THE SEVEN AREAS OF FOCUS
The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have pinpointed seven key areas of focus within the new grant framework. These areas address pressing humanitarian issues and needs that Rotarians are actively working to resolve worldwide. By aligning with other global development efforts, these focus areas strategically advance the Foundation’s mission.
Rotary Clubs operate globally, each addressing unique community needs. Rotarians continually adapt their responses to these needs through a wide range of service projects. The most impactful and sustainable Rotary initiatives typically fall into one of the following seven areas:
1. Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
Currently, 42 million people are displaced due to armed conflict or persecution. Through collaborations with leading universities, Rotary Peace Fellows gain the skills needed to enhance peace efforts, train local leaders to prevent and mediate conflicts, and support long-term peace-building in affected areas. We offer up to 100 peace fellowships annually at Rotary Peace Centers.
The Foundation supports Rotarians in promoting peace and conflict resolution by:
- Training leaders, including youth leaders, to prevent and mediate conflicts
- Supporting peace-building efforts in conflict-affected regions
- Funding studies for professionals focusing on peace and conflict resolution
2. Disease Prevention and Treatment
Over 100 million people fall into poverty each year due to medical expenses. We strive to improve and broaden access to affordable and free healthcare in underserved areas. Our members work to educate and mobilize communities to prevent diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. Many projects ensure that medical training facilities are accessible where the workforce is located.
The Foundation aids Rotarians in preventing disease and promoting health by:
- Enhancing the capabilities of local healthcare professionals
- Promoting disease prevention programs to curb communicable diseases and minimize complications from non-communicable diseases
- Improving local health infrastructure
- Educating and mobilizing communities to prevent major diseases
- Preventing physical disabilities caused by disease or injury
- Supporting studies for professionals focused on disease prevention and treatment
3. Water and Sanitation
More than 2.5 billion people lack adequate sanitation facilities, and 3,000 children die daily from diarrheal diseases related to unsafe water. Our projects enable communities to develop and sustain water and sanitation systems and support studies related to these areas.
The Foundation assists Rotarians in ensuring sustainable access to water and sanitation by:
- Providing equitable access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene
- Strengthening community capabilities to develop, fund, and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems
- Supporting programs that increase awareness of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene benefits
- Funding studies for professionals focused on water and sanitation
4. Maternal and Child Health
Each year, at least 7 million children under five die due to malnutrition, poor healthcare, and inadequate sanitation. We work to reduce this rate by providing immunizations, antibiotics, improving access to essential medical services, and supporting trained healthcare providers for mothers and their children. Projects are designed to empower local communities to manage health care training programs sustainably.
The Foundation supports Rotarians in improving maternal and child health by:
- Reducing mortality and morbidity rates for children under five
- Reducing maternal mortality and morbidity rates
- Improving access to essential medical services and trained healthcare providers for mothers and children
- Funding studies for professionals focused on maternal and child health
5. Basic Education and Literacy
Globally, 67 million children lack access to education, and over 775 million adults are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen community support for basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and boost adult literacy.
The Foundation helps Rotarians ensure sustainable access to education and literacy by:
- Engaging communities to enhance support for basic education and literacy
- Increasing adult literacy rates
- Working to close gender gaps in education
- Supporting studies for professionals focused on basic education and literacy
6. Economic and Community Development
Approximately 1.4 billion people live on less than $1.25 a day. We conduct projects to bolster economic and community development and create opportunities for productive work across all age groups. We also focus on strengthening local entrepreneurs and community leaders, especially women, in impoverished areas.
The Foundation aids Rotarians in driving economic improvements by:
- Building the capacity of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and organizations to foster economic development in underserved communities
- Creating opportunities for productive work
- Reducing poverty in underserved areas
- Supporting studies for professionals focusing on economic and community development
7. Environment
As Rotary’s newest focus area, supporting the environment joins peacebuilding, disease prevention, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development. Past Rotary International President Ian Riseley leads the Environmental Issues task force, championing this new area of focus.