The Big Picture: Rotary International (RI) & The Rotary Foundation (TRF)

 

The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve

by Rotary International

For the 17th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, the largest and most utilized independent charity evaluator in the United States.

The Foundation earned the recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

“We are delighted to provide the Rotary Foundation with third-party accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that the Rotary Foundation can accomplish in the years ahead.”

Charity Navigator analyzes overall nonprofit health and performance based on four key areas: Leadership & Adaptability to help donors understand if a charity has clarity of purpose, Accountability & Finance to explain if they are transparent and fiscally capable, Culture & Community to show how they engage with their constituents, and Impact & Results to explain what they have accomplished.

— Oct 2025

Do you know anyone that wants a full-ride scholarship to study abroad for up to two years for an advanced degree? The Rotary Foundation can help with that too.  Our District 5180 has two opportunities.  The Global Grant Scholarship and Rotary Peace Fellowship.

Interestingly, our donations pass through Rotary Foundation.  Donations from the Annual Fund and Restricted Fund such as the Polio, Donor Advised, Memorials, or Disaster Recovery – are returned after three years into two disbursement categories.  The DDF or District Designated Fund receives 50% and the World Fund receives the other 50%.  The DDF money is used to help with district grants, small-scale short-term activities that our district uses to match and use locally.  That money can also be used for Peace Centres, PolioPlus, and Peace Fellowships.  The World Fund is there to match 100% on a global grant.  The Beneficiaries are Rotarians, clubs, districts, international partners, scholars, communities, families, and children.    It is awesome to know that our annual fund donations have a 0% administration fee attached, and the Global Grants is a small percent fee used to fund the expenses to see the grants and projects be completed.

Grassroots at the core, Rotary links 1.2 million members to form an organization of international scope.  It started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris.  The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on February 23, 1905, so professionals with diverse background could exchange ideas, form meaningful lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities.  During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 Billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.  Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.  In June 2018, Rotary adapted a New Vision Statement:  “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the glove, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision.  For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects.  From literacy peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues.  Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

We’re committed to service, and we’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals.  We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines.  Today, polio remains endemic in only three countries—down from 125 in 1988.  As recently as July 2020, Nigeria has been certified Polo Free.  In August of 2020, End Polio Now announced that only 85 cases remain worldwide.  29 in Afghanistan and 56 in Pakistan.  Rotary is helping service Covid 19 by using our polio networks that have been established for years. Reaching last year’s commitment means The Gates Foundation then matched donations 2-1, which in turn, the Rotary Foundation matched.  In 2025, polio number were at the lowest level of 2, but a recent days we are back in the double digits.

Spread the word about Rotary and reach out to people you believe would service well in Rotary.  Ask them to join.