Global Grants
 
Rotary members contribute their skills, expertise and resources to help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, from providing clean water to promoting peace initiatives.  Rotary Foundation Global Grants bring service project ideas to life and support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus.  Global grants (GGs) can fund:
 
  • Humanitarian projects
  • Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about their field or to learn more about it themselves
  • Scholarships for graduate-level academic studies (please note that D7080 does not encourage using global grant funding for individual scholarships, favouring grants that benefit communities with multiple beneficiaries within a shorter time frame)
Global grants have a minimum budget of $30,000USD and a maximum World Fund award of $400,000USD. Grant sponsors can use a combination of District Designated Funds (DDF), cash, and/or directed gifts and endowment earnings to fund a global grant. The Rotary Foundation will provide an 80 percent World Fund match for all DDF contributions. There is no minimum World Fund match.  Currently in District 7080, providing the funds are available, each dollar pledged by a club for an approved GG project is matched with $1.25 from DDF.  The Rotary Foundation then provides an 80% match for all DDF contributions.  So $1 put into a project by a club grows to $3.25, less administrative fees, after the District and Rotary Foundation matches.  
 
Global grant projects are sponsored by a Rotary club or district in the country where the project will take place—the host sponsor—and one outside the country where the project will take place—the international sponsor.  Global grant projects can also take place in Canada.  In that case, a Canadian club would be the host sponsor, and a club outside of Canada would be the international sponsor. 
 
Are you interested in applying for a Global Grant?  You must be a member of a Rotary Club to be eligible.
Steps to apply for a Global Grant:
  • Learn about Global Grants.  Read A Guide to Global Grants for detailed information on planning your project, applying for a global grant to fund it, carrying it out, and reporting on your progress and outcome. Also, check out the GG resources available on the D7080 Foundation Documents & Resources page.
  • Get yourself qualified and get your Club qualified.  Review the 2023-24 D7080 qualification requirements for clubs and members.
  • Review the D7080 Global Grants Applications & Reports webinar.
  • Start and manage your application by logging in to the Rotary Grant Center.
  • Contact the D7080 Global Grant Advisory Committee at foundation@rotary7080.org, early in the planning process.  The Committee will help your Club to build a strong project plan and GG application.  To be approved, your application must clearly describe how your project, scholarship or vocational training team:
    • Is sustainable — include plans for long-term success after the global grant funds have been spent
    • Includes measurable goals
    • Aligns with one of Rotary's areas of focus
    • Responds to real community needs — any club or district that applies for a global grant to support a humanitarian project or a vocational training team must conduct a community assessment first and design the project based on what they learn through that assessment.
    • Actively involves Rotary and community members
    • Meets the eligibility requirements in the Terms and Conditions for Rotary Foundation Global Grants
  • Complete and submit your application through the Rotary Grant Center in My Rotary.  Applications are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed as they’re received.