Global Grants
Rotary Foundation grants that help District 5330 clubs partner with Rotary clubs around the world to address real community needs through sustainable, measurable change.
Global Grants Chair
Questions about planning, qualifying, funding, or applying for a Global Grant? Reach out to the District Global Grants Chair before you begin. Early guidance helps your club avoid delays and design a stronger, more sustainable project.
Funding lasting change around the world
Global Grants support larger international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in one or more of Rotary’s areas of focus. They are designed for projects that respond to a real community need, are built with Rotary and community partners, and keep making an impact after the grant funds are spent.
District (Community Block) Grants are usually smaller, short-term, and more flexible. Global Grants are larger, international, and require stronger planning, partnership, sustainability, measurement, and reporting. Applications are submitted online through Rotary’s Grant Center in My Rotary.
How Global Grants work
Global Grants are built around partnership. A successful grant pairs a host Rotary club or district in the country where the project takes place with an international Rotary club or district outside that country. Together the partners identify a community need, design a sustainable project, secure funding, apply through the Grant Center, complete the project, and report results.
Writes and hosts the grant — based in the country where the project takes place, and responsible for carrying it out and reporting on the results.
A Rotary club or district in a different country that supports the grant — helping fund the project and strengthen the global partnership.
To qualify
- Your club must be qualified for the current Rotary year, with a current Club MOU on file and any prior grant reports up to date.
- The project must align with at least one Rotary area of focus and be sustainable, measurable, and based on a real community need.
- The grant must include both a host sponsor and an international sponsor.
- Global Grant funding runs from a minimum project budget of US $30,000 up to a maximum Foundation (World Fund) award of US $400,000.
To apply
- Contact the District Global Grants Chair early, and confirm your club and partner qualification.
- Apply online in the Grant Center (My Rotary → The Rotary Foundation → Grant Center), beginning with “First Steps.”
- There is no fixed deadline, but a grant must be submitted within one year of starting the application.
- Do not spend grant funds until The Rotary Foundation has allocated them to the host; then complete reporting.
Get your club ready for a Global Grant
Global Grants take detailed planning. Work through these steps — ideally with the District Global Grants Chair — before you start the application.
1. Start with the Chair
Connect with the District Global Grants Chair before writing anything. Early guidance confirms whether the project is eligible and a good fit.
2. Qualify & sign the MOU
Complete annual grant-management training and file a current Club MOU. Qualification is renewed every Rotary year.
Global Grant MOU (PDF) (opens in a new tab) →3. Build the partnership
Confirm a host sponsor in the project country and an international sponsor outside it. Both clubs must be qualified.
4. Assess the need
Complete a community needs assessment. A Global Grant should answer a need identified by the community — not an idea brought in from outside.
5. Plan to last & measure
Design for impact that continues after the funds are spent, and decide up front how you will measure and report results.
Free online course through Rotary.org — required before your club can apply.
What Global Grants can support
A Global Grant can fund one or more of these three activity types, as long as the work aligns with a Rotary area of focus.
Humanitarian Projects
Projects that address real community needs and create sustainable, measurable outcomes in one or more Rotary areas of focus.
Vocational Training Teams
Teams of professionals who travel internationally to teach local professionals, learn from another community, or build professional capacity.
Graduate-Level Scholarships
International graduate study for scholars pursuing careers connected to one of Rotary’s areas of focus.
Projects must align with an area of focus
Every Global Grant must align with at least one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus — where clubs can create the most sustainable, measurable impact.
Peacebuilding & conflict prevention
Disease prevention & treatment
Water, sanitation & hygiene
Maternal & child health
Basic education & literacy
Community economic development
Supporting the environment
District Grants vs. Global Grants
What Global Grants might look like
- A clean water system with local training and maintenance planning
- Equipping a rural health clinic and training its staff
- Maternal and child health education with local health partners
- Teacher training and literacy materials
- A vocational training program for economic development
- Agricultural or small-business training
- A vocational training team of medical, education, or mental-health professionals
- Graduate study for a scholar in a Rotary area of focus
Not every good service project qualifies. The strongest Global Grants are community-driven, sustainable, measurable, and built with committed Rotary and local partners.
District 5330 Global Grants in action
A few projects District 5330 clubs and partners have taken on internationally.
From idea to approved Global Grant
Identify a need
Work with the host community to understand the real need.
Find partners
Confirm a host sponsor and an international sponsor.
Contact the Chair
Review eligibility, qualification, funding, and timeline.
Assess the community
Gather local input and document the need.
Design the project
Plan activities, budget, sustainability, measurement, and roles.
Build the funding plan
Identify club cash, DDF, partner contributions, and Foundation match.
Apply in the Grant Center
Submit the application online through My Rotary.
Wait for allocation
Do not spend grant funds until TRF has allocated them to the host.
Implement & monitor
Complete the project while tracking outcomes and expenses.
Report & steward
Submit required reports and share the impact.
Protecting donor trust
Global Grants are made possible by donor generosity. Clubs are responsible for using funds only for approved purposes, keeping financial records, documenting outcomes, and submitting reports on time. Strong stewardship protects donor trust and keeps Rotary funding meaningful international service.
- Keep receipts and financial records
- Follow the approved budget
- Document project outcomes
- Maintain communication with partners
- Submit reports on time
- Resolve issues quickly with District & TRF support
Global Grant timing
Global Grants aren’t limited to the same application window as District Grants — but plan early. Partnerships, community assessments, funding commitments, DDF requests, and Foundation review all take time.
Start planning
6–12 months before your desired project start.
Grant training
Renewed annually, before you apply.
DDF requests
Confirm timing with the District Global Grants Chair.
Application
Submitted year-round through the Grant Center.
Spending
Begins only after TRF allocates the funds to the host.
Reports
Due on the Foundation’s schedule throughout the grant.
Forms, tools & documents
Ready to think bigger?
A Global Grant can turn your club’s international vision into sustainable, measurable change. Start with a conversation — the District Global Grants Chair can help you shape the idea and the plan.