The Rotary Foundation has surpassed its 2006-07 goals, garnering recognition for its credibility and reliability, said Trustee Chair Luis Vicente Giay yesterday at the 2007 International Assembly in San Diego.

"There's no question about this - our Foundation is enjoying the greatest moment in its history," said Giay.

By Antoinette Tuscano
Rotary International News
Photo by Monika Lozinska-Lee
/RI

1 February 2007

More than 200,000 foundations operate in the United States, and The Rotary Foundation now ranks among the top institutions. This year, foundation evaluator Charity Navigator put The Rotary Foundation on its list of 50 best organizations with a maximum rating of four stars.

The reasons for the accolades include the Foundation's efficient administration, sound investments, and excellent control over its programs, said Giay. "Today, one word clearly defines our Foundation and that word is credibility."

More important than attention, the organization's credibility has attracted new donors, raising the bar on fundraising initiatives. In fact, in 2006-07 the Annual Programs Fund set its most ambitious goal to date - US$120 million.

Giay stressed that these fundraising initiatives give the Foundation the ability to push priorities such as the organization's peace programs - the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution and Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies."We're working to end war, because we believe peace is possible," said Giay.

Giay listed the Foundation's recent successes:

The contributions and revenue from investments in 2005-06 totalled $162.1 million.
The Permanent Fund quickly surpassed the $500 million mark and should reach its goal of $1 billion sooner than predicted.
Excluding investments in PolioPlus, 2,640 Humanitarian Programs grants totaling more than $30 million were approved, a record amount.
The number of Matching Grants approved that were sustained by the World Fund increased 19 percent, the average amount of each Matching Grant increased 28 percent, and the use of the District Designated Funds grew by 24 percent.
Since the creation of Matching Grants, more than 25,000 projects have received financing from the Foundation.
Group Study Exchanges participants surpassed 515 this year, the most in the program's history.

In addition, the Foundation counted more than 1 million Paul Harris Fellows. "Soon our Paul Harris Fellows will outnumber our Rotarians," joked Giay.

 

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