Who we are

Letter from our leaders

More than a century ago, Rotary pioneered a new model of service leadership grounded in person-to-person connections. Today, those connections are a network that spans the globe — bridging cultural, linguistic, generational, and geographic barriers — and that shares the vision of a better world.

As people of action, we understand that fulfilling that vision requires a plan. Rotary has adopted a new Action Plan for the next five years: to increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance participant engagement, and increase our ability to adapt. Our plan will provide us with a continuity of vision from year to year, keeping us moving toward our shared purpose.

The Rotary Foundation plays a critical role in fulfilling this purpose. In 2018-19, the Foundation raised over $395 million, surpassing our $380 million goal. We made great progress toward building our Foundation’s Endowment to $2.025 billion by 2025.

Rotary leadership creates opportunity — and this year, we saw amazing examples of that leadership across generations of Rotarians. Whether participating in Rotary Youth Exchange, Interact, Rotaract, or Rotary clubs, Rotarians are transforming lives and making a lasting impact. Your continued commitment proves that Rotary is an inspiration to the world.

Creating lasting change

Since Rotary was founded in 1905, the world’s demographics have shifted, the pace of change has accelerated, and technology has created new opportunities for connection and service. What haven’t changed are the values that define Rotary: fellowship, integrity, diversity, service, and leadership. By honoring our past and embracing our future, we can continue to evolve to address today’s needs.

In June 2018, the Board of Directors and Rotary Foundation Trustees approved four new strategic priorities and objectives that will be the foundation of our next strategic plan. This plan — our Action Plan — sets the framework for our future so we can continue to thrive as a respected, dynamic organization that advances communities worldwide. 

Over the next five years, our priorities are to increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance participant engagement, and increase our ability to adapt.

Champions of personal and professional growth

Rotary helps members develop personally and professionally as they carry out their passion for service. Through their clubs, Rotarians and Rotaractors have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills through public speaking, networking, fundraising, team building, and event planning.

When Deli Levi-Jensen was first invited to join a Rotary club, she said no. A visit to Israel changed her mind. During her trip, she saw children waiting to get the polio vaccine, which Rotary members were administering. She was so inspired, she started the Rotary Club of Herning International after returning home to Denmark. Reaching out to new people to build a new club meant overcoming her fear of public speaking. Today, Levi-Jensen works in the leadership development field as a speaker, coach, and trainer.

The value of Rotary

Global transformation

A special report prepared by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies estimated that Rotarians volunteer nearly 47 million hours in a typical year, providing about $850 million worth of community service. 

“Translated into economic terms, Rotary is annually generating a scale of social and economic problem-solving effort that is worth nearly nine times more than it costs the organization to produce,” the researchers note.

One way Rotarians improve their communities is through global grants, which help fund sustainable, high-impact projects. In the last year: