R otary clubs and districts around the world can benefit from working with external organizations to carry out service projects. Partnering with others can help Rotary clubs:
- Make projects more sustainable
- Gain access to technical or financial resources
- Multiply the impact of a project locally, regionally, and internationally
- Inspire community leaders to join Rotary upon invitation
- Increase public awareness of Rotary club activities
Tips for working with external organizations
Rotary has a variety of resources to help clubs identify and partner with organizations. Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Identify an organization
Choose an organization that shares goals and interests with your club. Refer to groups you may have identified during the community assessment process. Consider different types of associations, such as businesses, government and nongovernmental organizations, and informal community groups.
2. Locate contact information
Identify the field or regional contact person for the targeted organization. In some cases, RI may already have a representative to the group your club is considering. Consult the Official Directory and contact that person. If you’re not sure whether Rotary maintains a relationship with an organization, or if you need help finding more information, contact RI’s External Relations staff .
Other sources of contact information include the organization’s website, local phone listings, and RI publications, such as The Rotarian.
3. Get in touch with the group
Invite the organization’s representative to visit a project site, attend a Rotary club meeting, or give a presentation. Clubs or districts can offer to speak about Rotary at one of the group’s events or distribute printed material to its offices.
4. Clarify project details with potential collaborating organizations
When contacting potential partners, be specific about your club’s project plans and needs. From the beginning, outline expectations for each group and the division of responsibilities. How long will the collaboration last? How will participating organizations share financial responsibility? How will your Rotary club or district be affiliated with the project?
5. Share successes with other clubs and the international community
Rotary clubs and districts have a variety of ways to publicize their successful projects and activities to other Rotary club members and the international community. Refer to the Public Relations web page for more information. By sharing your successful collaborative projects in the ProjectLINK model projects database , you’ll inspire Rotarian colleagues around the world with your ideas.
RI's service partners
Rotary International’s service partnerships are initiated and approved by the RI Board of Directors to support clubs’ humanitarian service efforts. All activities take place at the local level at the discretion of individual Rotary clubs and districts. RI has service partnerships with the following organizations.
Goodwill Industries International
- Goodwill Industries International and Rl encourage Rotary clubs and local Goodwill organizations to pursue common vocational objectives and promote training for people with barriers to employment.
The Dollywood Foundation's Imagination Library
-- The collaborative relationship between The Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library and RI provides a way for clubs to support early childhood literacy by providing children in their community with a free book every month from birth to age five.
International Reading Association
-- The International Reading Association and Rl encourage Rotary clubs and the association’s local councils and affiliates to collaborate in developing community service projects that promote literacy worldwide.
Tips for organizations that wish to work with Rotary clubs
While Rotary International has a limited number of cooperative relationships, clubs and districts have a large amount of freedom to work with organizations in their communities. All Rotary clubs meet weekly to share information and determine which projects they will initiate or support. After a potential partnering organization identifies a local Rotary club, it can proceed in several ways:
- Invite Rotarians to visit a project site or local office.
- Offer to give a presentation at a Rotary club meeting.
- Ask Rotarians to address organization staff or members.
- Provide informational material for Rotarians, or perhaps an article for the club bulletin.
To identify Rotary clubs in a particular country, state, or city, use the Club Locator tool.