Humanitarian grants enable Rotarians to support service projects that provide water wells, medical care, literacy classes, and other essentials to people in need. Rotarian participation is key to the projects’ success. Through the Humanitarian Grants Program, Rotarians have received US$1.6 billion in grant awards since 1947.
· District Simplified Grants enable districts to support service activities or humanitarian endeavors that benefit local or international communities. Requests may be submitted between 1 July and 31 March, and funds are available the following July. Read more about District Simplified Grants.
· Matching Grants help Rotary clubs and districts carry out humanitarian projects with clubs and districts in other countries. The Rotary Foundation provides a one-to-one match for each US$1 District Designated Fund/SHARE contribution and a $0.50 match for each new $1 cash contribution. Applications are accepted from 1 July to 31 March.
Read more and apply for a Matching Grant.
Read more and apply for a Matching Grant.
· Volunteer Service Grants formerly supported qualified Rotarians and their spouses traveling abroad to plan needed projects or to provide essential services in a community. At their April 2009 meeting, The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees decided to end some Rotary programs, including this one. Effective 1 July 2009, The Rotary Foundation will no longer fund Volunteer Service Grants.
Read more about the Trustees' decisions.
Read more about the Trustees' decisions.
Grant funds may be used for capital on revolving loans, also called microcredit or village banking, which allow low-income people, usually women, to borrow money, animals, or equipment to facilitate small businesses. Read more about revolving loans.
The Humanitarian Grants Cadre of Technical Advisers is a registry of Rotarians willing to provide technical expertise to The Rotary Foundation and to Rotarians developing and implementing 3-H and competitive Matching Grant projects worldwide. Learn more about the cadre or register as a member.
Other resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
2006/2007
Q. How do I request a DSG?
A. Every year, districts can request a DSG by filling out the DSG request form available through
the first quarter DSG mailing or at www.rotary.org. Before submitting a DSG request, it is
strongly recommended that districts review the DSG Best Practices manual to become familiar
with the DSG process. The request process begins in the year prior to actual implementation
of grant funds (the planning year) and is as follows:
• Requests - DSG requests are accepted from 1 July through 31 March of the planning
year.
• Approval - DSG grants are approved by TRF from 1 August though 15 May of the
planning year.
• Payment - Districts must meet all preconditions for payment 6 months from the beginning
of the program year OR the date of the grant announcement letter, whichever date is later,
or the grant will be cancelled.
Adherence to these timelines helps to ensure the timely processing of current and future
District Simplified Grants.
Q. How do districts report on a DSG grant?
A. The Rotary Foundation strongly recommends that districts plan for the reporting process as
soon as or before they submit the request for a DSG. The reporting process includes
progress reports as well as a final report:
• Progress Reports - Districts will need to submit a progress report to TRF within 12
months of grant payment OR as soon as they have collected individual project summaries
containing expenditures totaling at least 50% of the total grant award. Progress reports
are due at least every 12 months thereafter until the grant is fully expended with a final
report submitted.
• Final Reports - Submission of the final report is required within two months of the full
expenditure of grant funds.
Please note that delays in reporting will affect availability of future DSG. It is not
recommended that districts wait the full 12-month period between a progress report and a final
report. Early submission of reports will allow districts to avoid delays on the approval of future
DSG grants (see 50% rule below).
Q. What form do I use for a DSG progress report?
Districts should use the official TRF District Simplified Grant Report form (available at
www.rotary.org) for the progress report. Please include a complete list of all individual projects
to be covered by the DSG on the Summary of Individual Projects in the report form. However,
districts need only submit Individual Project forms (last page of the report form) for those
projects completed by the time of the submission of the progress report. Individual project
forms for those projects still in progress would be included in the final report.
Q. What should be included in a DSG progress or final report?
A. DSG reports include the following: • A statement of income and expense – in the case of District Simplified Grants, this
would include a distribution list containing descriptions of the projects funded and the
amounts distributed to each project;
• A bank statement that correlates to the district’s statement of income and expense;
• An individual project summary for each project funded through the DSG. Each
individual summary should include:
o A narrative statement about the beneficiaries of the project;
o An itemized list of expenditures;
o A detailed description of the project; and
o A description of Rotarian oversight, management, and involvement in the
project.
For your convenience, these items are clearly outlined in the DSG Report form and more
details can be found in the DSG Terms and Conditions available on the Rotary website or in
the first quarter DSG mailing.
Q. Are receipts required with the report?
A. Districts do not need to submit receipts or copies of receipts to TRF with their DSG reports.
However, districts are required to maintain receipts along with reports at the district level for a
period of at least five years. Your local laws may require the maintenance of receipts for
longer than five years. Receipts should be appropriately cross-referenced with the district’s
statement of income and expense. The Rotary Foundation reserves the right to request
copies of receipts or to conduct an audit at any time.
Q. What is the 50% rule, and how will it affect my district?
A. TRF requires that a district submit DSG reports that include eligible expenditures totaling at
least 50% of one DSG before payment is made on another DSG. This requirement ensures
that significant progress is made on the expenditure of grant funds before TRF sends
additional funds to the district to administer. Un-used grant funds should not accumulate at
the district level.
Q. Why can a district operate only two paid-open District Simplified Grants at a time?
A. The Trustees established District Simplified Grants with the expectation that a district will
receive, distribute, and report on the use of grant funds within one year. The limitation of two
paid-open DSGs at a time encourages district leaders to implement and report on grantfunded projects in a timely manner.
Q. My district is sponsoring a DSG totaling over US$25,000. Where can I find instructions
regarding the independent financial review?
A. An annual independent financial review is required for all DSGs over US$25,000. Instructions
for independent financial reviews are contained in the DSG Terms and Conditions. An
Independent Financial Review form is also available for use by the accounting professional
conducting your review. Instructions and the form can be downloaded from Rotary’s website
at www.rotary.org or requested from your Grant Coordinator. It is recommended that districts
submit independent financial reviews in conjunction with their DSG reports.
Q. How should we track the expenditure of funds while we implement our DSG project(s)? A. As detailed financial information is required for reports, it is recommended that districts and/or
clubs use accounting computer software to track grant expenditures. All receipts related to
grant-funded expenditures should be maintained at the district level for at least five years, and
as long as required by your local laws.
Q. Do we need to create a special bank account for DSG funds?
A. It is strongly recommended that each district maintain a separate account for each DSG
awarded. Multiple DSGs can be active at one time; therefore, financial accounting will be
facilitated if funds for different grants are not commingled within the same account. Two or
more Rotarians should be signatories on all grant-related accounts.
Q. Who is our main contact for eligibility questions?
A. Your district grants subcommittee chair and district Rotary foundation committee (DRFC) Chair
are useful resources for basic eligibility questions. These officers are in frequent contact with
TRF and will be able to request clarifications about program criteria. Project revisions should
be authorized by the district to avoid possible suspensions. Details about program criteria and
eligibility are also contained in the DSG Terms and Conditions, which can be downloaded from
Rotary’s website at www.rotary.org
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