Rotary International

Rotary International is a global service organization that aims to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and promote international goodwill. It operates through its subsidiary, The Rotary Foundation, which supports projects and activities across the world.

Organization and Structure

Rotary International is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, USA, and currently has more than 1.2 million members worldwide, organized into local Rotary Clubs. Each club is independent but works under the umbrella of Rotary International. The organization is overseen by a Board of Directors, which manages the strategic direction of Rotary International, while The Rotary Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees.

Mission

The mission of Rotary International is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace." This is achieved through volunteer work, community service projects, and international cooperation.

Focus Areas

Rotary International focuses on several key areas:

• Promoting Peace: Though not exclusively focused on peace initiatives, Rotary Peace Fellowships are offered to support academic and professional development in peace and conflict studies.
• Supporting Education: Initiatives include scholarships and exchange programs to foster international understanding.
• Improving Health: Major campaigns include polio eradication efforts, where significant progress has been made since the launch of the PolioPlus program in 1985.
• Advancing Community and Economic Development: Projects involve supporting local economies and communities through sustainable initiatives.
• Protecting the Environment: Increasingly, Rotary clubs are involved in environmental conservation projects.

Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation, established in 1917, is Rotary's philanthropic arm. It supports Rotary clubs worldwide through grants for local and international service projects. The Foundation is known for its excellent financial management, having received the highest ratings from charity evaluators like Charity Navigator.

Achievements

• Polio Eradication: Rotary's efforts, in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, have immunized nearly 3 billion children and reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent.
• Scholarships: Over 350,000 scholarships have been awarded to students to study abroad.
• Disaster Relief: Rotary provides support for disaster recovery and preparedness.

Financial Structure

The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit organization supported solely by voluntary contributions. Donations are allocated to support global and district-level projects.