Grants Overview
District and Club Qualification to Participate in Foundation Grants
The requirements of The Rotary Foundation for district and club qualification are set out in My Rotary, in the section >Apply for Grants>Qualification. Districts and clubs must qualify each year to be eligible for a Rotary Foundation grant.
Click here to access the requirements of the Rotary Foundation to qualify for Foundation grants.
District Qualification
Districts must become qualified in order to receive grant funding from The Rotary Foundation. The qualification process helps ensure that the district or club understands its financial responsibilities, including stewardship, and is prepared to take them on. Qualification must be completed each year.
To become qualified, the district governor, governor-elect, and Rotary Foundation chair will:
- Read through the district qualification memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the Grant Center, answer a series of questions, and agree to the MOU
- Conduct grant management seminars for clubs.
Club Qualification
District 9800 requires that clubs qualify annually to be eligible to receive district grants. To qualify for District Grants, clubs must:
- Have at least one club member attend the annual District Grants Management Seminar
- Agree to the grant stewardship requirements as set out in the Guide to District Grants
- Be up to date with their subscriptions to Rotary International, District 9800 and Rotary Down Under Magazine
Clubs that intend to apply for global grants must also be qualified in accordance with the requirements of the Rotary Foundation. Primary contacts for D9800 clubs must complete the full Grants Management Seminar in My Rotary - Learning Center before Global Grant support will be considered.
New District Grant Approval Process for 2023-2024 and Beyond
Every District Grant application requires approval by the D9800 Humanitarian Grants Committee. From July 1st applications must also be approved by the Rotary Foundation, before any expenditure or commitment to expenditure is made.
Funding for District grants is provided annually via a 'Block Grant'. The District is able to submit only one 'Block Grant' application each Rotary year. To help ensure that there is adequate funding to support the club grant applications received, the D9800 Grants Committee will hold back District Grant funding requests received between July 1st and October 31st each year and submit them to The Rotary Foundation for approval in a consolidated 'Block Grant' in November.
- Clubs that submit a request for funding between July 1st and October 31st, and subsequently receive approval from the District 9800 Grants Committee, can expect that they are very likely to receive ultimate approval from The Rotary Foundation in November, for a project start in December or thereafter.
- Clubs not ready to apply for a grant in the period July 1st to October 31st, but who expect to apply later in the Rotary year, are advised to submit a Grant Intention Form no later than October 31st, to 'reserve' funds. Only detailed Grant Intention Forms can be considered for inclusion with the Block Grant application. Clubs that submit a Grant Intention Form that is accepted by the District 9800 Grants Committee are very likely to receive ultimate grant approval when later submitting a properly completed Grant Application Form that conforms with the District Guidelines.
- Clubs that later (after November 2023) come up with a project idea that may qualify for a grant, but who have not submitted a grant application or Grant Intention Form by October 31st 2023 should first enquire of the Grants Committee Chair whether there are any 'contingency' funds available for their project before submitting an application.
District Grants Application Timetable 2023-2024
October 31st 2023: District Grant Applications Received and Approved by the D9800 Grants Committee
- Will be submitted to The Rotary Foundation in November 2023.
- Approval to proceed expected to be received by November 30th 2023.
- Recommended Project Commencement: After December 1st 2023.
- Projects must be started no later than November 30th, 2024 and completed not later than November 30th 2025.
- Will be submitted to the Rotary Foundation in November 2023 for preliminary approval
- Final approval to proceed will be dependent upon a satisfactory full Application for a District Grant (DGL or DGI) being received by June 30th 2024.
- Projects approved for Grant funding must be started by November 30th 2024 and completed by November 30th 2025.
- Will be submitted and approved for immediate commencement provided funds are still available, or
- Will be held back and later included with the Block Grant submission in November 2024
Grants Management Seminars
The Rotary Foundation Humanitarian Grants Programs
- Serve as a resource for Clubs on all aspects of Foundation grants.
- Monitor and ensure compliance to terms and conditions of all grants from initial application to final completion.
- Work with the Foundation Director to develop an effective program to prioritise grant planning and disbursement of grant funds and to ensure proper recording and monitoring of grant activity.
- Work with the stewardship subcommittee to ensure good stewardship and grant management practices, including reporting, for all club and district- sponsored grants.
AREA OF FOCUS GUIDELINES
- Area of Focus Policy Statements
- Basic education and literacy
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Community economic development
- Maternal and child health
- Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
- Water and sanitation
- Protecting the Environment
GRANT REPORTS ON MY ROTARY
Reports are now available on My Rotary to help district leaders manage their grant activities.
- Grant Detail: Get comprehensive information about a grant
- Grant Location: Displays all approved global grants taking place in a country
- Grant Participation: Measure club, district, and zone participation in Grants
- Grant Productivity: See the status of all global grants and district grants by
club, district, or zone (includes closed and cancelled grants) - Grants by Sponsor: See the status of active grants by club or district only
The Rotary Foundation's Grants Performance 2021-2022
