Introduction
Club Qualification
District 9800 requires that clubs qualify annually to be eligible to receive District Grants. To qualify for District Grants, clubs must:
- Have at least one club member attend the annual District Grants Management Seminar
- Agree to the grant stewardship requirements as set out in the Guide to District Grants
- Be up to date with their subscriptions to Rotary International, District 9800 and Rotary Down Under Magazine
Clubs that intend to apply for global grants must also be qualified in accordance with the requirements of the Rotary Foundation. Primary contacts for D9800 clubs acting as the Host or International Club for the Grant must complete the full Grants Management Seminar in My Rotary - Learning Centre before Global Grant support will be considered.
District Grant Approval Process
Every District Grant application requires approval by the D9800 Humanitarian Grants Committee. Applications must also be approved by the Rotary Foundation, before any expenditure or commitment to expenditure is made.
Funding for District grants is provided annually via a 'Block Grant'. The District is able to submit only one 'Block Grant' application each Rotary year. For D9800 the Block Grant application is lodged as soon as possible at the start of each Rotary year.
- Clubs are requested to lodge a formal application for a District Grant, or a Grant Intention Form, for inclusion in the Block Grant application if accepted by the District 9800 Humanitarian Grants Committee.
- Clubs that have lodged a grant application or a Grant Intention Form that has been included in the Block Grant application will receive priority consideration for grant funding.
- Where an application for a District Grant without having been included in the Block Grant, funding will only be possible if projects that have been included have since been cancelled.
- Projects may not start before receiving approval for the associated Grant.
Grants Management Seminars
A club is required to have had at least one member attend one of the two Foundation Grants Management Seminars held May 2026 in order to be eligible for a District Grant in 2026-2027.
District Grants
District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and communities around the world.
Projects must be completed with one year of approval.
Grants require the approval of the District Grants Sub-committee and The Rotary Foundation.
Local (anywhere within Australia):
- For smaller community projects anywhere in Australia.
- Projects are initiated by a Club and there must be active Rotarian involvement.
- The Project must be a new initiative by the Club.
- Require active Rotarian participation. Minimum grant A$1,000.
- Maximum single club grant A$5,000 matching D9800 club contributions dollar for dollar.
- Grants up to a maximum of A$10,000 are available where multiple D9800 clubs collaborate financially and actively on a project.
- Grants funds are paid on completion of the project and provision of a report in the prescribed format together with all receipts and proof of qualified project and Foundation promotion.
International:
- Require an international partner that can be a Rotary District, a Rotary Club or a reputable qualified third party organisation. Rotary partners are preferred.
- Require active Rotarian participation. Minimum grant A$1,000.
- Grants up to A$5,000 matching D9800 club contributions dollar for dollar.
- Grants up to a maximum of A$10,000 may be available where multiple D9800 clubs collaborate financially and actively on a project (at the discretion of the Grants Committee)
- Club accountable for funds management.
- Grant payments are made on completion of the project and provision of a report in the prescribed format together with all receipts and proof of qualified project and Foundation promotion.
D9800 Grants Committee Role - Global Grants
A contribution from the D9800 District Designated Fund (DDF) towards a Rotary Foundation Global Grant cannot be approved by the D9800 Humanitarian Grants Committee unless a Club has submitted a valid Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Club President and President Elect. Club MOU’s are valid for only the current Rotary year and must be revalidated each Rotary year. The primary contact for the D9800 club acting as either the Host Club or the International Club must first complete the full Grants Management Seminar in My Rotary - Learning Center and submit their Certificate of Completion to the Grants Committee before a DDF contribution from D9800 will be considered.
Chair Mark Stephens email
Committee: DG Peter Shepheard,, DRFC PDG Julie Mason, DGE Graeme Hope, DGN Claire Davidson, DFSC Paul Rake
Club funding for approved Humanitarian Grant projects and final reports for District Grants must be coordinated through the District Foundation Humanitarian Grants Committee.
Do not include DDF funding from D9800 in your Global Grant application in Grants Centre until approved by the District Foundation Committee.