Greetings Rotary Foundation Supporters! December is such a substantial marker on our calendar. Not only does it represent the Holiday season and the end of the calendar and the tax year, but it also marks the halfway point of the Rotary Year.
So, for December I wanted to provide a few items to think about regarding our one and only Rotary Foundation:
- Remind your members of the great work The Rotary Foundation does all year long. If you are a Club President or Club Foundation Chair, be sure you always remind our fellow Rotarians why we give to The Rotary Foundation. For example, here is a program of 52 weekly Foundation messages you can share with your club. Start anytime, use one or a few, or use them all. Or take a Rotary Foundation story from any issue of Rotary the magazine and share with your members.
- Remind your members to make a Year-End Contribution to The Rotary Foundation. Club Presidents and Foundation Chairs be sure to give your Club members a reminder and opportunity to donate to The Rotary Foundation before year end. Year-end contributions still have important tax and other benefits for many Rotarians. Contributing is easy. Just log in to Rotary.org with the email you use to communicate with your Club and hit the Donate button. Even if you have never logged in before, Rotary.org should have a record of your email, provided by your club. If you have any trouble at all, contact me, I’d be happy to help (paulharrisrocks@gmail.com or mobile 402-676-5551). Once logged in, you, your Club and the District will get proper credit for your donations.
- Remember to Check your Club’s Rotary Foundation Goals. At the beginning of the year, we ask all Clubs to enter Foundation giving goals for the Annual Fund and End Polio Now on the Rotary Club Central section of the Rotary.org website. Most of the Clubs in our District set goals. If you are a Club President or Foundation Chair, now is a great time to check those goals. Did your Club set goals? If so, how is your progress year-to-date? Now is a great time to remind your membership of the goals set and how they are coming along on achieving those goals. If your Club did not set goals, start now to think about: (1) what would you like your Club to achieve this year for Foundation giving, and (2) how will your Club set Foundation goals for the 2021-22 Rotary year.
- If you have an IRA with Required Minimum Distributions, Remember the Rotary Foundation. Making your RMD’s direct to charity can be a great way to get a tax break. Consult your tax advisor regarding your specific situation but be sure to reach out if you decide a donation is right for you, and you need help with the logistics of making one.
The Clubs and Rotarians in our District have been incredibly generous with their donations to the Rotary Foundation over the years. Thank you for everything you do to keep The Rotary Foundation “Doing Good in the World.” Our entire District Rotary Foundation Committee wishes you and your loved ones a happy and safe Holiday Season.