Through the SHARE system, contributions to The Rotary Foundation are transformed into grants that fund local and international humanitarian projects, scholarships, and activities, such as vocational training teams.
At the end of every Rotary year, contributions directed to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund, or DDF.
Annual Fund-SHARE is the primary source of funding for a broad range of local and international Rotary Foundation activities.
Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) is the fundraising initiative designed to encourage support for the Foundation’s Annual Fund. EREY aims to engage every Rotary club member by:
- Encouraging members to contribute to the Annual Fund every year
- Encouraging them to participate in a Foundation grant or program every year
Through the SHARE system, contributions to The Rotary Foundation are transformed into grants for projects that change lives.
At the end of every Rotary year, contributions to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in a district are directed into two funds:
- Fifty percent is credited to the World Fund.
- Fifty percent is credited to the District Designated Fund.
The Foundation uses the World Fund portion to pay for the worldwide grant and program opportunities available to all Rotary districts. Your district uses the District Designated Fund portion to fund the Foundation grants and programs of its choice.
The Rotary Foundation’s funding cycle makes district contributions available for use three years after they are received. The three-year cycle gives districts time to plan projects and activities and allows the Foundation to invest the contributions. At the end of three years, your district can use the DDF to pay for Foundation, club, and district projects that your club and others in the district choose. Districts may use up to half of their DDF to fund district grants. The remaining DDF may be used for global grants or donated to PolioPlus, the Rotary Peace Centers, or another district.
Your district Rotary Foundation committee decides how to use the District Designated Funds in consultation with the clubs in the district. Districts may use up to 50 percent of their fund (which might also include spendable earnings from gifts to Endowment Fund-SHARE) for a district block grant; the remainder may be used for global grants or be donated to PolioPlus, Rotary Peace Centers, Endowment Fund Major Gifts Initiatives, or another district.
District Designated Funds empower your district to undertake the projects that are most important to Rotarians in your area. Contributions to the Annual Fund-SHARE provide District Designated Funds for the future. Clubs and districts that set Annual Fund goals are better positioned to raise funds. Set and review fundraising goals in Rotary Club Central to track and increase the financial resources available to you for Rotary Foundation grants and activities.
In addition to SHARE, donors may direct their Annual Fund contributions directly to the World Fund or to one of the Foundation’s seven areas of focus. Annual Fund contributions directed to the World Fund or an area of focus are credited toward a club’s annual giving goal and per capita giving calculations, but they do not factor into the District Designated Fund calculation. Likewise, these contributions are eligible for all Annual Fund recognition opportunities, including Every Rotarian, Every Year; Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member; Paul Harris Fellow; Paul Harris Society; Major Donor; and Arch Klumph Society. They also count toward all club recognition opportunities.
Because Annual Fund-SHARE contributions are the primary source of funding for Foundation grants, SHARE-designated contributions from Every Rotarian, Every Year remain crucial and therefore are strongly encouraged.