Due to the global economic downturn and volatile investment climate, Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, like many charitable organizations, must make some difficult decisions.  

The Rotary Foundation has experienced significant unrealized investment losses. General Secretary Ed Futa has provided regular updates to Rotarians on the situation as part of an ongoing effort to keep the Rotary world informed. (Read " Year to date results through 31 December 2008 ")  

At their January meeting, the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation reduced the Humanitarian Grants Program budget by US$16.3 million for the 2008-09 Rotary year in an effort to minimize the impact of unrealized losses to Foundation assets. Matching Grants and Volunteer Service Grants will be most immediately impacted by this decision. District Simplified Grants and 3-H Grants will not be affected in 2008-09. 

Matching Grants

The Foundation will continue to approve complete Matching Grant applications that meet all requirements on a first-come, first-served basis until the remaining budget has been committed. Once the budget is committed for 2008-09, applications will be processed as follows:

• Any applications that have been received by the Foundation and are pending will be kept on file and subsequently reviewed after the start of the 2009-10 Rotary year. These applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis when all requirements are complete. An e-mail will be sent to the sponsors of pending applications providing them with these details.
• Any new applications will be returned to the sponsors, who will be asked to resubmit the application after 1 July 2009 for consideration at that time.
• Any grants that are already approved will not be affected and will be processed for payment.

Volunteer Service Grants

At this time, the budget for Volunteer Service Grants has been fully committed for the 2008-09 Rotary year, and no further applications will be accepted . In light of this development:

• The sponsors of pending Volunteer Service Grant applications will be notified that their applications cannot be considered for funding in 2008-09.
• Any new applications received by the Foundation will be returned to the sponsors with an explanation.
• Any grants that are already approved will not be affected and will be processed for payment.

Information about Humanitarian Grants funding in 2009-10 will not be available until after the April Trustees meeting. Decisions from that meeting will be communicated to Rotarians well in advance of the start of the 2009-10 Rotary year. 

Sponsors of applications that do not receive a grant in this Rotary year are encouraged to fund their humanitarian efforts via other sources, if possible. The RI Web site will be updated regularly as soon as new information is available.

For additional information

• See the Humanitarian Grants Budget Reductions FAQ (PDF)
• E-mail the Contact Center
• Contact the grant coordinator for your application
• Read the Financials section of the Web site