The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.

Rotary is one of the foremost non-governmental foundations in the world.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES

Polio Plus is Rotary’s flagship international programme is to help eradicate polio throughout the world.

Thanks For Life is a purpose-built initiative, specifically designed to combine the talents and efforts of every Club with the following aims...

• To raise £1m for Polio Eradication from “Thanks for Life”
• To maximise public awareness of the Rotary Polio campaign,
  • To increase membership.

It will involve a co-ordinated campaign, timed for Rotary Day on 23rd February 2010 and the period February 20 to 28. Money raised will be credited to the Gates Challenge and count against club and district targets. It is hoped that every club will aim to meet the overall objectives:

• Organise a Polio Eradication fundraising event
• Obtain wide-ranging media coverage for this event.
• Organise a ‘Window of Opportunity'

GROUP EXCHANGE VISITS

The Foundation provides Group Study Exchange grants for visits to overseas Districts. A team of 4 young business people (non Rotarian) between the ages of 25 and 40, who are led by a Rotarian team leader and spend 4 weeks studying their business vocation, and the local culture, in that country.

An exchange team from that District then visits our own District. 

AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARS

Rotary provides funds for scholars to visit Educational establishments in the UK for an undergraduate and   graduate year’s study in a discipline of their choice.

Bristol with its two Universities is always a very popular venue for these Ambassadorial Scholars.