The Rotary Foundation
In 1917, Rotary International President Arch C. Klumph proposed that an endowment be set up “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” In 1928 this endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000 and was renamed The Rotary Foundation becomming a distinct entity within Rotary International. Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of $500 to the International Society for Crippled Children, which later grew into Easter Seals.
During 1947 the first Foundation program – the forerunner of Rotary Foundation, Ambassadorial Scholarships was established. In 1965-66, three new programs were launched: Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training, and Grants for Activities in Keeping with the Objective of The Rotary Foundation, which was later called Matching Grants.
The Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) program was launched in 1978, and Rotary Volunteers was created as a part of that program in 1980. PolioPlus was announced in 1984-85, and the next year brought Rotary Grants for University Teachers. The first peace forums were held in 1987-88, leading to the Foundations peaces and conflict studies programmes.
The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40.
Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, the Rotary foundation has received contributions totalling more than $1 billion. Ensuring the Rotary Foundation to continue its vital work for international understanding and world peace.
