In the Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation (and Rotary International Past President) Ian Riseley's May 2023 Newsletter, Ian says that through the Rotary Foundation, by doing what we can, we do quite a lot of good, serving people around the world in myriad ways, and we are in it for the long haul. He adds, "Not only do we, the volunteers, fund most of our projects, but we often contribute significant volunteer hours in organizing and executing them." He reminds us that through the Rotary Foundation, we solve problems in a sustainable way. Before we lift a shovel to start any Foundation project, we conduct community needs assessments and work closely with members of the community. The Foundation also acts quickly when needed, such as through our disaster response grants, as we did with the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. ......
OUR LIMITLESS POTENTIAL
Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends of Rotary,
"Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can."
While we don’t know its exact origin, this widely quoted saying summarizes what Rotary and The Rotary Foundation are all about: We do quite a lot of good, serving people around the world in myriad ways, and we are in it for the long haul.
How many other charities do so much good in so many ways for so many as The Rotary Foundation?
Not only do we, the volunteers, fund most of our projects, but we often contribute significant volunteer hours in organizing and executing them. The "regional offices" of our charity — also known as Rotary and Rotaract clubs — are our reliable go-to partners in the more than 200 countries and geographical areas in which we operate. And when we lack expertise in an area, we partner with outside organizations whose trust we have earned, such as the World Health Organization, to deliver results on the ground that truly change lives.
Unlike some charitable organizations, we don’t take the "parachute approach" to humanitarian work. We solve problems in a sustainable way. Before we lift a shovel to start any Foundation project, we conduct community needs assessments and work closely with members of the community. The Foundation also acts quickly when needed, such as through our disaster response grants, as we did with the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Accountants like me and business and community leaders like you pay close attention to the numbers, and in this area, the Foundation is a cut above. In funding projects, we apply Rotary’s traditions of fiscal responsibility and ethics to ensure the best use of the resources of our fellow members. We in Rotary are excellent stewards of our grants, with most of the funds going toward humanitarian support itself and relatively little going to grant administration costs. This is why Charity Navigator has consistently given its highest rating to The Rotary Foundation, year after year.
Because our worldwide operation is dedicated to seven areas of focus, volunteers and donors alike have ample opportunities to make a difference where help is needed most. Indeed, the potential to help through the Foundation is limitless.
So, if you are looking for a great charity to support or a way to do all the good you can, look no further than The Rotary Foundation. It is truly one of the greatest charities in the world, and it belongs to you.
IAN RISELEY
Rotary Foundation trustee chair