Some of the Rotarians in your district probably know that The Rotary Foundation funds grants. Many are familiar with its District and Global Grants. Fewer have experience with Disaster Grants. But I’m betting not many know much about the Programs of Scale grant. Soon to be six years old, this single, annual, $2 million grant supports longer-term, high-impact programs led by Rotary members. Past grants have addressed malaria, maternal mortality rates, cervical cancer, access to clean water, and Positive Peace.
An external review to help Rotary build on the success of the Programs of Scale initiative is planned for the first half of 2026, with the final findings due in October. This timeline means there won’t be a 2027 application cycle. The Board of Trustees will use the results of the review to:
- Find ways to improve the application process
- Strengthen the Foundation’s grant processes and offerings
- Support award recipients’ ability to scale projects beyond the Foundation’s investment
The first Programs of Scale awards showed very positive results, and the review is expected to offer actionable insights into those trends. In the meantime, you can encourage your clubs and districts to use global grants to test their project models, gather evidence about outcomes, and strengthen partnerships before the next Programs of Scale award cycle.