Global Grant – a helpful resource

The new grant model comes up frequently during my visits with Rotarians throughout the world. It is always disappointing to learn that a club or district lacks interest in participating in global grants.

What are the reasons I hear most often? Global grants are too complicated. They take too much work, require too much money. Or the available pool of DDFs (District Designated Funds) may not be large enough to meet the demand.

Yet the numbers tell a story that can be perceived as positive. During 2016–17 — The Rotary Foundation’s centennial year — 1,260 global grants were awarded, an 8 per cent increase over the previous year. And the figures for the first half of this Rotary year are running ahead of last year.

Your ongoing feedback and suggestions have helped make a difference. Numerous upgrades have been made to the global grant online application process. The time it takes to process global grants has been significantly reduced. In 2016–17, the average was 129 business days from the time a grant application was submitted to the first payment. The average was 107 business days for 2017– 18 as of February 1.

If your club has not participated in a global grant, I urge you to take another look at the resources now available. Start by looking at the newly redesigned Rotary Grant Center at grants. rotary.org. Explore the comprehensive resources linked in the right-hand column.

Our Foundation’s outstanding grants staff wants to help, drawing on its expertise and TRF’s collective experience. Establish a relationship with the staff contact for your project district. The Rotary Support Center can provide contact information within one business day (rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org).

The Rotary Foundation’s Cadre of Technical Advisers is a group of volunteer Rotarians who also provide technical expertise and advice to Rotarians planning and carrying out Rotary projects. If you would like to receive guidance on project planning early in the process, contact cadre@rotary.org.

A critical role of the Trustees is to listen. Rotary members have spoken. Together we are a powerful force of volunteers who identify needs and respond with generosity, creativity and passion. Rotary grants provide us with a unique opportunity to bring ideas to reality and to make a lasting impact, whether locally or globally.

Paul A Netzel
Foundation Trustee Chair