DG Kevin's November Message

 

SUPPORTING OUR ANNUAL FUND

Many of us joined Rotary because we were attracted to the appeal of Service Above Self and our desire to Do Good in the World.  After joining Rotary, most of us discovered the amazing power of Rotarians working together to improve the lives of others – in our own communities and around the world.  We also learned about the power of matching grants that enable us to multiply the funds that we raise through the efforts of our own clubs.  Even modest fundraising efforts can result in much larger financial resources for a project due to matching grants from our District and The Rotary Foundation.
 
When your club decides it wants to do a local community service project and take advantage of a matching grant from our District, where do those matching funds come from?  If your club decides it wants to become part of an international humanitarian project and take advantage of a matching grant from our District and matching funds from The Rotary Foundation, where do those funds come from?
 
Through the SHARE system, contributions to the Rotary Foundation  Annual Fund are transformed into grants that fund local and international humanitarian projects.  At the end of the three year period following the contributions,  half of the funds are returned to the District as District Designated Funds, DDF.  Districts may use up to half of their DDF to support District Grants through our District Grant Spending Plan.  The remaining DDF may be used for Global Grants or donated to PolioPlus, the Rotary Peace Centers, or another district.  The other half of the three year prior contributions to the Annual Fund - SHARE are allocated to the World Fund which is controlled by the Rotary Foundation trustees.  This World Fund  provides the necessary funding for our highest priority activities around the globe.
 
So, this is why it’s important that we continue to support the Annual Fund with our contributions.  The level of support this year will determine how much our District will have to use for District matching grants in three years. The opportunity for Rotarians to serve those in need in our communities and around the world is growing, not shrinking.  We hope to be doing more, not less, in three years.
 
Supporting our Annual Fund with your contributions is one important way you can Be a Gift to the World. Thank you for your continuing support.