As an example, from FY2000 through FY 2004, our Club contributed over $45,000 to projects in Ecuador that when finally matched by our Rotary District and Rotary International, resulted in projects worth more than $250,000.
World Community Service
The Fourth Object of Rotary is: "The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service."
This international activity is made possible by the Rotary International Foundation, which we support through our contributions. The funds that are contributed by our members in our annual RI Fund Drive, are returned after several years to our District - where they support an array of international projects - such as Group Study Exchanges, Rotary Scholars, Youth Exchanges, and World Community Service Projects.
Similarly, when we contribute to our own Minneapolis Rotary Community Service Foundation in the Fall each year, a portion of those funds are allocated to our Club's World Community Service Committee. This very active committee considers requests from around the world, and prepares matching grant proposals to fund humanitarian World Community Service Projects. These are relatively small, one time only humanitarian service projects in agriculture, water, medical care and equipment, educational and occupational training, etc.
By utilizing the money available from Rotary International and District Matching funds, we can leverage our local contributions into significant amounts. For example, a $5,000 allocation from our World Community Service Committee may be eligible for a $5,000 matching grant from our District. This combined $10,000 amount may then be eligible for a $7,500 match from Rotary International, making a $17,500 project possible.
So your gift to our local Community Service Foundation may be matched by money you contribute to the Rotary International Foundation, and the end result will be progress toward achieving the very important fourth object of Rotary - the ". . . advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace. . ."
Over the years, our Club has sponsored many international projects, using the mechanism we have outlined here. As an example, from FY2000 through FY 2004, our Club contributed over $45,000 to projects in Ecuador that when finally matched by our Rotary District and Rotary International, resulted in projects worth more than $250,000. In addition, the World Community Service Committee has used its funds to support important projects in other parts of the world.
