Disaster response grants

Dispelling the myth: ‘Our money only goes overseas’

One common misconception is that donations to The Rotary Foundation only support international projects, and some clubs feel their priority is the local community. But here’s the truth: Rotary clubs are not just funders – we are doers. In fact, more than half of The Rotary Foundation funded projects happen right here in our own region.

PICTURED: Members from the Rural Fire Service and Bobin residents talk after an evacuation and fire protecting training in Bobin, NSW. Members of the Rotary Club of Taree on Manning and the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Taree help the communities of Bobin and Caparra prepare for bushfires by providing evacuation and fire protection training, erecting an automated sign accessible to both communities that indicates the level of fire danger, and installing tanks so bushfire brigades have water supplies. This project is supported by the Rotary Clubs of Taree on Manning, NSW, and Windsor-Roseland, Canada, and by a Rotary Foundation global grant.

The power of giving through The Rotary Foundation

Unlike many charities, Rotary offers a unique advantage: you have a say in how your contributions are used. This empowers clubs to align funding with local needs, while building Rotary’s brand and trust in the community.

Rotary operates as a circular economy – funds raised through the Annual Fund and Disaster Response Fund can return to clubs to support their own projects.

Real impact in our region

In the South Pacific region alone, 492 projects were funded and delivered. Of these:

• 200+ projects were delivered in Australia
• 70+ projects in New Zealand
• Many more across neighbouring countries within our districts

This demonstrates the tangible local impact of Rotary grants.

Delivering projects with purpose

When planning a project involving a grant, ask yourself:

• What impact will this project have?
• Are we truly engaging with the community we serve?
• Have we expanded our reach by partnering with other local organisations?
• Are we being adaptable in meeting real community needs?

These questions help ensure our projects are meaningful, inclusive and sustainable.

From fundraising to action: Serving through doing

Delivering projects through The Rotary Foundation doesn’t just benefit communities – it strengthens your club. When we serve through doing, we attract new members, energise existing ones and build lasting relationships.

Let’s shift the narrative from fundraising alone to fundraising with purpose, and make Rotary known not just for giving, but for doing.