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Maine Grant Management Seminar

February 24, 2026

Via Zoom

District Projects & Global Grants

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Agenda

  • Welcome (DG Sue Pratt)
  • Rotary Proud (Joy Barresi Saucier, DFC)
  • Overview of the Rotary Foundation (Joy)
  • Doing Good in the World
    • Polio Plus (Scott Boucher, District Polio Plus Chair)
    • Qualification for Grants (Lincoln Ehrlenbach, District Grants Chair)
    • District Grants (Lincoln)
    • Global Grants (Joy)
    • Programs of Scale Grants (Joy)
    • Peace Fellowships (Doug Ibarguen, District Peace Fellowship Chair)
  • Fueling Rotary’s Engine (Joy)
    • Annual Fund
    • Polio Plus Fund
    • Endowment Fund
  • Rotary Foundation Resources (Joy)
  • Questions
  • Networking Breakout

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OVERVIEW OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

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THE MISSION OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

Our mission is to promote world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving people's health, supporting quality education, protecting the environment, and alleviating poverty.

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1917 ARCH KLUMPH PROPOSES AN ENDOWMENT

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THE ROTARY FOUNDATION HISTORY

  • 1928 The Rotary Foundation is formally named
  • 1947 The Rotary Foundation creates its first program
  • 1965 Matching Grants are launched
  • 1970 Began its fight against Polio
  • 1985 Launched the Polio Plus Program

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MORE ROTARY FOUNDATION HISTORY

  • 1990 The Foundation establishes SHARE
  • 1999 The Rotary Peace Centers Program is created
  • 2020 Launched Programs of Scale Grants

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FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

  • The Rotary Foundation is organized as a public charity that is operated exclusively for charitable purposes and is governed by a Board of Trustees
  • As a global organization that operates in nearly every country, Rotary takes stewardship of its funds seriously. The Foundation has received the highest possible score from Charity Navigator — 100 of 100 points — for our strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

  • The Foundation supports humanitarian grants and programs including:

  • The PolioPlus Fund

  • Rotary Grants

  • Rotary Peace Fellowships

THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

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THE AREAS OF FOCUS

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Doing Good in the World

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ERADICATING POLIO

  • Eradicating polio is Rotary’s top philanthropic priority.
  • We’ve been fighting polio for four decades, and we’ve made incredible progress toward ridding the world of it forever.

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POLIO ERADICATION CONTINUES

  • Nearly 19 million people who would otherwise have died or been paralyzed are alive and walking because they were immunized against polio. 
  • Rotary's goal is to raise $50 million per year for polio eradication activities. The money is then matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which triples the impact we can make for children around the world.

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ROTARY GRANTS

  • District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and communities abroad.
  • Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary's areas of focus.
  • Disaster response grants support relief and recovery efforts in areas that have been affected by natural disaster.
  • Programs of scale grants fund intentional effort by Rotary members, in partnership with others, to expand proven program models within our areas of focus in order to benefit more people and in more places and foster lasting change.

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QUALIFICATION FOR ROTARY GRANTS

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Belfast Rotary 100 Fund

DISTRICT GRANTS

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Camden West Bay Yucatan Water Fountain

DISTRICT GRANTS

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DISTRICT GRANT MATH

DISTRICT GRANTS

for

2025 - 2026

International Partner

Required for International Project

District Match $1.25 for every

Club $1.00

Minimum Club $500 Contribution

Maximum Grant $2,500

per Project

Maximum of Grants $7,000

per Club

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�2026-2027 ACCESS DISTRICT 7790 GRANT FORMS

  • District 7790 Website
  • Click – Club Resources
  • Click – Grants
  • Click - Qualify Your Club
    • Scroll down to Forms to Qualify your Club – “Click here to access your club’s qualification forms”
    • A table with type of document pops up – select your form i.e MOU or Addendum (PDF) – download the PDF version

Next Go to District Grants on the left

    • Scroll down to District Grant Documents – “Click here to access the most recent district grant documents”
    • A table with type of documents pops up – select your document (download the PDF version of the document)
      • District Grant Summary
      • District Grant Application
      • District Grant Final Report

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2026-2027 GRANT APPLICATION

  • Download the PDF application
  • Select Area of focus – Priority (#1, #2, #3) – Club Name
  • Project Description – purpose, goals, location, etc
  • How will the project benefit the community or those less fortunate
  • List any Partners
  • Estimate project dates/start/completion
  • How will others know it’s a Rotary Project - Publicity
  • Budget
  • Contact Information/Signatures

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CLUB QUALIFICATIONS

  • Club Qualifications
    • Most Recent Club Qualifications Forms – make sure forms are signed

if emailed sign name in red – Lincoln Ehrlenbach

    • 2026-2027 MOU – Memorandum of Understanding
    • 2026-2027 Addendum

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2026-2027 MEMORANDUM of UNDERSTANDING (MOU)

  • Club Qualifications
  • Club Officer Responsibilities
  • Financial Management Plan
  • Bank Account Requirements
  • Report on Use of Grant Funds
  • Document Retention
  • Reporting Misuse of Grant Funds
  • Signatures President & Club President Elect or Secretary must sign the document

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ADDENDUM to the CLUB MEMORANDUM of UNDERSTANDING

  • Eligibility
    • The previous years’ grant(s) awarded to the club has been requested from the District and the grant funds have been received by the club.
    • The club designated a Foundation Chair and entered that person’s name into My Rotary and Club Runner.
    • The club’s foundation goals are entered into Rotary Central.
    • $60 per capita to annual fund – Priority #1
    • $100 per capita to annual fund – Priority #2 & Priority #3
    • Timely filing of all reports
    • No unpaid District or RI Dues
    • Complete application
    • Signed by Club President, Club President Elect or Secretary

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APPLYING FOR MULTIPLE GRANTS

  • Eligibility
  • A complete application consists of the following for each grant
    • Application – Label Priority #1 or #2 or #3
    • Attached MOU
    • Attached Addendum
    • Signatures
    • Emailed to Foundation@ri7790.org

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IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

2026-2027 Grant Application in PDF – Due May 31, 2026

District Grant Final Report – Important Dates

2024-2025 – Due June 30, 2026

2025-2026 – Due June 30, 2027

2026-2027 – due within 1 year of receiving grant funds – no later than (June 30, 2028)

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THINGS TO REMEMBER

  • Separate Bank Account for each Project
    • Club name along with name of project on account/bank statement
    • Unused funds can not be rolled over to another project
    • Unused funds must be returned to the District
    • All funds are distributed via check – no wires
    • If you become aware that the project will not materialize or be timely completed, please let the district know as soon as possible

    • Ask Questions – Here to Help
      • lehrlenbach@gmail.com

      • Grants – Final Reports - Statements

      • Foundation@ri7790.org

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THINGS TO CONSIDER

  • Have your Club President enter the club’s foundation goals in Rotary Club Central
  • Appoint a Foundation Chair for the Club
    • Enter that person’s name in My Rotary
    • Have the club’s Foundation Chair present regular “foundation minutes” at club meetings
    • Foundation Chair would report regularly to the club on its foundation giving status
    • Encourage club members to participate in the Learning Center modules in My Rotary relating to the Foundation

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GLOBAL GRANTS�See Guide to Global Grants in Rotary Grants Center of my.rotary.org

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OTHER FEATURES OF GLOBAL GRANTS

Partnerships

  • An essential part of global grant projects is the partnership between the club or district where the activity will occur and a club or district in another country. Both sponsors must be qualified before they can submit an application.

Sustainability 

  • Global grant funding is an investment in lasting change. We want projects to be successful long after the grant funds have been spent. Sustainable projects can take many forms, but ensuring sustainability includes these steps:

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FUNDING OF GLOBAL GRANTS

Global grants are funded by sources that include contributions from Rotarians and other supporters, District Designated Funds (DDF), and the World Fund. Your district's contributions result in DDF. As of 1 July 2021, the DDF allocation is matched at 80% for global grants.

Global grant projects have a minimum budget of $30,000. Grant sponsors can fund a global grant with a combination of DDF, cash, and directed gifts and endowment earnings. The maximum World Fund match for DDF is $400,000, and there's no minimum.

In addition to larger humanitarian projects, global grants also support scholarships and vocational training teams.

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FUNDING OF GLOBAL GRANTS

  • Minimum Budget for a Global Grant is US$30,000
  • Clubs contribute Cash
  • 7790 matches Club Cash with DDF at 115%
  • TRF matches DDF at 80%
  • Cash requires additional 5% processing fee

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EXAMPLE OF GLOBAL GRANT FUNDING

    • Host Club Cash $100
    • 7790 Clubs Cash $10,000

(plus 5% Rotary processing fee)

    • 7790 District DDF Match ($1.15 per $1.00) $11,500*
    • TRF Match (80% of DDF) $9,200

Total Grant Funding $30,800

*Maximum District DDF

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Use the Rotary Grant Center to create Grant Applications, follow Grant progress, submit Grant Reports, and find other Grants in the District.

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2025 – 2025 GRANT STATISTICS

  • District Grants (534)
    • 468 Grants
    • $29 Million

  • Global Grants
    • 1,423 Grants
    • $88.2 Million

  • Disaster Response Grants
    • 74 Grants
    • $1.9 Million

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ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIPS

The Rotary Peace Centers are Rotary’s premier educational program and an important path toward the Foundation’s mission of promoting world understanding and peace

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The Rotary Peace Centers program has a vision of sustainable peace — encompassing a network of peacebuilders and community leaders dedicated to preventing and resolving conflicts around the globe.

THE IMPACT OF ROTARY PEACE FELLOWS

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THE ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIP

  • We award up to 170 Rotary Peace Fellowships each year. Funding comes from contributions, with additional support from the World Fund. 
  • Each year, we fund 50 fellows in master's degree programs in international relations, peace studies, conflict resolution, and related subjects. Total average funding $92,200.  
  • We fund up to 120 fellows in the one-year professional certificate program that offers experienced peace and development professionals additional training. Total average funding $11,400.
  • The fellowship pays for tuition, accommodations, travel, and field experience expenses.

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THE ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

The Master’s Degree Program includes: 

  • A 15- to 24-month course of study with research-informed teaching and a diverse student body
  • A Rotary-sponsored workshop series to develop resiliency skills
  • Opportunities to network with a cohort of peace fellows as well as with Rotarians at home and in their host countries
  • An applied field experience of 2-3 months with an organization such as the United Nations, the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, or Save the Children
  • An annual peace seminar with an opportunity to share research findings

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THE ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

The Certificate Program includes: 

  • A yearlong course of study for professionals from diverse backgrounds who are already working in a related field
  • A focus on practical skills to promote peace within a community and across the globe
  • A field study experience as well as the requirement to design and carry out a social change initiative 

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THE ROTARY PEACE CENTERS’ PARTNER UNIVERSITIES

THE ROTARY PEACE CENTERS

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District 7790’s Peace Fellow Alaina Broderson

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FUNDING OUR PROGRAMS

The Rotary Foundation belongs to Rotary members and is dedicated to furthering programs that address the greatest needs around the world. 

We support the Foundation to end Polio now with:

The PolioPlus Fund is dedicated to the global eradication of polio. Donations to the PolioPlus Fund support vaccination efforts, supplies, and equipment for volunteers.

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FUNDING OUR PROGRAMS

We further support the Foundation to fund today’s work with:

The Annual Fund which is the primary source of support for Foundation grants and activities. Contributions to the Annual Fund support local and international grants and activities through the SHARE system. 

When you contribute to the Annual Fund, your donation is credited to your club and applied toward the club's Annual Fund goal.

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The Annual Fund-SHARE System

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ROTARY DIRECT

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FUNDING OUR PROGRAMS

We further support the Foundation to fund tomorrow’s work with:

The Endowment Fund which supports the Foundation in perpetuity. Gifts to Rotary's Endowment ensure that future Rotarians will have the resources they need to design and implement sustainable projects year after year. 

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District Strategic Plan Goals for Foundation

    • Objective 1.1:  Increase the percent of Existing, Active Rotarians who are EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) to 50% by June 30, 2028.
      • Rotary Year To Date: 29% or 442 of 1535 members meet the EREY goal.
    • Objective 1.2: Increase Annual Fund per capita giving to the Foundation to $100 by June 30, 2028.
      • Rotary Year To Date: $49.84 per capita

Goal 1: Strengthen the district's participation in the Rotary Foundation.

    • Objective 2.1: Increase total giving to Polio Plus to $80,000 annually by June 30, 2028.
      • Rotary Year To Date: $34,911 Polio Plus Giving
    • Objective 2.2: Increase the number of Clubs giving >$1500 annually to 20 by June 30, 2028. Challenge Clubs with > 30 members to give at least $50 per capita to Polio Plus (either by each member or by the club as a whole).
      • Rotary Year To Date: 6 Clubs giving >$1500 to Polio Plus

Goal 2: Increase District-Wide Commitment to Polio Plus

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SUMMARY AND RESOURCES

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YOUR RESPONSE?

Foundation grants�Learn more about the types of grants the Foundation offers. 

https://my.rotary.org/en/take-action/apply-grants

Ways to Give

https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give

Donate to The Rotary Foundation�Give a gift to the Foundation.

https://my.rotary.org/en/donate

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Networking Breakout

  • For those who can stay on the line, please join us for an opportunity to meet and connect with others from across the US side of our District.
  • Once in your breakout rooms:
    • Introduce yourself and Rotary role
    • Share one best practice related to the Rotary Foundation
    • Talk about challenges and solutions.
    • Have fun!

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