Rotary is a global network of more than 1.4 million people of action in more than 46,000 clubs who share a passion for and commitment to enhancing communities and improving lives around the world. Rotary and Rotaract clubs exist in almost every country. Our members change lives locally and connect with other clubs to work on international projects that address today’s most pressing challenges. They take action and make a difference, and it brings them personal rewards and lifelong friendships in the process.
HISTORY
We’ve been making history and bringing our world closer together for over 100 years. The first Rotary club was started in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1905 by an attorney named Paul Harris. Harris wanted to bring together a group of professionals with different backgrounds and skills as a way to exchange ideas and form meaningful acquaintances. In August 1910, the 16 Rotary clubs then in the United States formed the National Association of Rotary Clubs, now Rotary International. In 1912, Rotary expanded to a few more countries, and less than a decade later, Rotary clubs had been established in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, Oceania, and South America. Rotaract began as a Rotary youth program in 1968. In 2019, Rotaract clubs were elevated from a program to a distinct membership type. Today, there are more than 36,000 Rotary clubs and 10,000 Rotaract clubs, and they are in almost every country in the world. For more information about Rotary’s history, go to rotary.org/history.
The name Rotary was selected by early members because meeting locations rotated among their offices.
HOW WE’RE STRUCTURED?
Rotary is made up of three parts: our clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation. Rotary and Rotaract clubs belong to the global association Rotary International (RI). Rotary International supports its clubs worldwide by coordinating global programs and initiatives. The Rotary Foundation helps fund our humanitarian activities, from local service projects to global initiatives.
CLUBS
The club is the most important component of Rotary’s organizational structure. More than 36,000 Rotary clubs and 10,000 Rotaract clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas unite people to create lasting change in their communities, around the world, and in themselves. Rotaract clubs are like Rotary clubs but are primarily intended for university students and young professionals. Clubs are autonomous, so the member experience varies from club to club. But they all operate somewhat similarly. For example, all clubs have officers and committees that help them run smoothly. Each Rotary or Rotaract club is considered a member of Rotary International. Strong, well-run clubs enhance our members’ experiences and deliver valuable service to our communities.
MEMBERS
There are approximately 1.2 million Rotary club members, or Rotarians, and more than 200,000 Rotaract club members, or Rotaractors, around the world. As a member, you have far greater potential to do good in your community than you did before you joined. You’ll have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by contributing your expertise, skills, and talents as well as the privilege of working with other professionals and community leaders.
MEETINGS
Rotary and Rotaract clubs unite dedicated people to exchange ideas, build relationships, and take action. The frequency and format of club meetings vary. Clubs meet in person, online, or both. Rotary is both apolitical and nonreligious, and clubs are expected to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members and guests.
DISTRICTS AND ZONES
Clubs are grouped into approximately 520 districts. Districts are led by governors, who serve an important role in Rotary. Rotary clubs in their districts nominate them because of their leadership skills, Rotary experience, and dedication to service. District governors are trained extensively both in their regions and together through the International Assembly, an annual training event for incoming governors, who are known as district governors-elect in the year before their term as governor. District governors serve for one year, leading a team of assistant governors and district committees in supporting and strengthening clubs and motivating them to carry out service projects. They visit or check in virtually with each Rotary club in the district during the year, oversee the development of new clubs, and plan the district conference and other special events. Districts are organized into 34 zones of approximately equal numbers of Rotarians for the purposes of nominating directors and electing the committee that nominates the president of Rotary International.
WHAT WE VALUE
Rotary was founded on principles that remain at the heart of the organization today. These principles reflect our core values - integrity, diversity, service, leadership, and fellowship, or friendship. Our core values emerge as themes in our guiding principles.
AVENUES OF SERVICE
We channel our commitment to service through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity:
Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.
Vocational Service calls on all members to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society.
Community Service encourages every member to find ways to improve the quality of life of people in their communities and to serve the public interest.
International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, using local member expertise to build long-term partnerships for sustainable projects, seeking service partners abroad, and more.
Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs such as Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Rotary Youth Exchange, and New Generations Service Exchange.
AREAS OF FOCUS
The causes we target to maximize our impact are called our areas of focus. Our most successful and sustainable projects and activities fall within these areas.
Through global grants and other resources, we help clubs focus their service efforts on:
Projects that focus on these causes are eligible for global grant funding from The Rotary Foundation.
THE FOUR-WAY TEST
From the beginning, members have emphasized the importance of acting responsibly and ethically and using our professions as an opportunity to serve. Honoring our commitments, however bold they are, is an ideal characteristic of a Rotary member. In 1932, The Four-Way Test was developed by Herbert Taylor, a Rotary Club of Chicago member and 1954-55 RI president, to guide his attempt to save a faltering aluminum company. Rotary later adopted it, and it underscores Rotary’s value of integrity. The Four-Way Test has long served as an ethical guide for members to live by in their personal and professional relationships.
OF THE THINGS WE THINK, SAY OR DO:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
OBJECT OF ROTARY
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Rotary International is administered by the Secretariat, which comprises more than 800 employees. Rotary’s world headquarters is in Evanston, Illinois, USA, in a building called One Rotary Center. It has a 190-seat auditorium, Rotary’s archives, and an executive suite with conference rooms for the RI Board of Directors and Rotary Foundation Trustees and the offices of the RI president and other senior officers. It also features a replica of Room 711, the site of the first Rotary club meeting.
Rotary’s staff supports members, clubs, districts, and program participants and alumni and works to make Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation run smoothly and effectively. The staff at the international offices are a part of the Secretariat and support members in their regions.
Club and District Support (CDS) representatives provide regionalized expertise to the clubs and districts they work with and guidance on Rotary’s policies, procedures, resources, and tools. They often attend club and district meetings to meet with and train local Rotary leaders. Find your club’s CDS representative at rotary.org/cds. You can also contact Rotary’s Support Center at +1-847-866-3000 or rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org to ask questions about Rotary and its programs.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
In 1917, Rotary President Arch Klumph announced his idea for an endowment fund dedicated to “doing good in the world.” With this short statement, Klumph inspired the establishment of The Rotary Foundation. Today, The Rotary Foundation helps clubs and districts work together to perform meaningful, sustainable service. Our top-rated, award-winning Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects that help people in need around the world get clean water, medical care, literacy classes, and other essentials. Our members’ and others’ contributions to the Foundation allow us to bring sustainable change to communities in need. Ask your club’s Rotary Foundation expert or visit rotary.org/donate to learn how you can support our Foundation. To learn more, download The Rotary Foundation Reference Guide or take the Rotary Foundation Basics course in Rotary’s Learning Center.
ERADICATING POLIO WORLDWIDE
One benefit of membership is that you can take pride in being part of an organization that truly makes a difference in the world. Since 1985, Rotary members have served as community-based mobilizers for polio eradication, motivating international groups, governments, private organizations, communities, and individuals to join the global effort to rid the world of polio. Rotary works with partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), including the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the governments of the world to achieve this historic public health goal. As part of the effort, members contribute their time and money to the cause, raising funds, advocating for government support, helping immunize children, and raising awareness in their communities. By the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotary’s contributions to the global eradication effort will exceed $2.7 billion, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers have supported National Immunization Days. Since 1988, nearly 3 billion children have received oral polio vaccine, and we’ve achieved a 99.9% reduction in polio cases. It may be considered the greatest humanitarian service the world has ever seen, and every Rotary member can take pride in this achievement. To learn how you can support Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio, visit endpolio.org.
ROTARY PEACE CENTERS
Each year, up to 130 peace and development leaders are selected as Rotary Peace Fellows. They earn either a master’s degree or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies at one of the Rotary Peace Centers at leading universities around the world.
Through academic training, hands-on projects, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals to be effective catalysts for peace.
Rotary districts may nominate as many candidates as they wish for the competitive selection process every year. Rotary Peace Fellows go on to serve as leaders in government, nongovernmental organizations, education, the military, law enforcement, humanitarian action, and international agencies such as the United Nations.
ROTARY GRANTS
The Rotary Foundation offers grants that support humanitarian projects, scholarships, and vocational training teams. Global grants fund large international projects that have long-term, sustainable outcomes and are aligned with Rotary’s areas of focus. District grants fund smaller-scale, short-term projects that address immediate needs locally or abroad. Disaster response grants support relief and recovery efforts in areas that have been affected by a natural disaster. To learn more, talk to your club or district Rotary Foundation chair or visit rotary.org/grants.
OUR FINANCES
We are responsible and transparent with our funds.
As a global organization that operates in nearly every country in the world and deals in 29 currencies, Rotary takes stewardship of its funds seriously.
Our money is spent on life-changing, sustainable grants, as well as programs and services that support our members’ transformative work. We have invested $3 billion in thousands of projects over the past 100 years.
Financial structure
The Rotary Foundation is organized as a public charity operated exclusively for charitable purposes and governed by a Board of Trustees. The operations of Rotary International, a member organization, are overseen by its Board of Directors.
The headquarters of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation are in Evanston, Illinois, USA. We have associate foundations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Financial reports
We publish an annual report, audited financial statements, and our federal tax returns each year.
Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International are separate entities with distinct reporting requirements. Under United States tax law, they are both tax-exempt organizations.