Foundations

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MISSION The Mission of The Denver Rotary Club Foundation is to participate actively in the diverse life of our community through the grants it makes each year. The Foundation's grants emphasize our belief in the promise and value of youth and education, affirming our commitment to the humanitarian goals of Rotary. HISTORY The Denver Rotary Club Foundation was established in 1969 to fund Denver Rotary Club Philantropic projects. The Foundation's major source of funding is through Club events, such as the Branch Rickey Award Dinner and the Annual Peach Sale, and from individual contributions. The DRCF is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation and all contributions are tax deductible.

Just Look at What You’ve Done Now!
Thanks to the contributions of Denver Rotary members and sound financial management over the years, the assets of the Denver Rotary Club Foundation today total over $4 million.

Each dollar you give will impact the life of a child in Denver, in Colorado, or around the world. Over the past 17 years, our Club's Foundation has distributed over $4 million into the local community, including over $433 thousand to our World Community Service Committee projects.

For the Rotary 2008-2009 fiscal year alone, your Foundation has extended grants totaling $371,800 to help our youth, one kid at a time.

Denver Kids, Inc. - $165,000
Founded by Denver Rotary in 1946 to help young boys who had lost their father in World War II, this organization supports at-risk boys and girls in the Denver Public Schools. Among its accomplishments is an 85% graduation rate, compared to the district’s average of 65%.
 
World Community Service Committee - $40,000
Supporting over 40 Rotarian recommended/driven programs in over 20 countries, with matching funds from Rotary International Foundation and other Rotary Clubs around the world, most of which are leveraged on an over 3 to 1 basis.
 
College Financial Aid - $31,000
Financial aid counseling and direct scholarships benefited more than 80 college-bound students.

High School Scholarships - $27,000
Provides 39 economically disadvantaged high school juniors/seniors with financial assistance ($75/mo) and Rotarian mentorship during the school year.
 
Vocational College Scholarships - $20,000
Provides educational scholarships to 20 students in vocational, trade and technical fields, as well as a Rotarian/student mentoring program.

Denver Center for International Studies - $19,000
Provides our Centennial project adopt-a-school with resources, both financial and human, to the students, faculty/staff of the school with the objective of improving student performance and giving them access to international opportunities. DCIS is also home to our Club’s Interact Club.

New Projects Committee - $15,000
Provides grant dollars for our New Member Class to be used for a new Club service project of their choosing.

Community Resources Inc. - $14,000
Matches 60 gifted at-risk students in grades 4-8 with accomplished community/Rotarian volunteers for a short-term academic/career project.
 
Junior Achievement - $5,000
A new program which will enable student members of the DCIS Interact Club and Rotarian mentors to team teach JA programs at a DPS elementary school. 
 
Global Health Connections - $8,000
An educational outreach program that brings over 1,250 middle school students in Colorado and other  nations together to work on multi-cultural solutions to global heath issues.

Rotary Youth Leadership Award - RYLA - $7,300
Allows 17 high school & middle school students to participate in a summer Rotary leadership enrichment camp in Estes Park.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Colorado - $10,000
Continued Rotary sponsorship of the annual Colorado art & writing exhibit in which over 2,000 high school art/writing students participate.
 
Shining Stars - $6,500
Provides activities for children and young adults with cancer at the Shining Stars Winter Games event in Aspen.
 
Youth Exchange Committee - $4,000
Hosts incoming/outbound students throughout the world, providing full-year and summer international exchanges at the high school level.
 
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HOW THE GRANTS PROCESS WORKS
QUALIFICATIONS:
Grant requests must be in alignment with the mission of the Foundation, as well as financially assist Denver Rotarians in their respective philanthropic endeavors. Youth programs are the major focus of the Foundation.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
All grant requests must be submitted to the Denver Rotary Club Foundation office at 1900 Grant Street, Suite 850, Denver, CO 80203. The Executive Director screens each request for appropriateness, then forwards the request to the Denver Rotary Club Foundation Grants Committee. This Committee provides oversight and/or participation in the program. Any non-Denver Rotary organization must have a 501(c)3 designation, or be another Rotary Club or a Rotary district. Denver Rotarians must be involved in any non-Rotary organization.

The Foundation also encourages matching fund projects involving Rotary International, other Rotary Clubs and Districts.

GRANTS CYCLE:
The granting cycle begins in December with grants awarded in April for the next fiscal year (July-June).

December...............................Committees notified to submit applications.
End of January........................Applications due.
February/March.......................Committee reviews applications.  Packet sent to Club for review.  Committees participate as needed.
Early April................................DRCF Trustees review and act on Grant Committee recommendations.
April........................................Committees are informed of Grant awards and Chairs inform outside organizations of outcome.
July 1......................................Earliest date awards can be disbursed.

DISASTER FUNDING:
Funding to aid victims of disasters due to acts of nature, terrorism or similar causes may be considered by the Trustees outside the normal granting cycle. The Foundation and the Club will work cooperatively to respond in a timely manner to local, national or international disasters. In most cases, donations will be made to a Rotary Club or District in the impacted area up to the following limits: Colorado - $5,000, National - $2,500, International - $1,000.

The Club will also encourage members to make donations to the Foundation to be forwarded to the disaster area.

GRANTS COMMITTEE:
The Grants Committee is comprised of nine members, each serving a three-year term. The Committee includes three Foundation Trustees, three Club Board Members, and three at-large Rotary Club Members who are members of the Foundation. The President of the Foundation appoints the Chair and the new Grants Committee members who may be seated during the President‘s term of office.

The 2009-2010 Grants Committee members included:

David Lee, Chair
Frank Lawrence, Co-Chair
Debbie DeMuth
Harriet Downer
Meghan Miller
Will Snider
Peter Tedstrom
Andre van Hall
TBD

GRANTS FORMULA:
The Foundation Board of Trustees establishes the formula for availability of grantable funds. The Foundation Finance Committee reviews this formula from time to time, and at least every three years. The Finance Committee may or may not recommend revisions. The formula includes a floor (minimum disbursement) and a ceiling (maximum disbursement). The ceiling includes a 5% contingency fund designated for disaster relief and other unanticipated needs. An additional 10% may be set aside for the New Projects Committee.

Click here for copy of the GRANT APPLICATION

Click here for a copy of the Assets for Youth Policy/40 Development Assets

Click here for a copy of the Granting Guidelines

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