Filling the Rotary Foundation “Seed Bank”
 
All Rotarians in District 9685 should feel proud of their contributions to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund this year. Despite the continuing turmoil of the pandemic, the clubs in our District are on track to exceed the goals you set at the beginning of the year for contributions to our Polio Fund and to the Annual Fund (our “Seed Bank”).  Thank you!
 
The Annual Fund serves as a Seed Bank to set aside funds now for use in three years’ time. This year, we have been using funds our District Rotarians contributed in 2018-19. Your combined contributions that year have been used to provide grants of over $A240,000 for 34 District Grant projects and over 16 Global Grant projects in over a dozen countries that have attracted over $A1.5 million in additional funding!
 
As we prepare for the start of DGE Mina Howard’s year in July, we know that we will have access to over $A200,000 for District and Global Grants, thanks to the contributions our club members made to the Annual Fund back in 2019-20. Did you know that the contributions we make this year through June will be available for District and Global Grants during DG Nominee Niranjan Deodhar’s term as our District Governor in 2024-25? As of 31 May, the funds available for 2024-25 will be about $A140,000 for District and Global Grants, partly due to the conservative goals that clubs set at the beginning of the year.  In past years, many of our clubs were able to contribute over two-times their initial goal, and I hope that your club will consider supporting our Annual Fund further during June. Only donations to the Annual Fund SHARE program serve as our seed bank for future projects. 
 
Here are some tips on how to make your donation:
  • Individual Rotarian (and non-Rotarian) Donations. The simplest way is to donate online for yourself of multiple club members by using your credit or debit card.  Just click here
  • Club Contributions (from Community Fundraising) should be transferred to The Rotary Foundation BSB: 332 084 Account:100345225.  Please be sure to include the key part of your Club name, skipping the “Rotary Club of …” in the bank reference, and please send an email to risppo@rotary.org to let them know that your contribution is coming. 
  • Club Contributions (for Groups of Individual Members) can be made by EFT using the Multiple Donor Form, and transferring the funds to The Australian Rotary Foundation Trust BSB 332-084 Account 551038195.  Please send the form to risppo@rotary.org when you deposit the funds into the account so that each member will receive a tax-deductible receipt for their donations.
We have special recognition programs for individuals and for clubs who donate to the Annual Fund to thank you for your support of this vital program. I look forward to the celebration events that will recognise your contributions in the new Rotary year.
 
 
PP David Dean
District 9685 Rotary Foundation Chair
0412 798 526
 
PP Haran Ramachandran 
Grants Subcommittee Chair
0419 980 529