Fundraising

How can I fund my project?

You may be able to pay for your project entirely through fundraising events, such as charity dinners, walkathons, or online auctions. These events will not only help you raise money for your project, but also awareness for Rotary and The Rotary Foundation. Some possible fundraiser events are:

• Hold a raffle
• Skip a meal at your club meeting and donate the cost
• Organize a walkathon, bike-a-thon, or skate-a-thon
• Honor a special person in your life with a memorial or tribute gift
• Collect pennies to end polio
• Organize a purple pinkie project to end polio

Creating a fundraising plan

Before hosting a fundraiser, you should create a plan that:

• Identifies your fundraising needs
• Establishes a budget
• Considers and addresses local laws for fundraisers
• Determines available resources in your community
• Outlines the event's logistics (such as selecting the location, ordering supplies, and arranging for set up and tear down)
• Describes how volunteers will be organized
• Considers how to publicize the event
• Provides ways to measure its success

What are other ways to fund my project?

In other cases, you’ll need to turn to outside sources to fund your project, such as those listed below. Find tips for approaching each of these groups in Communities in Action: A Guide to Effective Projects.

• Individual donors
• Businesses
• Foundations (including The Rotary Foundation)
• Nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations
• Government agencies
• Other Rotary clubs

How can I get funding through Rotary?

The contributions you make to The Rotary Foundation make possible a variety of grants to help fund your local and international projects and activities..

What are the benefits of fundraising for The Rotary Foundation?

When you give to The Rotary Foundation, you help advance communities, improve health, and promote peace. Your support is essential to make grant-funded humanitarian projects, scholarships, and activities, such as vocational training teams possible.

What’s more, the money you raise for the Foundation benefits you, your club, and your district. Here’s how:

Annual giving

When you donate to the Annual Fund-SHARE, a portion of those funds becomes available to your district each year through the District Designated Fund. At the end of three years, your district can use this money to pay for Foundation, club, and district projects.

Help your fund grow by participating in the Every Rotarian, Every Year fundraising effort.

Major giving

When you make a gift of $10,000 or more, you are providing crucial support for Rotary. If you give to the Endowment Fund, you are ensuring a strong future for the Foundation by providing a continuous stream of income to fund Foundation grants and activities.

Matching gifts

Thousands of companies match gifts to The Rotary Foundation. Find out if your employer does and double the amount of money you donate — and receive in return — to fund Foundation projects and activities.

Donor recognition

The Rotary Foundation is grateful for the generous support of its donors.