Rotary continues its proactive efforts to promote peace and resolve conflict, day in and day out.

Article by PDG Dennis Shore - Endowment / Major Gifts Adviser

Yes, I know February was Peace & Conflict Resolution Month but the shameful events in Ukraine demonstrate that we have a long way to go and that Rotary continues its proactive efforts to promote peace and resolve conflict, day in and day out.

Rotary Peace Centres are a significant and long-term investment by Rotary and Rotarians to produce a cadre of specialists who will work to address the factors that give rise to conflict. In Rotary’s official statement on the invasion of Ukraine, Rotary’s position could not be any clearer: As one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, we have made peace the cornerstone of our global mission.

As with all giving to The Rotary Foundation, the donations have a purpose to achieve an outcome for “doing good in the world”. Rotary Peace Fellows are the product of 20 years of investment and as seen in the graphics are becoming influential throughout the world.

Rotary, as we all know, works for sustainable outcomes and over time the Peace Centres Initiative will pay increasing dividends, even if the invasion of Ukraine seems to make this aspiration forlorn and distant.

93% of the more than 1,500 working alumni are in jobs connected to peace and development in more than 115 countries.

Every year another 130 passionate peace professionals are selected to grow the number of Peace Fellows - 50 for the Master’s program and 80 for the Professional Certificate program. 

Applications are currently open for the next intake of Peace Fellows and candidates have until 15th May to apply.

With regard to Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation is also providing more immediate ways to deliver humanitarian assistance via an official channel for Rotarians to support Rotary relief efforts underway and has designated its Disaster Relief Fund as the main avenue for contributions. These contributions can be personal, club based or districts can transfer unallocated DDF.

For personal donations: https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund

For those looking to support ROTARY PEACE CENTRES on a perpetual basis, special Endowed Fund Naming Opportunities are available – all levels are in US dollars:

• $1,500,000 Endows a Rotary Peace Fellow every year at a Rotary Peace Center
• $1,000,000 Endows a Rotary Peace Fellow every two years at a Rotary Peace Center
• $1,000,000 Endows a visiting lecturer to teach and mentor for one year at a Rotary Peace Center
• $750,000 Endows a Rotary Peace Fellow every three years at a Rotary Peace Center
• $500,000 Endows a Rotary Peace Fellow every four years at a Rotary Peace Center
• $250,000 Endows a Rotary Peace Certificate Fellow enrolled in the professional development certificate program every year
• $100,000 Endows an annual seminar at a Rotary Peace Center
• $25,000 Endows a fund to provide general support for the program

Rotary Peace Centers also provide opportunities for Directed Gifts Naming Opportunities for those looking to make an immediate tangible impact. A directed gift will be spent in its entirety, usually in the year after the gift is made.

Contact Dennis Shore (djshore@bigpond.net.au) or Mark Anderson (Mark.Anderson@rotary.org) if you would like to find out more about these options.