ROTARY FOUNDATION GLOBAL SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

LOCATION: USA

Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. By working together to respond to real community needs, clubs and districts strengthen their global partnerships.

ELIGIBILITY:

Both the district or club in the country where the activity is carried out and the international partner district or club must first become qualified before applying for a global grant. Learn more about the qualification process and grant management. Your club and district Rotary Foundation chairs can help you plan how to use your District Designated Funds and learn how to qualify your club.

Consult with local experts early in the planning process to build a strong project plan and global grant application. The district resource network (see below) can help.

To be approved, your application must clearly describe how your project, scholarship, or vocational training team:

Is sustainable — include plans for long-term success after the global grant funds have been spent

Includes measurable goals

Aligns with one of Rotary’s areas of focus

Responds to real community needs — any club or district that applies for a global grant to support a humanitarian project or a vocational training team must conduct a community assessment first and design the project based on what they learn through that assessment.

Actively involves Rotary and community members

Meets the eligibility requirements in the grant’s terms and conditions

Applications are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed as they’re received. Learn more about the Global Grant Lifecycle.

Note: Sponsoring clubs and districts must submit their applications by June 30 to the Rotary Foundation for scholars who will begin studies in August, September, or October.

BENEFIT:

Global grants have a minimum budget of $30,000 and a maximum World Fund award of $400,000. Grant sponsors can use a combination of District Designated Funds (DDF), cash, and/or directed gift and endowed fund program award spendable amounts to fund a global grant. The Foundation will provide an 80 percent World Fund match for all DDF contributions. There is no minimum World Fund match.

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ATLAS SHRUGGED ESSAY CONTEST: WIN UP TO $25,000 IN SCHOLARSHIP PRIZES

Application Deadline: July 31, 2025

LOCATION: USA

Win up to $25,000 in scholarship prizes by writing about one of Ayn Rand’s classic novels.  Join students from around the world in exploring important ideas through writing.

ELIGIBILITY:

Open to students worldwide.

9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, College freshman, College sophomore, College junior, College senior, Graduate student

Choose the contest that matches your grade level and the Ayn Rand novel you want to write about.

Read the novel carefully and take notes on themes, characters, and passages that stand out to you.

Apply to the Contest: Create an account and submit your application.

 They offer three essay contests based on Ayn Rand’s novels. New topics are released each season. Each is tailored to specific grade level. The current open contests are:

Anthem: The annual 2025 Anthem Essay Contest

The Fountainhead: The Summer 2025 round of The Fountainhead Essay Contest

Open to all 8th- through 12th-grade students.

Atlas Shrugged: The summer 2025 Atlas Shrugged contest

Open to all 9th grade through graduate school students.

Choose the contest that corresponds to your grade level. If you’re eligible for multiple contests, you may enter all of them, but each requires reading the corresponding book.

BENEFIT:

First-place winners in the flagship contests — The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged— will receive $3,000 for winning their season’s contest. The grand prize winner among these will be selected to receive an additional $22,000, making a full grand annual prize of $25,000. The Anthem contest’s grand annual prize is $2,000. In addition, all contests offer substantial prizes for runners-up, with details available on each contest’s page.

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