A total of 22 grant applications were submitted by the due date to the District Foundation Grants (DDF) Committee to fund projects within New Zealand and around the world.

The District Grants Committee chaired by Mark Yaxley met on 21 August to consider the applications and unanimously agreed on recommendations to the District Foundation Committee (29 August 2022). The committee endorsed the recommendations for Rotary Foundation approval.

This is the first time the new district has managed the DD. All recommendations were developed in accordance with the guidelines where funds are managed based on the DDF funds available from the former District’s DDF balances to their respective clubs.

Mark was very pleased to see projects where clubs are collaborating to deliver high impact projects both in New Zealand and the wider Rotary world. Richmond Rotary Club is the first to initiate a project and gain support from clubs across the breadth of the new district. Congratulations also to the Dunedin Rotary Club on developing an exciting multi-club project to celebrate their first 100 years of Rotary service to the community.

The following is a summary of the 20 grants supported to the total DDF value of $NZD 60,213.

A contingency sum of $13,800 will also be sought from unallocated D9980 DDF fund. Once we receive Foundation approval we will invite former D9980 clubs to apply for funding from the contingency.

Two applications from former D9970 clubs (Blenheim South and Lincoln) were declined due to funding constraints and scope issues.

All clubs have been advised of the committee’s decisions and that final approval is subject to receiving the Rotary Foundation (TRF) approval of the grant request. Usually TRF approval is received within 2-3 weeks although we are experiencing technical issues with the Foundation grants management centre that may delay their processing.

This report was provided by Mark Yaxley, District 9999 Foundation Grants Committee Chair 2022-2023.