For more information about the Rotary Club of Daniel Island Foundation Reach out to our Foundation President at: Foundation@dirotary.org
Foundation Quick Links:
The Rotary Club of Daniel Island Foundation
Who We Are
Rotary International is built on three parts: Rotary International itself, The Rotary Foundation, and our clubs — more than 46,000 of them worldwide, with 1.4 million members in over 200 countries. The Rotary Club of Daniel Island (RCDI) is proud to be one of those clubs, and The Rotary Foundation is the engine that turns our members’ generosity into real, measurable change around the world.
How It Started
The idea for a Rotary Foundation was first proposed in 1917 by Arch Klumph, Rotary International’s sixth president, at the organization’s convention in Atlanta. The Foundation was formally established in 1928, and its very first gift came from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri — a modest $26.50 donation.
That small start has grown into one of the most trusted charitable organizations in the world. The Rotary Foundation’s endowment now exceeds $1.4 billion, and since its founding it has invested more than $4 billion in life-changing projects. An impressive 91% of every dollar raised goes directly to program awards and operations rather than overhead, which has earned the Foundation a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator — its highest possible distinction.
What The Foundation Focuses On
The Rotary Foundation channels its resources into seven areas of focus:
- Promoting Peace
- Fighting Disease (including the Polio Plus initiative and Alzheimer’s research through the CART Fund)
- Saving Mothers and Children
- Supporting Education
- Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
- Basic Education and Literacy
- Protecting the Environment
In its most recent grant cycle, The Foundation distributed 1,879 grants totaling $108 million — including 485 district grants, 106 disaster response grants, and 1,287 global grants supporting projects on every continent.
How the Funding Cycle Works
Every year, Rotarians and their clubs contribute to The Rotary Foundation through the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, and the Permanent Fund. The Foundation invests those contributions for three years, with the earnings covering administrative costs so that member contributions can go entirely toward programming. After the three-year investment period, the funds are released for grants — split evenly between the World Fund, which supports global projects, disaster relief, and Programs of Scale, and District Designated Funds, which support grants closer to home.
RCDI’s Role in the Foundation
Our club contributes an average of $28,000 to The Rotary Foundation each year. Three years later, those dollars come back to our district and our club in the form of grant funding we can apply for through a rigorous annual process — supporting both local and international projects.
One example is our current work on the Tanzania Water Project, a roughly $90,000 initiative made possible through a collaboration between The Rotary Foundation, District 7770, RCDI, and other local Rotary clubs. Projects like this reflect exactly what the Foundation’s funding cycle is designed to do: turn steady, everyday giving into lasting infrastructure and health outcomes for communities in need.
RCDI also supports the CART Fund (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust), a giving campaign that began in our own District 7770 back in 1995. One hundred percent of CART donations go directly to research, and the fund has awarded $12 million in grants since 1999. Our club sets an annual CART fundraising goal of $5,000.
Ways to Give
Members and friends of RCDI support The Rotary Foundation in several ways:
- Annual Fund Share — the “Every Rotarian, Every Year” contribution from members and the club alike
- Contributions to the Polio Plus Campaign
- District and club matching campaigns
- Contributions to the CART Fund Campaign
- Endowment and planned giving
Recognition for Giving
The Foundation recognizes donors at several levels:
| Recognition | Giving Level |
|---|---|
| Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member | $100 annually |
| Paul Harris Fellow | $1,000 gift |
| Paul Harris Society | Commitment of $1,000 every year |
| Major Donor | $10,000–$250,000 |
| Arch Klumph Society | $250,000 or more |
| Benefactor, Bequest & Legacy Societies | Planned or estate giving |
Why It Matters
Every dollar given to The Rotary Foundation is an investment with a three-year runway and a track record of turning into clean water systems, disease research, literacy programs, and disaster relief around the world. When you support RCDI’s fundraising efforts — whether through the Annual Fund, a Paul Harris gift, or a campaign like the Polio Fundraising Challenge — you’re joining a global network of Rotarians who have quietly funded more than $4 billion in humanitarian work since 1928, one club at a time.
