Together We can Grow The Rotary Foundation

Posted by Marilyn Bedell, Zone 32 Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser
This article is dedicated in honor and memory of Zone 28 E/MGA Karen Oakes, who died suddenly on October 9, 2021.
 

Together We Support the Environment

As we enter November, Rotary Foundation Month, think about ways we can help grow our Rotary Foundation’s Endowment Fund. The picture of the planting of a tree seems to symbolize new growth, and this led me to think about our need to target new funding to support our newest area of focus, Supporting the Environment.
 
I found this written on the Rotary Club of Guelph, Ontario’s web page. It was written in September 2020: 
 
With so much attention paid to COVID since March this year, this exciting announcement made on June 25, 2020, has received little recognition, but it's a big deal. Huge, in fact. "The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus:  supporting the environment."  
 
This decision follows many years of lobbying and projects by Rotarians who understand that the whole world is their backyard. They can see the effects of climate change in communities they care about.
 
Past RI President Ian Risely (2017-2018) said, "We have to look at the world as a whole and how we can make it a better place. Caring about the environment goes toward our ultimate mission, and we should give it the importance it deserves."
 
Hopefully we are doing a good job of educating our Rotary Clubs about the opportunities that will be possible because of this change. The Area of Focus Policy Statement will help clubs understand what environmental project might be possible via a Global Grant.
 
To make a major impact on the environment, sustainable funding will be needed to support global grants focused on the environment. One way to assure that funding will always be available for these global grants is to build our endowment fund. The Trustees have set a goal to raise US$ $25,000,000 to be focused on the environment.
 
Consider helping the Rotary Foundation reach this goal through a major gift or planned gift/bequest commitment. Contact me for more information.