Great minds plan alike

T en things you need to know about the Future Vision Plan . 

1. PolioPlus , Rotary International’s corporate program, will continue as the top priority until polio is eradicated.
2. The Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution program will not change, nor will the US$95 million Major Gifts Initiative to permanently fund Rotary World Peace Fellowships.
3. The plan, which has a three-year pilot, will offer two types of grants: Rotary Foundation District Grants and Rotary Foundation Global Grants.
4. Rotary Foundation District Grants are block grants to districts. Districts can use up to 50 percent of their District Designated Fund to fund these grants. (Districts can direct the other 50 percent to support Rotary Foundation Global Grants, Rotary World Peace Fellowships, and PolioPlus.)
5. Rotary Foundation Global Grants provide a World Fund award of $15,000 or more for larger humanitarian projects and educational activities in one of six areas of focus: peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development.
6. Foundation matches for global grants are dollar for dollar for DDF and 50 cents for every dollar for cash contributions to the project.
7. Clubs and districts can create a global grant project or sponsor a packaged global grant developed by the Foundation with its strategic partners. Each of these groups specializes in an area of focus and may provide funding, technical expertise, and advocacy support.
8. Clubs and districts can apply for global grants to fund training for a vocational team or a scholarship that supports an area of focus.
9. The Foundation will accept online applications for the pilot from all districts February- 15 May 2009 and will announce up to 100 selected districts before 1 July 2009. The pilot districts will begin testing the new grant structure on 1 July 2010. All other districts will continue as usual, although some Foundation programs and grant types will be phased out during the pilot period.
10. Rotary plans to launch the new grants model worldwide in 2013-14.