Future Vision Plan overview

In anticipation of The Rotary Foundation’s 100-year anniversary in 2017, the Trustees set out in 2005 to develop a 10-year vision with a three-year plan to move the Foundation toward its second century of service. This vision and plan reflect input from a wide variety of stakeholders through interviews, surveys, focus groups, and input sessions and include a comprehensive approach for setting goals and a roadmap for successful execution.

A vision was developed for the Foundation – Enabling Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace – which became the basis for the Foundation’s new mission statement:

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

The Foundation’s new mission and vision, along with its new motto – Doing Good in the World – were approved by the Foundation Trustees and the RI Board and endorsed by the Council on Legislation. 

Future Vision Plan 

The Future Vision Plan is designed to

• Simplify Foundation programs and processes consistent with the mission
• Focus Rotarian service efforts where they will have the greatest impact by addressing priority world needs that are relevant to Rotarians
• Offer program options to help achieve both global and local goals
• Increase the sense of ownership at the district and club levels by transferring more decisions to the districts
• Gain greater understanding of The Rotary Foundation’s work and enhance Rotary’s public image

With a goal of full implementation by 2013-14, the Future Vision Plan offers new models for

• Grants structure
• Strategic partnerships
• Distributable funds

“Being everything to everyone has left the Foundation struggling to realize its mission. The new structure allows us to build on our strengths and realize more sustainable outcomes.” 

– Robert S. Scott, 2007-08 Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair

 

Grants structure

Under the new grants structure model, the Foundation will provide two types of grants: 

• Rotary Foundation District Grants allow clubs and districts to support their specific service interests and address immediate needs in their communities and abroad. Provided as block grants to districts, these grants are modeled after the current District Simplified Grants program. Districts will be able to use up to 50 percent of their District Designated Fund to support these grants.  
• Rotary Foundation Global Grants offer opportunities to participate in more strategically focused, sustainable activities with greater support from the Foundation. These grants will fund larger projects with sustainable, high-impact outcomes in one of six area of focus corresponding to the Foundation’s mission:
  • Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
  • Disease prevention and treatment
  • Water and sanitation
  • Maternal and child health
  • Basic education and literacy
  • Economic and community development

Clubs and districts can either create their own global grant projects in the areas of focus or sponsor packaged grants developed by The Rotary Foundation in conjunction with its strategic partners. 

Strategic partnerships

The Rotary Foundation will form strategic partnerships with organizations that specialize in one of the strategic areas of focus. These organizations would provide financial support, technical expertise, and/or advocacy efforts in projects and activities that are designed jointly with the Foundation and include Rotarian participation. In addition to increasing the impact of Foundation grants, these relationships will offer opportunities to achieve greater recognition of Rotary’s work.

Distributable funds

A distributable funds model is designed to simplify the funding process.

Rotary Foundation District Grants will be funded by a percentage of District Designated Fund (DDF) provided as a block grant. During the three-year pilot, districts may use up to 50 percent of their available DDF to support smaller local and international projects and broadened activities.

Rotary Foundation Global Grants will provide a World Fund match for club- and district-designed educational and humanitarian grant projects; package grant projects will be funded through a competitive process by the World Fund, Foundation earned income, and contributions from strategic partners. Designed to achieve the most effective and strategic use of Foundation resources in reaching sustainable outcomes, the package grant projects will not require club and district financial support. 

Implementation 

The Future Vision Plan will be implemented in stages. In 2008-09, the Trustees will select approximately 100 districts to participate in a pilot that will run 2010-13. In selecting the pilot participants, the Trustees will attempt to compose a representative group in terms of location, size, effectiveness, and level of involvement with the Foundation. The remaining districts will continue to use the current programs and grants processes until global implementation of the new grant structure in 2013.

Read more information on the pilot and new grant structure.