Qualification

Also read about planning for the online qualification process

Q ualification is the first step pilot districts will take in the new grant model. This important process ensures that each district has the appropriate controls in place to manage Rotary Foundation District and Global Grants during the Future Vision pilot.

Completing the qualification process and having these controls in place will

• Prepare districts for increased grant management responsibility
• Improve oversight of grant funds
• Allow for simplified, user-friendly application, payment, and reporting processes
• Provide districts and their clubs with the resources needed to meet Foundation requirements and successfully participate in grant activities

The qualification process is a vital component of the new grant model. Yet it only requires districts to provide the Foundation with a minimal amount of information to begin. This gives pilot districts the opportunity to achieve qualified status before the pilot begins.

Pilot districts must be qualified before they can apply for Rotary Foundation District Grants or Global Grants. Once a district receives qualified status from the Foundation, it will then work to qualify its member clubs. These qualified clubs then can apply for Rotary Foundation Global Grants. A club, however, does not need to have qualified status to request Rotary Foundation District Grant funds from its district.

To achieve qualified status

• The 2010-11 district governor and district Rotary Foundation committee (DRFC) chair for the pilot must attend the Future Vision Pilot Training in San Diego, California, USA, in January 2010.
• The 2009-10 and 2010-11 district governors and the 2010-11 DRFC chair must complete the online qualification process by providing basic information to the Foundation and agreeing to the terms of qualification. Learn more about planning for the online qualification process .

After completing these steps and becoming qualified, the district must

• Implement the memorandum of understanding (MOU) and adhere to the terms of qualification
• Manage the qualification of Rotary clubs in the district
• Have the new district governor-elect, for each year of the pilot, agree to the terms of the MOU and submit his or her authorization online

The online qualification process will be available through Member Access after the Future Vision Pilot Training in January 2010. Districts should not wait until January to begin planning for qualification. By planning now, districts will be able to complete the online qualification process as soon as possible following the Future Vision Pilot Training. This will allow districts to begin implementing the MOU and qualifying their clubs before the start of the pilot on 1 July. Online applications for global and district grants will be available beginning in April; however, districts and clubs will not be able to submit applications until they are qualified.

Once qualified status is achieved, the district will remain qualified until the end of the Future Vision pilot in 2013. By the conclusion of the pilot in June 2013, pilot districts will be given additional information about how to renew their qualification. Learn more about planning for the online qualification process . 

Questions about qualification

E-mail inquiries to futurevision@rotary.org .