Global grants
Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. By working together to respond to real community needs, clubs and districts strengthen their global partnerships.
Read A Guide to Global Grants for detailed information on planning your project, applying for a grant to fund it, carrying it out, and reporting on your progress and outcome.
What global grants support
Global grants can fund:
- Humanitarian projects
- Scholarships for graduate-level academic studies
- Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about their field or to learn more about it themselves
How they’re funded
The minimum budget for a global grant project is $30,000. The Foundation’s World Fund provides a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $200,000. Clubs and districts contribute District Designated Funds (DDF) and/or cash contributions that the World Fund matches. DDF is matched 100 percent and cash is matched at 50 percent.
Qualification
Both the district or club in the country where the activity is carried out and the international partner district or club must first become qualified before applying for a global grant. Learn more about the qualification process. Your club and district Rotary Foundation chairs can help you plan how to use your District Designated Funds and learn how to qualify your club.
Submitting a successful grant application
Consult with local experts early in the planning process to build a strong project plan and global grant application. The district resource network (see below) can help.
To be approved, your application must clearly describe how your project, scholarship, or vocational training team:
- Is sustainable — include plans for long-term success after the global grant funds have been spent
- Includes measurable goals
- Aligns with one of Rotary’s areas of focus
- Responds to real community needs — starting 1 July, any club or district that applies for a global grant to support a humanitarian project or a vocational training team must conduct a community assessment first and include the results in their grant application
- Actively involves Rotarians and community members
- Meets the eligibility requirements in the grants terms and conditions
Applications are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed as they’re received. Learn more about the Global Grant Lifecycle.
Note: Applications for scholars who will begin studies in August, September, or October must be submitted by 30 June.
Monitoring & evaluation
Measuring outcomes is an integral part of global grant projects. Proper monitoring and reporting ensure that Rotary grants have a positive impact.
Learn more in the Global Grant Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Supplement.
You will be required to fill out an online global grant report. To prepare, you can download this template.
District resource network
Local Rotarians who have expertise in Rotary’s areas of focus, global grants, and project planning are among your best resources. Experts can also include alumni, Rotaractors, Rotarian Action Group members, and The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers.
Contact your district international service chair for help connecting with the district resource network: local subject matter and project experts. If your district hasn’t appointed a committee chair, work with your district governor or write to rotary.service@rotary.org.
Resources & reference
- A Guide to Global Grants (PDF)
- Areas of Focus Policy Statements (PDF)
- Cooperating Organization Memorandum of Understanding (DOC)
- Global Grant Application Supplement for Microcredit Projects (DOC)
- Global Grant Application Template (DOC)
- Global Grant Calculator (XLS)
- Global Grants Community Assessment Results (DOC)
- Global Grant Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Supplement (PDF)
- Global Grant Report Supplement for Microcredit Projects (DOC)
- Global Grant Scholarships Supplement (PDF)
- How to use the Grant Center (PDF)
- Lifecycle of a Project
- Six Steps to Sustainability (PDF)
- Terms and Conditions for Rotary Foundation District Grants and Global Grants (PDF)
- Training Plan for Global Grants (DOC)
- Vocational Training Team Itinerary (DOC)
Tools
- Start your grant application
- Check out our discussion groups
- Find your Rotary grant officer (PDF)