The Rotary Foundation History 
The Rotary Foundation History In 1917, Arch C. Klumph, Rotary's sixth president, proposed to the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an "endowment fund for Rotary...for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational and other avenues of community service. "A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000, the fund was renamed The Rotary Foundation,
and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International. Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to
"hold, invest, manage, and administer all of its property...as a single trust, for the furtherance of the
purposes of RI."
Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of US$500 to the International Society for Crippled
Children. The ISCC--created by Rotarian Edgar F. "Daddy" Allen--since grew into the Easter Seals organization.
The Great Depression and World War II both impeded significant growth for the Foundation, but the need for
promoting a lasting world peace generated great post-war interest in developing Foundation programs. After Rotary
founder Paul P. Harris died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris
Memorial Fund was created for the purpose of building the Foundation.
That same year, the first Foundation program was established--Fellowships for Advanced Study--which was the
forerunner of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships program. Then in 1965-66, three new programs were launched--
Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training, and Grants for Activities in Keeping with the Objective of
The Rotary Foundation, which was later called Matching Grants.
The Health, Hunger and Humanity(3-H) program was launched in 1978, with the Rotary Volunteers program being
created as a part of 3-H in 1980. The PolioPlus Program was announced in 1984-1985, and the following year saw
the introduction of Rotary Grants for University Teachers. The first Peace Forums was held in 1987-88, leading
to the establishment of Rotary Peace Programs. Then in 1989, 1963-1964 RI President Carl P. Miller
and his wife, Ruth, donated US$1 million to establish the Discovery Grants program.
Throughout this time, support of the Foundation grew tremendously. Since that first $26.50 donation in 1917,
the Foundation has received contributions totalling almost US$825 million. More than US$61 million was donated in
1994-95 alone. To date, some 492,000 individuals have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellow--that is,
someone who has contributed US$1000 or has had that amount contributed in his or her name.
Such strong support and involvement of Rotarians worldwide ensures a secure future for The Rotary Foundation
as it continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace.
Matching Grants for International Humanitarian ProjectsThis Rotary Foundation program matches contributions raised by Rotary clubs and districts for international
service projects involving Rotary clubs in two or more countries. Many clubs double the effectiveness of
their efforts with these one-time grants of up to US$50,000. In fact, from the time the program began in 1965
through June 1995, nearly 4,300 grants totaling more than $38.4 million have been awarded to projects
in 159 countries.
Among projects recently funded were ones that built wells for potable water in India, provided tools for
vocational training in New Guinea and offered dental care in Brazil.
To be eligible for a Matching Grant, a project must meet the objectives of the program and satisfy the
criteria listed in the 16-page Matching Grants for International Humanitarian Projects application.
PolioPlus Polioplus is the first and largest internationally coordinated effort by a nongovernmental organization
in support of a public health campaign. Its goal is the one set by the 160 member countries of the World
Health Assembly in 1988--the eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000. Rotary's partners in the global
eradication effort include national ministries of health, the World Health Organization(WHO), UNICEF, and
the U.S. Centers for disease Control and Prevention(CDC). The effort is also supported by donor governments
such as Japan, Canada, Australia and the United States.
Although now within reach, the goal of eradication would not have been dreamed possible when Rotary
International began its PolioPlus Program in 1985. At that time, Rotary clubs worldwide embarked on a
massive fund-raising drive, the PolioPlus Campaign which ultimately netted more than US$246 million
to help underwrite the cost of polio vaccine, equipment and technical support. To date, The Rotary
Foundation of Rotary International has allocated more than US$200 million towards immunization and
eradication in 103 countries.
But Rotary's involvement is not just a monetary one. Rotarians have served in numerous capacities at
the grass-roots level, providing publicity and promotion, transporation for vaccine and health workers,
and many other forms of logistical support.
Progess towards the goal of eradication is evidenced by following:
A 1994 announcement by the Pan American Health Organization that polio has been eradicated in
the Western Hemisphere;
144 nations are now polio-free, up from 85 when PolioPlus began in 1985;
UNICEF estimates there are 2 million to 3 million children playing and walking normally today
who would have contracted polio were it not for the immunization efforts of the last 10 years.
Eradicaiton will require NIDs and golbal surveillance systems, which include networks of laboratories.
Nations must sustain high levels of Polio immunization until this ancient crippler of children is
eradicated. Although only a feared memory in many parts of the world, polio still strikes an estimated
50,000 children a year.
Health, Hunger and Humanity Grants In 1978, Rotary launched its most comprehensive humanitarian service activity with the Health, Hunger and
Humanity Program. The 3-H Program is designed to undertake large-scale service projects beyond the capacity
of individual Rotary clubs or groups of clubs.
By 1994, more than 135 different 3-H projects have been approved and undertaken in 49 different countries,
with an appropriation at more than $37 million. The objective of these projects is to improve health,
alleviate hunger and enhance human, cultural and social development among peoples of the world. The ultimate
goal is to advance international understanding, goodwill and peace.
The first 3-H project was the immunization of 6 million children in the Philippines against polio. As
3-H progressed, new programs were added to help people in developing areas of the world. Now, in addition to
the mass polio immunization of over 100 million children in various countries, 3-H has promoted nutrition
programs, vocational education, improved irrigation to increase food production, polio victim rehabilitation
and other activities which benefit large numbers of people in developing countries. All 3-H projects are
supported by the voluntary contributions of Rotarians through The Rotary Foundation. In years to come
the 3-H Program may well be considered Rotary's finest service activity, showing how Rotarians care and are
concerned about people in need, wherever they may be.
3-H grants normally range from US$100,000 to US$300,000 and last from three to five years.
The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship program is the world's largest and most international
privately-funded scholarship program. The Foundation awards both one-year and multi-year ambassadorial
scholarships, and three-or six-month cultural scholarships. Scholars have a responsibility to speak to
Rotary clubs in their home and host countries.
Group Study Exchange Under this program, teams of non-Rotarian business and professional people venture abroad for
a four-to-six-week period to study the social, economic, business and cultural conditions of their
host countries, and participate in homestay with Rotarians and their families.
Contributions to the Rotary Foundation The Rotary Foundation is supported entirely by the voluntary contributions of Rotarians and others
who are committed to the ideals fostered by the Foundation. In 1994-95, a total of US$61.7 million dollars
was received by the Foundation's Anuual Programs Fund and the Permanent Fund.
Annual giving is the cornerstone of the Foundation's Funding efforts and provides the fuel that runs
Foundation programs. Annual giving contributions made in one year are earmarked for program expenditures
three years later. The three-year cycle gives Rotary districts time to determine the programs to which
they want to allocate part of their contributions through the SHARE system. It also allows the Foundation
to invest the contributions to cover all operating costs. Anyone who contributes US$1000 to the Annual
Programs Fund or has that amount contributed in his of her name can be designated a Paul Harris Fellow.
Contributions to the Permanent Fund are invested, and the earnings are used to support Foundation programs.
Individuals who include the Foundation in their estate plans or who contribute US$1000 to the Permanent Fund
receive special recognition as Foundation Benefactors. Donors can also create an Endowed Scholarship within
the Permanent Fund.
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