District 6780 - The Rotary Foundation Committees - Permanent Fund and Major Gifts

You can give to Our Rotary Foundation FOREVER! A donation to The Rotary Foundation's endowment, the Permanent Fund, is a gift that will last beyond your lifetime. Only the earnings on the endowment are used to support the programs of our Foundation.

This fund enables individuals to combine their gifts into a powerful force to address the world's greatest humanitarian needs for generations to come. As of February 28, 2009, the Permanent Fund's net assets were $143 million, with estimated expectancies at $401.3 million for a total of $544.3 million. The goal is to reach $1 billion by 2025. Each Rotary year, the approximate $4.5 million in earnings from the Permanent Fund is made available to support Foundation programs.

Make a donation through your club's Foundation chair, or click here to learn how you can make a donation through the RI website. You also can contribute by participating in a planned giving effort through the donation of life income agreements, charitable bequests, or life insurance. Click the underlined links to learn more.

The Permanent Fund Financial Report for 2007-08 is available.

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Benefactors

The easiest way to get involved with the Permanent Fund is to become a Benefactor. This can be done through an outright donation of $1000 to the Permanent Fund, or by adding a codicil to your will that results in a gift of at least $1000 to the Permanent Fund, or by adding the Permanent Fund as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy. Becoming a Benefactor can be arranged through the Rotary Foundation Chair in your club or on line.

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Major Donors

The Rotary Foundation recognizes couples or individuals whose combined cumulative personal giving reaches $10,000. All contributions made to Annual Giving (gifts that receive Paul Harris Fellow credit) and/or the Permanent Fund are included in this total. As of the end of October 2008, at least 36 Rotarians and couples in District 6780 had become Major Donors.

Donors may elect to receive a crystal recognition piece and a Major Donor lapel pin or pendant. Recognition items commemorate giving at each recognition level:

LEVEL	CONTRIBUTION
Level Six	$1 million or greater
Level Five	$500,000
Level Four	$100,000
Level Three	$50,000
Level Two	$25,000
Level One	$10,000

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Bequest Society

Individuals or couples who arrange through their estate planning to donate at least $10,000 to the Permanent Fund become members of the Bequest Society.

The recognition levels are the same as in the table above and the recognition materials are similar to those for Major Donors.

As of end of November 2008, at least 22 Rotarians and couples in District 6780 had become members of the Bequest Society. As of March 31, 2009, there are 6629 members worldwide, with commitments valued at $248.8 million.

If you are interested in joining the Bequest Society, please contact your club Foundation Chair or a member of the district Permanent Fund and Major Gifts Subcommittee, or become a member on line.

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