Rotary International

Rotary is a global network of more than 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs in over 200 countries, working together to solve pressing issues around the world. Rotarians serve others, promote integrity, mutual understanding, goodwill, and peace through their network of professionals and leaders.

Rotary International has been working for more than 120 years to promote peace and understanding among peoples and nations, and has actively contributed to the creation of international institutions and organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO.

Rotary is committed to humanitarian causes on a daily basis, including fighting disease, providing access to clean water, promoting education, developing local economies, and protecting the environment. At the heart of its actions, Rotary promotes sustainable solutions to global challenges. Its most iconic initiative for over 40 years has been the global campaign to eradicate polio.

There are more than 1.4 million of us worldwide. We are your neighbors, your friends, the people who make your city tick. Together, we bring about productive change in our regions and around the world.

The diversity of our professions, cultures, and experiences allows us to approach problems from new angles. By joining forces in the name of solidarity, we can achieve the impossible.

What sets us apart

  • We see differently: Our multidisciplinary perspective helps us see challenges in unique ways.
  • We think differently: We apply leadership and expertise to social issues — and find unique solutions.
  • We act responsibly: Our passion and perseverance create lasting change.
  • We make a difference at home and around the world: Our members can be found in your community and across the globe.

How we operate

It all starts with Rotarians: men and women who work within their clubs to find solutions to sometimes difficult problems, whether local, national, or even international.

Their efforts are supported by Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation:

  • Rotary is governed by its members, elected officers who carry out Rotary's mission and values in their various roles within the organization.
  • The Rotary Foundation converts donations and fundraising proceeds into grants that help fund Rotarians' projects around the world.
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The object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

  • FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
  • SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
  • THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
  • FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Our origins

We have been bringing cultures together for over 120 years. Since its founding in 1905, Rotary International has tackled major global challenges and supported several international and humanitarian organizations, such as the United Nations and UNESCO, in their early stages.

Our causes

Our commitment to well-targeted causes allows us to strengthen our impact locally and globally. Using our resources and partners, Rotary clubs focus their efforts on promoting peace, fighting disease, providing access to clean water, improving maternal and child health, promoting economic and community development, and protecting the environment.

Avenues of service

We channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity.

  • Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.
  • Vocational Service calls on every Rotarian to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society.
  • Community Service encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life for people in their communities and to serve the public interest.
  • International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this service avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, and more.
  • Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs such as Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotary Youth Exchange.