Grant Writing Initiative (GWI)
Grant Writing Initiative (GWI)
The GWI is organized every year and all Interact Clubs are invited to participate.
Interact clubs submit a grant application to request funds to Rotary for a local charity organization.
The Information session for the GWI 2026 has taken place on November 19th, 2025 and the deadline for submission is March 6th, 2026.
For more information on the GWI 2026, Contact Liliana Chocarro.....Click Here
Grant Writing Initiative 2025
The GWI teaches the concept of a grant application which is a document that has different sections with information to convince a donor (Rotary) to give funds for a project (a charity you choose as beneficiary).
Photos of cheque presentations
Iroquois Ridge HS and Rotarians present a cheque to Kerr Street Ministries, 2025
Abbey Park students and District Interact chair Liliana Chocarro present a cheque to Food4Kids, 2025
Youth Leadership in Action: The 2026 Grant Writing Initiative
Rotary District 7080 continues to foster the leadership potential of our youth through innovative programming. This year, the Grant Writing Initiative (GWI) 2026 offered Interactors an exceptional opportunity to delve into the essential mechanics of a professional grant application. Through hands-on experience, students strengthened their writing, research, organizational, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills.
The goal of the GWI is to help Interactors champion a local cause. The requested Rotary funds go directly to a chosen charity, giving youth the rewarding experience of building a strong case for a non-profit and proudly presenting them with a cheque or in-kind donation.
Behind the scenes, the GWI committee dedicated several sessions to systematically planning every stage well ahead of the final celebration. The journey began with an information session hosted for all participating Interact Clubs to outline the complete process:
- Online Submissions: Interactors crafted comprehensive proposals online, detailing their chosen local charities and the community initiatives they aimed to support.
- Rigorous Adjudication: This year, a dedicated adjudication committee was established with clear guidelines and specialized marking schemes to evaluate the proposals.
- Coordinated Funding: Following the evaluations, 9 clubs were awarded funds to back their community initiatives. These funds, provided by Rotary District 7080, were matched by each club's local Rotary club, along with Certificates of Participation for the students.
- The Celebration: The initiative culminated in a memorable award ceremony at the District 7080 Interact Conference 2026, held at Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville on April 11, 2026.
The GWI committee is incredibly proud to highlight the powerful student-led partnerships fostered through this initiative:
- Burlington Central HS supporting Food4Kids Halton
- M.M. Robinson HS supporting Shifra Homes
- Nelson HS supporting Halton Women's Place
- Iroquois Ridge HS supporting Safetynet Children and Youth Charities
- Rick Hansen HS supporting Food Banks Mississauga
- Dr. Frank Hayden HS supporting Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services
- Port Credit SS supporting Peel Learning Foundation
- Brampton Centennial SS supporting Knights Table
- Oakville Trafalgar HS supporting Kerr Street Mission
Congratulations to all the participating Interactors and the dedicated Rotarians who stepped up to match funds and mentor these young leaders. Together, we are showing our youth that with the right skills and a passionate heart, they can create tangible, lasting change right in their own backyards.
Port Credit Interact Club- Peel Learning Foundation
Sponsor Club: Mississauga West
Burlington Central HS Interact- Food4Kinds- Rotary Burlington Lakeshore
M.M Robinson HS Interact- Shifra Homes- Rotary Burlington
Iroquois Ridge HS Interact-Safetynet- Rotary Oakville
OTHS Interact-Kerr Street Mission-Rotary Oakville Trafalgar