Rotary in the Media

The Rotary Foundation’s Permanent Fund has hit the US$500 million mark.

In September, the fund reached a total of more than $505 million in expectancies and net assets, thanks to the contributions of dedicated Rotarians and supporters from around the world.

The fund, established in 1982, secures a strong future for the Foundation by providing additional income for all Foundation programs. Its dramatic growth has helped increase program support more than sixfold since 1994. For example, last Rotary year, the spendable earnings from the fund totaled $4.9 million while the principal remained untouched.

Since its inception, the fund has benefited millions of people in need and helped take Rotary closer to realizing its major goals. An outstanding example of initiatives established with fund contributions is the Rotary Centers for International Studies program. Currently, several funds within the Permanent Fund support the program, which opened its doors to the first class of Rotary World Peace Fellows in 2002.

Reaching the $500 million milestone signals just the beginning of what the fund can help Rotary accomplish. If the fund’s next target of $1 billion in assets and expectancies by 2025 is achieved, the Foundation’s programs may benefit from $50 million in earnings instead of the current $5 million. An increase of that size will enable Rotary to do more good in the world.

For more details or to make a donation or commitment to the Permanent Fund, visit the Permanent Fund page or send a request to plannedgiving@rotary.org.