2025 General Secretary Report to Convention
Finding purpose in progress
In a world where the pace of change is greater than ever, Rotary remains dedicated to building connections and doing good. As Rotary members continue to develop and increase our capacity for service, our organization’s impact continues to grow.
Progress through programs
Rotary adapts and generates positive change through our programs and funding.
The fight against polio
Polio remains endemic in only two countries — Pakistan and Afghanistan — but we can’t be complacent. When a polio outbreak was reported in Gaza in August 2024, Rotary committed US$500,000 toward vaccination efforts carried out by our partners. Together, in collaboration with governments and our partners, we helped nearly 560,000 children get vaccinated. That’s 94% of the target population of children under 10.
Our members’ dedication to polio eradication has not wavered. As of 1 April, we’ve raised more than US$27 million toward our annual US$50 million goal, to be matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation to support eradication efforts across the globe.
Learn more and join the fight against polio. Visit endpolio.org today.
Supporting sustainable farming practices in India
Rotary announced Partners for Water Access and Better Harvests in India as its 2024 Programs of Scale recipient. This evidence-based program was awarded US$2 million over five years to help improve the livelihoods of more than 60,000 farmers in four Indian states through sustainable agriculture and water management practices.
Your donations make a difference
The Rotary Foundation transforms donors’ gifts into life-changing service projects and scholarships. It is through these gifts that Rotary increases its impact and makes a positive difference worldwide.
As of 1 April, we’ve awarded more than US$27 million in district grants and more than US$57 million in global grants.
Our annual Give the Gift of Rotary campaign, which highlights the impact that donations to our Foundation have, raised more than US$8.2 million in 2024. And in support of Giving Tuesday — 3 December — donors gave more than US$1.4 million to The Rotary Foundation, 13% more than the previous year.
As of 1 April, we’ve raised over US$1.9 billion in support of our initiative to increase Rotary’s endowment to US$2.025 billion by 2025. These net assets and future commitments provide financial security and resources for Rotary members, supporting our ability to do good today and for generations to come.
As of 1 April, the Foundation has raised more than US$423 million toward our 2024-25 goal of US$500 million.
Progress through membership
We remain dedicated to growing Rotary. The RI Board of Directors has set a goal of increasing membership to 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors by 2030 — just in time for Rotary’s 125th anniversary.
Growing membership
Through our efforts to support existing clubs and develop new ones that prioritize the membership experience, we’re on target to reach our goal of chartering 1,000 new clubs and adding 150,000 new members. As of 1 April, we’ve chartered 425 Rotary clubs, 545 Rotaract clubs, and welcomed more than 165,000 new Rotary and Rotaract members.
Adding value to the membership experience
Rotary offers unique membership experiences, like joining a Rotary Fellowship or Rotary Action Group, as well as access to a wide array of resources and tools.
This includes Rotary magazine and regional Rotary magazines around the world, which are full of informational, inspirational, and engaging content that helps Rotary members access tools and learn more about what our organization is accomplishing globally.
This year, we enhanced a few of our membership offerings:
- Rotaract club members can now use Rotary Club Central to help plan their short- and long-term goals. The tool was also updated to allow current Rotary and Rotaract club leaders to input their goals up to three years in advance.
- The new Service Project Center supports our efforts to enhance participants’ overall club experience and increase our impact. Members use this platform to explore projects around the world, find inspiration and potential partners, record and manage their projects, and track their achievements. As of 1 April, members have posted over 60,971 projects and proposals.
- The Learning Center continues to generate valuable educational opportunities, such as the new Service Project Essentials series, to help members use the best practices as they make a measurable impact in their communities. The Learning Center also launched its new mobile app, making it easier than ever for members to learn on the go.
We are also working to improve the experience for prospective members who visit rotary.org/join. The new system will provide people with information about clubs near them and allow them to select the one they believe is the best match for their interests. Existing members will also be able to make membership referrals or find a new club if they plan to relocate or want a different club experience.
Progress through collaboration
Our work with other organizations and change-makers provides innovative solutions for pressing global issues while building awareness of Rotary and expanding our impact worldwide.
Supporting Rotary peacebuilders
We welcomed our first cohort of Rotary Peace Fellows to the Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul. This postgraduate certificate program provides advanced training for peace and development professionals focusing on the Middle East and North Africa.
In February, more than 900 people (including Rotary members and peace experts) attended the Rotary Presidential Peace Conference in Istanbul. Participants learned about peace in a polarized world, the use of technology and media in peacebuilding, environmental issues affecting peacebuilding, and how to create sustainable peace.
Expanding our reach through Rotary ambassadors
We welcomed our first Rotary ambassadors — artists, musicians, actors, and humanitarians who support Rotary’s work across all our main causes to create lasting change. Through events, advocacy efforts, and more, Rotary ambassadors engage with members and supporters to amplify our vision and impact.
Progress through service
Rotary members unite in service to meet local and global needs, and in doing so create lasting change.
Addressing global challenges
Member projects often address pressing current issues, and our commitment to protecting the planet is reflected in our service projects. Rotary members are advocating, funding, and taking action to conserve natural resources and foster harmony between communities and the environment. In addition to supporting advocacy and service project efforts, Rotary is examining our environmental sustainability practices at every level and taking action to minimize our carbon footprint.
Our members are also building on their service projects, taking short-term positive outcomes and transforming them into long-term impact. In Panama, what started as a project to provide schoolchildren with supplies has now evolved into an initiative aimed at closing the digital divide by integrating technology into schools. This project has given students and teachers the tools they need to succeed in the digital era and provided data-driven outcomes that clubs can use to inform and adapt their own projects.
Increasing the impact of our service
We’ve updated the Conducting Community Assessments handbook to help clubs identify local priorities and design stronger service projects, and created the Rotary Impact Handbook to help clubs measure the progress and results of their projects to better demonstrate their impact. These resources provide valuable insights that support Rotary’s strategic efforts to build measurable impact across the globe.