The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects designed to improve the quality of life. Providing health care, clean water, food, education, and housing are a few of the basic goals that these projects work toward -- primarily in the developing world. One of the key humanitarian programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the polio virus worldwide by the year 2000.

Through its Educational Programs the Foundation provides funding for about 1200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. In all cases, recipients are expected to act as ambassadors of goodwill, furthering international understanding and promoting friendly relations between their host and sponsoring countries. Former participants in the Foundation's educational programs often continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.

The Rotary Foundation is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Contributions to the Foundation's Annual Programs Fund are invested for three years, with interest being used to cover all administrative costs. Fully 100 percent of every dollar donated goes directly to humanitarian and educational program expenditures three years later. Gifts to the Foundation's Permanent Fund are invested, with only the earnings being used to support programs(See Foundation Support.).

The Rotary Foundation is governed by 13 Trustees -- four of whom are past RI Presidents -- who were appointed by the current President of RI and confirmed by the Board of Directors.

The Foundation was conceived as an endowment fund in 1917 by Rotary's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, "for the purpose of doing good in the world." Although The Rotary Foundation was formally established in 1928, significant contributions were not received until 1947, when the death of Rotary founder Paul Harris generated an outpouring of support. Since that time, The Foundation's nine programs have been established, and cumulative contributions have reached about US$825 million

The Ambassadorial Scholarships program sponsors more than 1,200 scholars each year to study in a country other than their own. It is the largest and most international privately sponsored scholarship program in the world.

The Foundation's Group Study Exchange (GSE) program sponsors international exchanges of teams of non-Rotarian men and women in the early stages of their business and professional careers. Participants spend four to six weeks studying the institutions and culture of the host country while exchanging vocational information with the local representatives of their particular professions.

Rotary Grants for University Teachers are awarded to university or college faculty members to teach in a developing nation for three to ten months. These grants enable teachers to share their expertise in a part of the world where it is most needed.

Participants in the Foundation's educational programs often continue their affiliation with Rotary long after they've returned home as Foundation Alumni.

• Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship. Candidates may be of any age as long as they have completed two years of university study or appropriate professional experience prior to the commencement of the scholarship. This award provides funding for transportation, tuition, fees, room and board and limited language training (as assigned by The Rotary Foundation) up to a specified financial limit for one academic year of full-time study in another country. In 1999-2000, no award will exceed US$23,000.
• Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship. Either a two- or three-year award, this scholarship is intended to help defray the costs of degree-oriented study in another country. This scholarship provides a flat grant of US$11,000 per year. Eligibility requirements for Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are the same as those for Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships, with the additional requirement that a candidate must be committed to the pursuit of specific academic degree.
• Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship. This scholarship may be either a three- or six-month award for intensive language training and cultural immersion in another country. Applications will be considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili or Swedish. Eligibility requirements for Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are the same as those for Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship, with the additional requirement that candidates have at least one year of university level training or equivalent experience in their proposed language. This award provides tuition and fees, reasonable room and board (usually homestay accommodations) and the cost of round-trip transportation up to a designated limit.

Rotary districts select teams comprising four non-Rotarians and one Rotarian leader, engaged in different businesses and professions. Each of two paired districts sends and receives a team for a four- to six-week study program. Pairings are usually determined by The Rotary Foundation's trustees to ensure wide geographical distribution, but exchanges can also be arranged by the participating districts.

While visiting abroad, GSE team members follow a carefully planned itinerary, including visits to government and cultural institutions, schools, religious and historic sites and other points of interest. In addition, each member spends at least five days studying and observing the practice of his or her profession in the host district.

The Foundation grant funds round-trip air transportation for each team member. Rotarians provide lodging in their homes, meals, and group travel, allowing the opportunity for participants to become acquainted with the customs and culture of the people in their host district.

"I open my apartment twice a month and invite all my students to visit, talk, and have a picnic on the floor. They come and are so pleased that a professor is interested enough to open his apartment and want to know what they think... They have requested that we have class on those occasions, can you believe that, class on Sunday?...This is teaching heaven!"
--Dr. Mel Weissman, 1998-99 Grant for University Teachers recipient, on teaching in Russia

Grants for University Teachers provides funds to higher education faculty to travel abroad to teach at colleges or universities in developing countries. The program is intended to build international understanding and foster development, while strengthening higher education in these regions. The subjects taught must be relevant to the needs of the local population and contribute to the areas' socio-economic development. A total of 40 grants have been awarded to university teachers for service in 24 countries in 1998-99.

Developing countries are currently defined as countries with a per capita GNP of US$6,375 or less. The list of those designated as low-income countries is fairly extensive.

• Applicants must hold (or if retired, have held) a full-time college or university appointment at any rank for three or more years
• The subject(s) taught must have practical use to the host country.
• The proposed host institution must be located in a low-income country.
• The applicant’s home and host countries must contain at least one Rotary club. (Currently, there are Rotary clubs in more than 155 countries.)
• Application must be made through a local Rotary club in the applicant’s legal or permanent residence, or place of full-time employment.
• Applicants must be proficient in the language of their prospective host country.
• Applicants may be either Rotarians or non-Rotarians.

For answers to specific questions about the Grants for University Teachers program, you may contact our Educational Programs staff.

*per World Bank Atlas, GNP per capita is estimated from $3116 to $9635

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* per World Bank Atlas, GNP per capita is estimated from $3116 to $9635 1998-99 Rotary Low Income Countries and Geographical Areas 22 June 1998