Grants Overview

Grants

District 5450 Rotary Grants Overview

Rotary International Grant Program

Rotary International’s Grant Program has achieved significant success over the years. The 2013-2014 Future Vision initiative introduced crucial enhancements, including the seven Areas of Focus and requirements for sustainability, monitoring, and evaluation. These changes have led to more impactful projects that showcase the program's power and the dedication of the Rotarians involved.

Each year, Rotary International and the District review and update their policies. The following information reflects the policies effective as of July 1, 2023.

Club Qualification for Sponsoring Rotary Grants

A District 5450 Club must be "qualified" to sponsor a Global Grant or District Grant. Qualification is renewed annually and requires the following:

  • The Club President must attend the President Elect Training Seminar (PETS) or an approved alternative.
  • The Club President or a representative must attend a District 5450 grant training seminar for the grant year.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the president and president-elect for the grant year must be submitted to the District.
  • Proof of current IRS Form 990 filing must be submitted to the District.
  • All reporting on prior Rotary grants must be up to date.

For more information and instructions, visit the Club Qualification page.

District Designated Funds (DDF)

Effective July 1, 2021:

  • 5% of Rotary Annual Fund (SHARE) contributions are allocated for operating expenses.
  • 50% of the remaining contributions are returned to the District as DDF after three years.

DDF is divided into two pools:

  1. District Grant DDF: Used as the match for District Grant awards and administered by the District.
  2. Global Grant DDF: Held by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and used as a match for Global Grants reviewed and approved by TRF.

District Grants

Operation and Guidelines

There are no changes in the operation of District Grants from 2020-2021 to the year starting July 1, 2023. Complete guidance can be found in the District 5450 District Grants Terms and Conditions.

A District Grant:

  • Meets a need identified by an underserved community.
  • Is a Rotary project with appropriate signage and publicity.
  • Ensures all funds are under Rotarian control.
  • Does not incur expenses or begin until the grant application is approved.
  • Requires active participation by sponsoring Rotarians in District 5450.
  • Is designed to be completed by the end of the Rotary year.
  • Meets additional requirements as stated in the Terms and Conditions.

Funding

  • Club funds are matched $1 to $1 with DDF, up to specified limits.
  • The DDF pool for District Grants in 2023-2024 is $110,000.
  • Approved applications receive DDF until the pool is exhausted; proration may occur when funds run out.
  • Maximum DDF per club: $6,000 (for all projects).
  • Maximum DDF per project: $3,000 (single club); higher limits for multi-club projects:
    • $4,000 for two clubs
    • $5,000 for three clubs
    • $6,000 for four or more clubs

Conflicts of Interest

All grants must comply with RI conditions related to conflicts of interest. For District Grants, a Rotarian with a conflict of interest cannot be part of the grant committee or oversight. Potential conflicts must be disclosed in the application.

Global Grants

Operation and Guidelines

Guidance for Global Grants through June 30, 2025, is available in the District 5450 Global Grants Terms and Conditions.

A Global Grant:

  • Must address one of the seven Areas of Focus.
  • Meets a need identified by the community, Host Rotary Club, and other organizations.
  • Is a Rotary project with appropriate signage and publicity.
  • Ensures funds are under Rotarian control, ideally in the project country.
  • Involves active participation from both Host and International Rotarians.
  • Is a large, generally multi-year project, with a minimum project size of $30,000 USD.
  • Funded by a combination of cash, DDF, and World Fund match from The Rotary Foundation (TRF).

Funding

  • DDF matches cash contributions from District 5450 clubs:
    • 150% match if sponsored by a District 5450 club.
    • 100% match if sponsored by a club from another district.
  • DDF pool for 2024-2025: $250,000.
  • Maximum DDF per club per year: $15,000.
  • Maximum DDF per project:
    • $10,000 for one club
    • $15,000 for two clubs
    • $20,000 for three clubs
    • $25,000 for four clubs
    • $30,000 for five clubs
    • $35,000 for six clubs
    • $40,000 for seven or more clubs

DDF matches only cash from District 5450 clubs. Transferring funds from another district or organization to increase matching DDF is prohibited. Global Grant DDF is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until exhausted. The World Fund match on DDF is 80%.

For more guidance and resources, visit Rotary Grants.