From your Foundation: Good news, but ...

Posted by Ruth Lee on Aug 03, 2016
 
Greetings Rotarians!
 
Our district’s year-end report is just in from Rotary International.
 
First, the good news. We exceeded both our Annual Fund and PolioPlus goals for 2015-16. Our clubs collectively set an Annual Fund goal of $126,018, and we invested $138,439. Our PolioPlus goal was $23,012 and we invested $37,363. In addition, $39,243 was committed to the Endowment Fund (our highest previous total was $8,387 the year before). Job very well done in relation to our goals.
 
Now, a bit of reality. The Annual Fund goal for 2015-16 of $126,016 was almost $20,000 below our goal in 2013-14, which we didn’t achieve.
 
Investing in the Foundation between those two years was almost equal.
 
Investing in 2014-15 was very low at $120,634. As you know, those figures are key in determining how much money is available in District Designated Funds to support our scholars and district grants. We had seven non-giving clubs this past year.
 
It is important to note that our per capita giving increased to $76.14, a good thing, but the increase was due to decreased membership, a bad thing. Membership does matter!
 
 
A sobering fact is that we collectively set a very low goal for the Annual Fund for the current year (2016-17) of $115,598, more than $10,000 BELOW last year’s goal.
 
On the PolioPlus side of things, we consistently exceed our goals, this past year achieving 162 percent of goal. We had 15 non-giving clubs. In 2015-16, we committed to $23,012, and we invested $37,363.
 
Total giving, excluding the Endowment Fund gifts, for the most recent four years was:
  • 2012-13: $280,061
  • 2013-14: $189,957
  • 2014-15: $172,012
  • 2015-16: $173,801
This is a huge decrease in support of our Foundation. Four years ago, our per-capita giving was $95.02 for the Annual Fund. Now, it is $76.14.
 
How to turn that around?
 
We are entering the Year of the Foundation - the Foundation’s centennial year. This is incredibly exciting.
 
It gives us an opportunity to renew our acquaintance with the Foundation and its impact on real lives all around our globe.
 
Please plan now to join us at the Foundation Dinner on November 5 at Deer Valley Golf Club just south of Sterling/Rock Falls. Have some fun and hear the story. We need you! Because of you, the Foundation serves the world. Thank you.