The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
A $2.2 million grant to Serving Hands International stands out in The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International’s recent giving, and it fits a broader pattern of large humanitarian awards routed through Rotary clubs, districts, and donor-advised fund channels. The foundation backs projects tied to economic and community development, disease prevention, water and sanitation, basic education, and peacebuilding, with program areas that also include maternal and child health, environmental protection, disaster response, and polio eradication. Its grantmaking is not limited to one type of recipient: recent awards go to local nonprofits, schools, Rotary clubs, districts, universities, and charitable intermediaries. The recent record also shows repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, including Serving Hands International, Heights Ellis County Advocacy Center Inc, and Sharp Healthcare Foundation. Alongside these larger operating grants, the foundation funds scholarships and fellowships, including graduate study and peace and conflict resolution training. That mix suggests a funder that combines humanitarian project support with education and leadership development rather than relying on a single grant model.
In economic and community development, the foundation gave $1,399,616 to Life Perspectives for a humanitarian project and $300,000 to St Kieran Catholic School for economic and community development work. It also supported Rotary District 6900 with $240,203 for the same broad area, showing that local clubs and districts are part of the delivery system. Its health-related giving includes $360,000 to Sharp Healthcare Foundation for disease prevention and treatment, plus $245,000 to Hanwash Inc for water and sanitation. For education, it awarded $259,520 to Mira Costa College Foundation for a scholarship and $236,876 to Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch for basic education and literacy. Peacebuilding appears in scholarship form as well: Duke University received $256,121 for peace and conflict prevention and resolution. Across these examples, the foundation uses different grant types to support service delivery, education, and field-specific training.
$25.5M
$1.7B
$462.6M
$392.9M
Most grants fall between $15K and $80K, with a median of $42K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$42K
75th Percentile
$80K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Typical grant size sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $41,725 at the median, and $79,654 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes several seven-figure awards, so the distribution stretches from smaller district- and club-level support to major project grants. The funder is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals. Recipients appear repeatedly across years: Serving Hands International, Heights Ellis County Advocacy Center Inc, Sharp Healthcare Foundation, Vanguard Charitable, and Rotary District 6960 all show up more than once in the recent grants list. Several grants are labeled DAF, while others are routed through humanitarian, scholarship, or district grant structures. Unsolicited applications are accepted for Global Grants, District grants, Rotary Peace Fellowships, and several related programs.
Grantmaking is national, and the recipient base is overwhelmingly U.S.-based: 1,186 grants, or 100.0%, went to U.S. recipients. California appears most often, with recent awards to San Diego, Huntington Beach, El Cajon, Paradise, Oceanside, and Bradenton across nearby programs. Other recurring recipient locations include Midlothian, Texas; Warwick, Rhode Island; Marco Island and Sarasota, Florida; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Only 3% of grants went to recipients in Illinois, the foundation’s headquarters state.
Its stated focus areas include ending polio, promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, supporting education, improving maternal and child health, growing local economies, protecting the environment, and disaster response. Recent grants also show humanitarian project support, scholarships, and international exchanges.
No. The foundation is marked as not funding individuals, and its active programs route support through Rotary clubs, districts, scholarship structures, and partner organizations rather than direct individual grants.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $41,725 at the median, and $79,654 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards, including seven-figure grants and a $2.2 million grant.
Repeated recipients in the recent grants list include Serving Hands International, Heights Ellis County Advocacy Center Inc, Sharp Healthcare Foundation, Vanguard Charitable, and Rotary District 6960. Some of these appear in multiple years, while others appear more than once in the same year.
Yes. The foundation’s Global Grants, District grants, Rotary Peace Fellowships, and related scholarship programs accept unsolicited applications. By contrast, some programs such as Scholarships and PolioPlus do not accept unsolicited applications.
JULIE BURKE
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Rotary Foundation of Rotary International that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: For Rotary members and clubs involved in disaster response efforts; supports recovery activities and rebuilding projects.
Deadline: Typically expedited/short timelines depending on disaster; varies by event
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK | IRONDALE, AL | $1,500,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-SCHOLARSHIP-DAF |
| SUSAN B ANTHONY LIST INC EDUCATION FUND | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,250,000 | 2026 | MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| CRISTO REY SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $685,766 | 2026 | PEACE AND CONFL. PREV./RESOLUTION-SCHOLARSHIP |
| HANWASH INC | NAPLES, FL | $680,000 | 2026 | WATER AND SANITATION-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| MAGIS INSTITUTE | GARDEN GROVE, CA | $600,000 | 2026 | BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| WHISPERING WINDS CATHOLIC CONFERENCE CENTER INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $500,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE | STEUBENVILLE, OH | $500,000 | 2026 | BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY-SCHOLARSHIP-DAF |
| SHARP HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $360,000 | 2026 | DISEASE PREV. AND TREATMENT-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| LIFE PERSPECTIVES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $354,443 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| PIKES PEAK AREA ROTARY ENDOWMENT | COLORADO SPGS, CO | $312,585 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5280 | CANYON COUNTRY, CA | $249,603 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| CHARITYVEST INC | ATLANTA, GA | $247,537 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5020 | OLYMPIA, WA | $212,566 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 7610 | WARRENTON, VA | $205,324 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| RISE UP INDUSTRIES | SANTEE, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| GOOD SAMARITAN RETIREMENT HOME | EL CAJON, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| ST RITA'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL | SAN DIEGO, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY-SCHOLARSHIP-DAF |
| SCRIPPS HEALTH | LA JOLLA, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| THE CARTER CENTER INC | ATLANTA, GA | $200,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| AMERICAN CORNERSTONE INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| ST KIERAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL | EL CAJON, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| WORD AMONG US INC | FREDERICK, MD | $200,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5160 | SAN RAMON, CA | $192,227 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5150 | PACIFICA, CA | $186,821 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 6780 | KNOXVILLE, TN | $183,136 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5330 | TEMECULA, CA | $179,648 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 6900 | ROSWELL, GA | $172,569 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 6960 | ESTERO, FL | $162,994 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5870 | TEMPLE, TX | $153,511 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5950 | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $151,319 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | DISEASE PREV. AND TREATMENT-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 6710 | HOPKINSVILLE, KY | $141,872 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5180 | SACRAMENTO, CA | $141,419 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5340 | SAN DIEGO, CA | $141,052 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 7770 | COLUMBIA, SC | $140,600 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5495 | RIO VERDE, AZ | $134,020 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 7570 | FRONT ROYAL, VA | $132,334 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 6910 | MADISON, GA | $130,086 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5890 | HOUSTON, TX | $129,732 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5100 | FOREST GROVE, OR | $128,637 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 6970 | PALM COAST, FL | $124,310 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5240 | CAYUCOS, CA | $123,643 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 6000 | BOONE, IA | $122,213 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 7600 | GOOCHLAND, VA | $120,914 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5110 | GRANTS PASS, OR | $119,941 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5450 | LITTLETON, CO | $115,590 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5960 | STILLWATER, MN | $114,931 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
| VANGARD CHARITABLE | WARWICK, RI | $112,000 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5840 | HELOTES, TX | $110,723 | 2026 | ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN |
ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK
$1,500,000ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-SCHOLARSHIP-DAF
SUSAN B ANTHONY LIST INC EDUCATION FUND
$1,250,000MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
CRISTO REY SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000,000ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
HANWASH INC
$680,000WATER AND SANITATION-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
MAGIS INSTITUTE
$600,000BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE
$500,000BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY-SCHOLARSHIP-DAF
PIKES PEAK AREA ROTARY ENDOWMENT
$312,585ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
ROTARY DISTRICT 5280
$249,603ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5020
$212,566ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 7610
$205,324ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
RISE UP INDUSTRIES
$200,000ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
GOOD SAMARITAN RETIREMENT HOME
$200,000ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
ST RITA'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$200,000BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY-SCHOLARSHIP-DAF
ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
ST KIERAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$200,000ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
ROTARY DISTRICT 5160
$192,227ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5150
$186,821ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 6780
$183,136ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5330
$179,648ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 6900
$172,569ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 6960
$162,994ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5870
$153,511ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5950
$151,319ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
DISEASE PREV. AND TREATMENT-HUMANITARIAN-DAF
ROTARY DISTRICT 6710
$141,872ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5180
$141,419ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5340
$141,052ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 7770
$140,600ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5495
$134,020ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 7570
$132,334ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 6910
$130,086ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5890
$129,732ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5100
$128,637ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 6970
$124,310ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5240
$123,643ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 6000
$122,213ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 7600
$120,914ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5110
$119,941ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5450
$115,590ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5960
$114,931ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
ROTARY DISTRICT 5840
$110,723ECON. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP.-HUMANITARIAN
