Make Dreams Real
The Foundation sponsors one of the largest international
scholarship programs in the world. Scholars study in a country
other than their own where they serve as unofficial "ambassadors of
goodwill." As a 2005-2006 Ambassadorial Scholar in Barcelona,
Spain, District 2210, Alissa Creamer, sponsored by District 5100
(USA) has done a tremendous job of fulfilling her ambassadorial
duties as well as making an important humanitarian contribution to
the world with a documentary that she is directing. While attending
film classes at her university, she met two children, Cassinda, age
6, and Romeo, age 10, from Angola at the Hospital de Sant Pau.
These two children were undergoing surgery for injuries sustained
from a landmine explosion. After spending nearly every day with
these children for 3 months, Alissa decided to direct a documentary
film about these two courageous children from the war-torn country
of Angola. Since 1947, more than 38,000 scholars from over 100
countries have received scholarships at a cost of more than $490
million. In 2006-07, 822 scholars from 50 countries studied in 80
countries. Program awards were $13.9 million.[Speakers cue:
reference any recent Ambassadorial scholars associated with your
district]Rotarys Matching Grants program enables clubs in one part
of the world to connect with a club or a Rotarian located a world
away to combine their energies and make a difference. When
Rotarians Ernie and Sally Montagne first traveled to West Africa on
a volunteer Service Grant, they never expected the huge impact
Rotary and Rotarians could have on the world. But through their
efforts, a Matching grant was obtained to fund several programs in
in Africa. By working together, Rotarians from Germany, Australia,
Canada, The United States, Mexico, and Niger have obtained several
grants for projects in Niger, the poorest nation in the world. One
project helped build the well pictured here. Wells such as this one
help provide clean water and will make life healthier and easier
for these villagers.Matching Grants provide matching funds for
international service projects of Rotary clubs and districts. Since
1965, 26,000 Matching Grant projects in 171 countries have been
funded at a cost of more than $291 million. In 2006-07, 2,008 new
grants were approved for projects in 124 countries. Program awards
were $34.3 million.What happens when we combine the energy,
enthusiasm, and passion of our members? The world community pays
attention.PolioPlus Rotarians, like Robert Hall from Georgia, USA
pictured here, have mobilized by the hundreds of thousands to
ensure that children are immunized against this crippling disease
and that surveillance is strong, despite the poor infrastructure,
extreme poverty, and civil strife of many countries. Since the
PolioPlus Programs inception in 1985, more than two billion
children have received oral polio vaccine. To date, 210 countries,
territories and areas around the world are polio free and 134 of
these have been certified. Rotary has committed more than $650
million to global polio eradication. 2006-07 expenditures: $23.7
million. (includes PolioPlus Partners grants)
Net Assets (as of 30 June 2007) = $219.6 millionExpectancies (as
of 30 June 2007) = $356.3 millionExpectancies have more than
doubled since 30 June 2000 from $123.4 million to $356.3 million on
30 June 2007.Total of Net Assets and Expectancies (as of 30 June
2007) = $575.9 millionEarly in the 2006-07 Rotary year, combined
assets and expectancies surpassed the $500 million mark. The next
goal is $1 billion by 2025.
Funds used for projects in current year were provided by
Rotarians three years ago. Money because of the motivational
efforts of predecessor.Responsibility is to provide motivation to
district to leave more opportunity for district leadership three
years hence.Highlight fact that all funds may not be used.Highlight
that all unused DDF will roll forward to the next year so it will
be available for immediate use.Highlight that all returned DDF for
cancelled projects will become available in the current year for
immediate use.Fifty percent (50%) of all contributions come back to
your district through District Designated Funds (DDF) in three
years to spend on educational and humanitarian programs chosen by
us; even grants that may be used for projects in our local
community. Through the SHARE system, your contributions to the
Foundation help both the locally and globally.
Heres an example:Year 1: Your district raised $100,000 in
2006-07Year 2: $50,000 is available in DDF for programs you
select.Year 3: Spending takes place in 2009-10
Programs funded through District Designated Funds include:
Matching Grants; District Simplified Grants; Ambassadorial
Scholars; Rotary Centers for Intl Studies; additional Group Study
Exchanges, University Teacher Grants etc.
The other 50% goes to the World Fund and is used to fund other
Foundation programs in which we can participate, such as 3-H
Grants, GSE and Matching Grants. (Each district receives one GSE
that is funded from the World Fund.) and Volunteer Service
Grants.
The Rotary Foundation provides a 1:1 match for District
Designated Funds (or SHARE) contributions and a 0.5:1 match for new
cash contributions for Matching Grants. And, districts can request
up to 20 percent of District Designated Funds (DDF) for a grant to
support multiple projects locally or internationally.
Key Points Review Standard District Rotary Foundation Committee
StructureThis is the district teamClubs should look to their
district to answer TRF questionsUse quick Reference GuideDG and DGE
consulted in decision processSo, you may ask, Why the Future Vision
Plan? As the Trustees began to prepare for The Rotary Foundations
centennial in 2017, it became apparent that the organization needed
to pay attention to the delivery of services. One obvious telling
point was the immense growth in Matching Grants (1965-2000 = 10,000
grants; 2000-04 = 10,000; 2004-07 = 6,700 grants). Basically, we
are victims of our own success! We were drowning in Matching Grant
applications and processes. We needed to do something to deliver
better services.
The Trustees also saw this as an opportunity to ensure the
Foundation would remain relevant in the philanthropic world and
meet the needs of the customers of an evolving organization.
You know, Rotarians are not bashful about expressing their
opinions when they think things should be changed a bit. We
received a lot of feedback from Rotarians about their expectations
and level of dissatisfaction with current programs and processes.
And, The Rotary Foundation and your Trustees listened!
The Trustees and Board felt that we needed to take actions to be
sustainable and significant in our projects, and we needed to
simplify our processes as much as possible. In April 2005, the
Future Vision Plan of The Rotary Foundation was initiatedour
strategic plan for the future.The Rotary Foundation has undertaken
several major initiatives to address the worlds needs. Of course,
polio eradication, as endorsed by the Council on Legislation, is
our organizations number one priority and will remain so until it
is eradicated.
Today, I will provide more insight into just one of the
initiativesthe Future Vision Planwhich, together with the others,
will help The Rotary Foundation be increasingly relevant and
progressive.So, what will our new Foundation look like in the
future? Here are just a few outcomes we would like to realize in
the next eight to ten years
HIGHLIGHT A FEW POINTS ON SLIDEThe Future Vision Committee and
Trustees did not develop this plan in a vacuum. We first considered
input gathered from surveys of nearly 10,000 Rotarians, focus
groups, and senior leader interviews. These results informed the
plans priorities and goals.
Change can be difficult to accept, and we recognize that this
plan may not satisfy every Rotarian. However, we believe it speaks
volumes to the needs and expectations of Rotarians.
The feedback informed the plans prioritiesREFER TO SLIDE POINTS
AND SUMMARIZE POINTSEarly in the process, the Trusteesthrough
recommendation from the Future Vision Committeeadopted the motto,
mission statement, and priorities, which were approved and endorsed
by the RI Board and the 2007 Council on Legislation. The Rotary
Foundations new motto and mission are:
READ FOR THE AUDIENCE
Note that some words in the mission are underlined. The
committee and trustees used these key words as the basis for the
Foundations future focus.Based on the principle areas of the
mission statement, the four key categories are Goodwill &
Peace, Health, Education, and Alleviation of Poverty. Within these
principle topics, the Trustees and Board have approved six areas of
focus for The Rotary Foundation in the future.
Those areas of focus are{{{{Each of the areas of focus animate
after a mouse click}}}}
The Trustees have committed to these areas of focus for at least
nine years. The Trustees and Board are encouraging clubs and
districts to focus their Foundation efforts in these six areas even
before the Future Vision Plan is implemented.The Trustees have
approved two grant names: ROTARY FOUNDATION DISTRICT GRANTS and
ROTARY FOUNDATION GLOBAL GRANTS.
The distinction between these two types should become apparent
here today as we discuss the plan.Now, how do we fund this new
grant structure?
First, the current SHARE system will remainAnnual Programs Fund
contributions will be split 50/50 between the District Designated
Fund (or DDF) and the World Fund. Within the DDF, each district may
elect to receive up to 50% of the available DDF for Rotary
Foundation District Grants.
The remaining DDF50% or morealong with World Fund, cash flow
through contributions, permanent fund earnings, named gifts, and
donor advised funds support Rotary Foundation Global Grants. Keep
in mind that the current World Fund matching concept so familiar
and attractive to Rotarians will remain in the funding model.
However, the World Fund match of DDF, cash and DAF will only be
available for Global Grants. The Foundation will no longer provide
a World Fund match for smaller, less strategic projects and
activities.
Additionally, the Trustees approved the concept that packaged
grants will be primarily funded from the World Fund. However, clubs
and districts may also use DDF and cash to purchase packaged
grants.Lets look at Rotary Foundation District Grants in more
detail. This grant type allows clubs and districts to support their
specific service interests and address immediate needs in their
communities and abroad. Modeled after the current District
Simplified Grants, district grants are provided as block grants to
districts, using District Designated Funds.
Now lets take a look at this diagram of district grants.
The Rotary Foundation, at the districts request, will award a
block grant of up to 50 percent of available DDF to the district.
The districts then work with Rotary clubs, individuals, other
Rotary entities, and cooperating organizations to award funds to
conduct projects both locally and internationally.Now, District
Grants provide a lot of simplicity, flexibility, and opportunities
for innovation. Clubs and their district work together to fund
smaller educational and/or humanitarian activities and projects
either locally or internationally. The District Simplified Grants
model is a great example of how the new District Grants can work.
These projects and activities should support the mission of the
Rotary Foundation, allowing a broad range of choices for clubs and
districts.
District Grants are intended to lessen the bureaucracy and
red-tape making it easier for clubs and districts to readily access
funds and do the projects and activities they are interested in.
The District Grants will require simplified reporting to the
Foundation.Rotary Foundation Global Grants will be awarded in the
six areas of focus. Designed to support larger projects and
activities, these grants offer opportunities to participate in more
strategically focused, sustainable activities.
Under this grant type, clubs and districts will select from two
options:
1. Club- and district-developed projects will be similar to
larger matching grants and 3-H grant projects, GSEs, and
ambassadorial scholarships. Both humanitarian and educational
activities must meet the minimum award amount ($15,000) and relate
to an area of focus to be eligible for global grants. We will
discuss the funding model shortly.
2. Packaged grants may be coordinated with a strategic partner.
The Foundation will work to provide projects and activities off the
shelf that have a standardized approach in creating, implementing,
monitoring, and reporting. It is anticipated that packaged grants
will be funded entirely by the World Fund or in coordination with
the strategic partner. We will discuss this concept further
shortly.Again, Global Grants focus on sustainable impacts with
long-term effects that meet specific standards of quality and
include Rotarian participation. Additionally, Global Grants are
attempting to leverage global resources and expertise with
strategic partners.
We will talk here shortly about the Future Vision Plans approach
to incorporate both educational and humanitarian related projects
and activities into the new model. But, the simple response is that
all current Foundation activities in some form or fashion can be
accomplished in the new plan.
And, lastly, Global Grants will maintain the requirements for
host and international partners. The packaged grants will require
further study and assessment, but the Trustees intent is to include
the international perspective in all Global Grants.To participate
in this new grant-structure, districts and clubs must be qualified
by the Rotary Foundation. The Foundation is designing a simple
process for districts to complete before applying for their first
years District and Global Grants. It is anticipated qualification
will be renewable every three years. Clubs wishing to participate
in Global Grants must also be qualified by their districts.
The purpose of qualification is to ensure that clubs and
districts have the legal, financial, and stewardship controls
necessary to manage grants in the new structure. This slide
summarizes some of the details of the funding characteristics of
the new structure.
District Grants, as noted earlier, will be block grants
administered by districts, similar to District Simplified Grants,
with general guidelines to maintain creativity and accountability
at the local levels. The grants will be funded by local
contributions and up to 50% of DDF with no monetary limits.
Club & District Developed Global Grants will be larger
educational and humanitarian grants in the areas of focus at a
minimum World Fund award of US$15,000. The current match concept
(1:1 for DDF and .5:1 for cash) will be maintained. Packaged grants
being developed are envisioned to be awarded starting at
US$50,000.
The Trustees are currently developing streamlined processes for
application, monitoring, reporting, and stewardship standards that
ensure Foundation funds are properly accounted for. Now, when is
this all going to get started? We are currently in a two-year
planning and preparation phase to begin awarding grants to pilot
clubs and districts on 1 July 2010. During the next two years, the
Foundation will promote and communicate the Future Vision Plan to
the Rotary world. Updated publications and materials, including
this presentation, are currently available on the Rotary
International Web site.
The timeline outlined here summarizes the next few years. In the
first two years, the Foundation will select, train, and qualify up
to 100 districts to participate in the pilot, with significant
training and education for DGEs, DRFC Chairs, and RRFCs. In the
second half of 2008-09, the Foundation will distribute information
to all districts about the plan and how to apply to become a pilot
district. In years 1-2-3, the Foundation will award grants to pilot
districts and evaluate the successes and challenges of the new
structure. The Trustees expect that the pilot will test many of the
strategies and assumptions of the plan and necessary adjustments
will be made based on pilot districts feedback before the full
rollout in 2013-14.Lets discuss the pilot application and training
processes. All districts worldwide will be invited to apply. But to
have a reasonable group to work with, only 100 districts will be
accepted into the pilot phase. This means we will have two Rotary
Foundation grant-making models operating at the same time as
non-pilot districts will continue using the current Foundation
programs until worldwide implementation in 2013-14.
The online pilot district application process will be completed
from Feb - June 2009. Two-thirds of the clubs in the district must
agree to participate in the pilot, along with the current and next
two district governors and the DRFC chair.
The training of the districts will occur within the 2009-10
training cycle, beginning at the 2010 International Assembly. That
training will involve DGE, DRFC chairs, and RRFCs to ensure
consistency and continuity.Now, how does the Foundation select the
pilot districts? Well, there are no minimum requirements to
participate as a pilot district. Of course, the Foundation has
certain criteria that will be used to evaluate the
applications.
The Foundation is looking to select a representative group of
districts in terms of grant activity, location, and reporting and
stewardship practices. The Foundation will consider districts
history of effective elections, appointments, and sound committee
structures. The Foundation does not want all super-user districts
in the pilot, as this would not adequately test the new structure.
However, those districts that are on probation or have been
suspended will not be eligible for participation.
Since pilot districts will be required to partner only with
other pilot districts for Global Grants, there needs to be a
balance of districts in developed and developing regions of the
world. During the application process, districts will have the
opportunity to identify regions of the world where they would like
to work to help ensure proper balance. The Foundation will select
districts of varying levels of capacity and in various locations
throughout the world.Now, knowing that we will have to operate
concurrent Foundation programs, the Trustees recognized the need to
phase out some current award types during the pilot. Six current
award types will be available only through 2010-11, which will
impact non-pilot districts. These six awards are:
Multi-Year Ambassadorial ScholarshipsCultural Ambassadorial
ScholarshipsRotary Grants for University Teachers3-H
GrantsVolunteer Service GrantsDisaster Recovery Grants
And, the remaining grant types will be phased out after the
pilot ends in 2013-14, as all districts begin to use the new
grant-making structure. It is anticipated that it will take some
time to close out the old grant structure as clubs and districts
submit final reports.So why would you want to be a pilot district?
The Foundation wants to make it very clear that pilot districts
will have both opportunities and challenges.
Opportunities for pilot districts include:Providing input in the
refinement of the new structureReceiving more specialized support
and service from the FoundationAccessing more funds in the District
Grants to use at the districts discretion
However, the Trustees realize the challenges:Districts must
commit to the full three years of the pilot. Pilot districts cannot
elect to withdraw.Districts must be patient and flexible, as we are
sure that unanticipated issues will arise, making it necessary to
adjust the rules.Some of the super-user districts may find it
challenging because pilot districts will be required to partner
only with other pilot districts for club and district developed
Global Grants.I appreciate your attention and patience as the
Foundation, Trustees, and Future Vision Committee assembled this
plan. We recognize we dont have all the details worked through yet.
The detail processes to support the plan are still being
formulated.
If you have any questions, I will try to answer them. However,
please know that more information and details are available through
The Rotary Foundation at the noted web site.
Additionally, specific questions about the details of the plan
can be sent to [email protected].
The staff at the Foundation can address some of the specifics
that we are unable to address here. Thank you again!Id like to
close with a few words from a Rotarian from District 5650, in
Nebraska, USA.When Mary Garrison commented on why she is a
Rotarian, she responded by stating:What an impact this wonderful
organization has had on my life! I can hold my head high and say...
I helped to eliminate Polio; educate thousands of students; build
numerous houses, schools, medical clinics; I am helping promote
peace and global understanding. I am doing all of this because I am
a Rotarian! I hope you feel proud that you are a Rotarian and you
now understand that we need your help to build a solid future for
OUR Rotary Foundation.What Rotary can accomplish and how Rotary
will be seen and remembered years from now depends on our actions
today.
Arch C. Klumph said: No one can tell us what Rotary will be
tomorrow, but one thing is certain: what Rotary will be tomorrow
depends on what Rotarians do today.Every Rotarian can become a
Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member by making one or more Annual
Programs Fund gifts totaling at least US$100 each year.Please join
ME and Every Rotarian in supporting OUR Rotary Foundation, Every
Year.Thank you.
