Rotary Foundation

Gifts would include projects such as ending polio, or digging wells for the thirsty.  If you wanted to have a project to dig wells, you would apply to the Rotary Foundation for a grant.

How does money move from the individual Rotarian to the Foundation?  There are three main ways.  First, you can give directly to Rotary International, earmarking your funds for the Foundation, and not operating expenses for Rotary International.

Second, you can contribute to the annual Foundation fund raiser, which is the Paul Harris Ball.  From there, the money will go into a trust fund, where it will be “Shared” with invested funds.  Within a year, the money will be distributed to the District Designated Fund, the DDF, for the Foundation, and restricted to a particular project, if you like.

Or thirdly, the personal direct account.  This money will also go through the SHARE, or invested funds, or through a World Fund, before going to the Foundation.

How can you donate to the Rotary Foundation (TRF)?  The simplest way is to go online, though our club’s web site, designating something specific if you like, such as polio.  You could also arrange for an automatic deduction from your checking account.

Or you could do it the old-fashioned way: write a check, address an envelope, put a stamp on it and put it in a mailbox.

Our club is measured several ways in its giving.  First, within the district, out of 79 clubs, our club is 7^th in dollar amount giving in proportion to the number of members.

But we are only 26^th in amount of money given, and a dismal 41^st in amount per member: $85 per Rotarian per year.

Ray hopes that understanding the straight and transparent path the money takes, will encourage more Downey Rotarians to give to the Foundation.