What are Volunteer Service Grants?

The Rotary Foundation (TRF) offers Volunteer Service Grants (VSGs) to subsidize travel for international humanitarian service in Rotary countries for periods of 5 to 60 days. Funding may be used to plan specific humanitarian projects for future implementation or to provide direct service to a specific project in a benefiting community.

What qualifies as “international humanitarian service”?

International humanitarian service is defined as providing a needed service or skill to a community that is either unavailable or difficult to provide with existing in-country Rotarian resources. This skill or service must be requested by the benefiting community.

Who can apply?

Individuals traveling on their own must be active Rotarians. Small teams (up to five people) may include Rotarians and qualified spouses of Rotarians. The team leader is required to be an active Rotarian. Each person traveling on a Volunteer Service Grant must provide relevant information outlining

1.   His or her particular skills and experience in relation to the community need

2.   An itinerary of daily activities related to the project for each day at the project site

How long can I travel?

•     Volunteers must be on-site a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 60 days for planning and direct service (not including travel days).

•     If the volunteer wishes to stay at the project site for more than 60 days, all expenses incurred become the responsibility of the volunteer.

What is an eligible VSG expense?

Volunteers may request grant funds for airfare, room and board, and ancillary travel expenses such as visas and immunizations. Participants cannot receive compensation or salary for their service. If all expenses are less than the grant funds received, excess funds may be used for reasonable project-related expenses. The grant recipients are responsible for obtaining licenses or approvals necessary to perform the service in the host country. All grants are subject to the availability of funds.

What are the requirements for a VSG?

•     Travelers and sponsors must adhere to the Terms and Conditions of Volunteer Service Grants and Acceptance, which are available by download from the RI Web site at www.rotary.org or by contacting The Rotary Foundation or any Rotary International office.

•     Applications need to be received by The Rotary Foundation at least three months before anticipated departure and must be approved at least two months before the applicant’s scheduled departure.

•     Travel arrangements through Rotary International Travel Service (RITS) must be made immediately after notification of approval and no less than 45 days before departure.

What are the funding limits?

•     This is a flat grant award. For group travel, the award is US$6,000. For individual travel, the award is $3,000.

•     An applicant may not receive more than two VSGs per Rotary year.

•     Each project site may benefit from only one VSG award at a time.