Annual Fund-SHARE is the primary source of funding for a broad range of local and international Rotary Foundation activities. Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) is the fundraising initiative designed to encourage support for the Foundation’s Annual Fund. EREY asks every Rotary member to:
- Contribute to the Annual Fund every year
- Participate in a Foundation grant or program every year
Through Annual Fund-SHARE, contributions are transformed into grants that change lives.
Contributions to Annual Fund-SHARE are divided as follows:
- 47.5% is credited to the World Fund.
- 47.5% is credited to the District Designated Fund.
- 5% is credited to operating expenses.
The Foundation uses the World Fund portion to pay for the worldwide grant and program opportunities available to all Rotary districts. Districts use the District Designated Fund (DDF) portion to pay for the Foundation grants and programs they choose.
The Rotary Foundation’s funding cycle makes DDF available for use three years after contributions are received. The three-year timeline gives districts time to plan projects and activities and allows the Foundation to invest the contributions. For instance, 47.5% of the contributions received during 2022-23 are available for spending in 2025-26.
Each district’s Rotary Foundation committee decides how to use the DDF in consultation with the clubs in the district. Districts may use up to 50% of the funds (which might also include a spendable amount from gifts to the Endowment Fund-SHARE) for a district grant. Districts may use any amount of DDF for global grants or donations. Donation options include PolioPlus, peacebuilding programs, the Endowment, the World Fund, the Disaster Response Fund, or another district.
At the end of each Rotary year, DDF that has been unused for more than five years will be applied at the district’s discretion to the PolioPlus Fund, Rotary Peace Centers, Endowment Fund, World Fund, or Disaster Response Fund. If a district doesn’t advise the Foundation about where to direct the funds by 30 June 2026, the unused DDF will be transferred to the World Fund.
DDF empowers districts to undertake the projects that are most important to Rotary members in their areas. Contributions to Annual Fund-SHARE provide DDF for the future. Therefore, clubs and districts should set and review fundraising goals in Rotary Club Central to track and increase the financial resources available for Rotary Foundation grants and activities.
In addition to SHARE, donors may direct their Annual Fund contributions to the World Fund or to any of the Foundation’s areas of focus. Annual Fund contributions directed to the World Fund or an area of focus are credited toward a club’s annual giving goal and per capita giving, but they do not generate DDF. All Annual Fund contributions generate Foundation recognition points and count toward these recognition levels or programs: Every Rotarian, Every Year; Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member; Paul Harris Fellow; Paul Harris Society; Major Donor; and Arch Klumph Society. Annual Fund contributions also count toward club recognition opportunities.
Annual Fund-SHARE contributions are the primary source of funding for Foundation grants and are strongly encouraged.