R otary invests prudently for long-term, steady growth. RI and its Foundation are strong both in financial planning for the needs of today and in anticipating our needs for the future. 

In addition, ethical standards, including Rotary’s Four-Way Test, serve as guide for efficient and prudent handling of financial matters. Numerous RI and Rotary Foundation committees monitor fiscal matters closely, with input from third-party financial experts.

Rotary International

Overseeing RI’s finances are the RI Board of Directors and three committees. The Board is ultimately responsible for RI’s investments, which are divided into two distinct portfolios:

• General Fund: The General Fund represents the operating reserve of the organization. Its primary objective is to provide for the long-term financial security of Rotary International.  
• Working Capital Fund: The Working Capital Fund provides the necessary liquidity to fund the daily operations of the organization.

Read more about RI's investment philosophy in the RI Code of Policies.

The Rotary Foundation

Since its creation in 1917, The Rotary Foundation has grown into a global force for good, thanks to the generosity of Rotarians and friends of Rotary who share our vision for a better world. The Foundation prides itself on its commitment to stewardship of its funds. Today, the Foundation has a strong balance sheet and good liquidity.

One of the greatest strengths of The Rotary Foundation is its ability to finance Foundation operations from investment earnings generated by the Annual Programs Fund. Contributions to this fund are invested for three years and then made available to spend on programs. The earnings on these funds are then used to fund the operations of the Foundation. 

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the prudent investment of the Foundation’s assets. Contributions to The Rotary Foundation are invested into one of three main funds: the Annual Programs Fund, the Permanent Fund, and the PolioPlus Fund. Read more about these funds in Contribute.

Rotary prides itself on quality, accuracy, and transparency in reporting financial information to the Rotary world. Read about the Foundation's investment philosophy in the Code of Policies.

For more information

Call the Foundation's Contact Center at 1-866-9ROTARY (1-866-976-8279), or e-mail contact.center@rotary.org . A team of Foundation specialists will answer calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.