Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International

EIN 36-3245072 · Evanston, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL 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.

Income
$462.6 million
Spending
$392.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
22 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
284
Volunteers
1,124,681
Highest pay
$852,448, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (10)
  1. $153.0 million spent. POLIOPLUS - THE POLIOPLUS PROGRAM IS ROTARY'S EFFORT TO ERADICATE THE POLIOVIRUS WORLDWIDE. ROTARIANS HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE IMMUNIZED AGAINST THIS CRIPPLING DISEASE AND THAT SURVEILLANCE OF THE VIRUS IS STRONG, DESPITE THE POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, EXTREME POVERTY, AND CIVIL STRIFE OF MANY COUNTRIES. FUNDS SUPPORT NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION DAYS, POLIOVIRUS TRANSMISSION MONITORING, AND OTHER EFFORTS IN POLIO-ENDEMIC, RECENTLY ENDEMIC, AND HIGH RISK COUNTRIES. ROTARY IS A CORE PARTNER IN THE GLOBAL POLIO ERADICATION INITIATIVE, ALONG WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, UNICEF, THE CDC, AND THE GATES FOUNDATION.
  2. $138.3 million spent. ROTARY GRANTS - GLOBAL GRANTS SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAMS IN ROTARY'S AREAS OF FOCUS.DISTRICT GRANTS SUPPORT SMALLER-SCALE PROJECTS RELATED TO THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. PARTNERSHIP GRANTS ALSO SUPPORT THE AREAS OF FOCUS AND ARE CARRIED OUT WITH THE FOUNDATION'S STRATEGIC PARTNERS.
  3. $14.3 million spent. THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FUND PROJECTS ALIGNED WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION WHILE HELPING FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS ACHIEVE THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY GOALS.
  4. $13.8 million spent. DONOR ADVISED FUND - THE DONOR ADVISED FUND IS A CHARITABLE GIVING VEHICLE THAT OFFERS INDIVIDUALS AND ROTARY-AFFILIATED GROUPS THE ABILITY TO MAKE GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUPPORT EITHER THE ROTARY FOUNDATION PROGRAMS OR OTHER IRS-APPROVED CHARITIES. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION HAS ULTIMATE DISCRETION AND CONTROL OVER DISTRIBUTION OF THE FUNDS.
  5. $7.8 million spent. THE ROTARY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES CHALLENGE - THIS PROGRAM FUNDS LARGE-SCALE, HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAMMING, WORKING WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS AND INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.
  6. $5.5 million spent. ROTARY PEACE CENTERS - EACH YEAR, UP TO 100 FELLOWS ARE SPONSORED TO STUDY AT ONE OF THE ROTARY PEACE CENTERS FOR A MASTER'S-LEVEL DEGREE OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE.
  7. $2.1 million spent. PROGRAMS OF SCALE - GRANTS THAT SUPPORT LONGER-TERM, HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAMS LED BY ROTARY MEMBERS.
  8. $1.9 million spent. DISASTER RESPONSE GRANTS - THE ROTARY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE ROTARY DISASTER RESPONSE FUND.
  9. $117,967 spent. SPECIAL INITIATIVE GRANTS - OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES THAT ARE IN PLACE TO COORDINATE AND DIRECT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION.
  10. $55,238 spent. PROJECT ENHANCEMENT PROCESS - PROVIDES PROJECT PLANNING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO CLUBS AND DISTRICTS FOR GLOBAL GRANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.