The Rotary Foundation Trustees created the Disaster Response Fund as the single mechanism for Rotarians to give to the Foundation to support disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts. In 2021-22, there were 228 grants approved worth US$7.9m. To 21 April this year, 280 grants have been approved worth US$13.1 million.

Article by PDG David Anderson, D9790 District Rotary Foundation Chair

“Historically, Rotary has struggled in our role to address immediate needs after disasters. We are not a relief organization,” past Foundation trustee, Mary Beth Growney Selene has said. “Our clubs are better equipped for long-term recovery”. In response to numerous disasters around the world, the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation set up a new fund, the Disaster Response Fund. This Fund allows Rotarians to respond swiftly and effectively, by bringing relief and hope to individuals and communities affected by disaster.

District 9790 has had two Disaster Response Grants this Rotary year. The first, in September last year, was for US$4,090 to support the transport and delivery of A$70,000 worth of furniture offered by Bosra furniture in Melbourne. Within a week of the application being submitted and the funds received, the furniture was delivered to the Northern Rivers area where the furniture was delivered to local resilience groups for distribution to affected families. Quick, simple and effective.

Following the Goulburn Valley floods of October-November 2022, affecting communities in District 9790, the Rotary Club of Shepparton South proposed a US$25,000 project to assist affected families with the issuing of a US$335 (or the equivalent in AUD) of grocery debit cards to be spent locally. This would relieve the financial burden on flood affected families. Quick, simple and effective.

Applications for a Disaster Response Fund need to be submitted to the Rotary Foundation within six months of the disaster occurring. Whilst a Club may have the on-ground knowledge of the disaster, it is a District that makes the submission to the Foundation. A District can have only one open Disaster Response Grant at a time.

Neither a District nor a Club is required to commit any funds to the project. But as the Fund is utilised and accessed by Districts, it is imperative that the Fund is replenished though contributions from individuals, Clubs and Districts.

We all hope that the number of disasters occurring around the world requiring assistance from The Rotary Foundation decreases. It’s unlikely they will. And Rotarians want to respond and help when they do occur. Our local clubs and partners immediately want to offer helping hands and supplies. Our Clubs and Districts want to help affected communities wherever we can through funds and materials to restore life, wellbeing and dignity. Our clubs will continue to plan and implement projects that rebuild affected communities. It’s what we do.