Funding Resources:

Since the Rotary Foundation is the funding source for the 3H, Matching Grants, Individual Grants and District Simplified Grants programs, we will not list them here. Complete explanations are available on the RI Web Site, Current Program section.

This section will refer you to other Funding Sources as follows:

1. Rotary Clubs - The obvious first choice for funding since this is where the Project need is identified and quantified. In many cases, the club (usually through a Club Foundation) funds a WCS or Disaster Relief Project on their own. When a Matching Grant or 3H Project is involved, the clubs involved and/or Districts must come up with the base of funds upon which the grant is made.
2. Rotary District - Frequently the District has funds committed to Matching Grant Projects through the SHARE System. Clubs can apply for these funds that a previous District Governor has set aside for this purpose. In addition, some Districts have a District Foundation that may have funds to support club efforts of this type.
3. Council on Foundations When looking for Grants, link to The Foundation Center There are literally thousands of Foundations that make Grants.
4. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, E-mail - The Gates Foundation has two major areas of interest related to Rotary projects, Learning and Global Health. The Learning section relates to the Digital Divide and Public Access to Information. The Global Health segment relate to many things that Rotary is involved with in Humanitarian Aid projects. The Foundation has committed $ 50 million (US) over five years to the UN Foundation to assist with the eradication of Polio.
5. AOL Time Warner Foundation, E-mail - . The AOL Time Warner Foundation has five Focus Areas: Digital Divide, Civic Engagement, Kids/Family/Education, Healthcare, and Philanthropy.
6. Revolving Loan Fund - A revolving loan fund (RLF) provides small loans to people who want to start businesses but who have no credit history or access to commercial bank loans. Borrowers tend to be producers of goods and services - typically farmers and artisans - and many women. RLFs provide the initial loans for business start-up and expansion. The ultimate goal is for these entrepreneurs to become financially indepentdent and eligible for loans from commercial banks. Payments are generally returned directly to the fund and used to make new loans, hence, the term "revolving" loan fund. Although this is not an immediate source of funds for clubs/districts planning projects, the funds provided by the clubs/districts can attract additional funding from a variety of sources. A complete description of the program and sources or other funding and information is available in RI Publication PM2-163-EN (995).
7. Cutting Through the Red Tape of TRF Matching Grants - This is a link to an article of the ROTI Institute that is very helpful in guiding the Rotarian through the Matching Grants process.
8. 10 Reasons Why Matching Grants Are Held Up - This is a link to an article of the ROTI Institute that is very helpful in avoiding some of the pitfalls that delay Matching Grant projects.
9. RI Online University - This Web Site contains several PowerPoint presentations that are relative to the Humanitarian Aid Programs of Rotary. Of particular interest will be the WCS and Rotary Foundation presentations in the "First Look Series" and "The Rotary Foundation Series".