Here is how YOU can take direct action through your personal giving to The Rotary Foundation.

Article by PDG Dennis Shore - Endowment / Major Gifts Adviser

Directed Gifts to The Rotary Foundation

Most Rotarians are happy to have their donations go to the Annual Fund as this contributes to the District Designated Funds (DDF) available to their District to fund future District and Global Grants.

Rotarians also often contribute directly to Global Grant projects that support their passion. If a Rotarian wishes to be more proactive and has the resources to do so they can initiate a Directed Gift.

A Directed Gift of US $30,000 or more may support one or more global grants sponsored by a district chosen by the donor. The donor may also specify the Area of Focus and activity type: humanitarian project, scholarship, or vocational training team.

When the donor specifies the district that will sponsor the grant, the Directed Gift will be available to that district as a funding source for a global grant that meets the restrictions and/or preferences placed on the gift by the donor, such as areas of focus. The donor may also express a preference that a club within the district sponsor the grant.

If the donor so wishes the global grant will carry their name, even if the entire grant is not funded by the Directed Gift.

The intention is for Directed Gifts to be used in the Rotary year following the year in which the gift is received. However, the gift will be available once received and processed by the Foundation.

The Directed Gift can fund the entire Global Grant. However, districts have the option to add cash and/or DDF to the funding of the grant. DDF will be matched by the World Fund to 80%.

The key takeaway is that Directed Gifts fund Global Grants and must meet all the conditions that apply to any global grant.

Directed Gifts are reserved for individuals, couples, non-Rotary affiliated foundations and corporations so are not applicable for clubs or a syndicate of individuals.

Naturally there are specific rules applicable to Directed Gifts but these are there for good reasons and do not represent impediments to appropriate projects or programs.

Directed Gifts are the vehicle through which Private Ancillary Funds can be utilised to fund programs and we will have much more to say about that in future newsletters.

If a Directed Gift is something that might be of interest to a reader, Mark Anderson or Dennis Shore can assist you to understand what is achievable but more importantly how to translate your passion into action.