Robbyn Tarpy from The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
Posted by David Ip
on Jun 06, 2012
Robbyn Tarpy has been with The Rotary Foundation (TRF) since March of 2000. She is here to talk about The Rotary Foundation
Robbyn Tarpy has been with The Rotary Foundation (TRF) since March of 2000. She spent many years working with The Rotary Foundation’s Programs and recently transitioned from the role of Matching Grants Program Officer to the Manager of Annual Giving.
She started off by explaining the mission of The Rotary Foundation – to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. What she likes most about the mission is the first three words “to enable Rotarians” because it is through Rotarians that Rotary can make an impact.
There are six areas of focus under the future vision pilot project:-
There are three types of grants:-
The Club has done several programs with grants from TRF including Post-partum health education in Taiwan through Global Grant; school resources and orphanage support in South Africa through Matching Grants; dormitory classroom in South Africa through Volunteer Service Grant. In total, the Club has received USD102,600 from TRF over the past five years.
Robbyn used an analogy between Rotarians and a bridge and noted that Rotarians act as the bridge between the programs arm and the funding arm of TRF.
Funding model of TRF is very unique and Robbyn explained how the Annual Fund-SHARE Programs works. Any contribution made to the program will be invested for three years where the gains on interest will be used for administration of the Foundation. After three years, the funds will be split equally between District Designated Funds (DDF) and World Fund. DDF is administered by the districts and World Fund is used per trustees’ discretion. A bonus for the World Fund is that it matches DDF 1:1 creating leverage for contributions from the clubs.
The Club ranks amongst the highest in the Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) program with a per capital of over $370 per member in the past five years and Robbyn congratulated the Club on such an achievement. She explained that $100 goes a long way such as a cataract operation in India to help people see again costs $33, and $100 can cure three people from blindness.
Paul Harris Society is district administered to recognize Rotarians with contributions $1,000 and over each year. Robbyn noted that only a minority of Rotarians are Paul Harris fellows but their contributions make up over 30% of the total contributions.
Lastly, Robbyn introduced the new recurring giving website to members – Rotary Direct.
Members can access the website through Rotary.org or through TRF Canada website where they will be redirected to Rotary Direct. Currently there is a promotion that has started April and will run through July where members will gain double recognition points for all recurring contributions set up during this period. For more information, visit http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/rotary_direct_double_points_info_guide_en.pdf.
Robbyn has given a DVD that explains the six areas of focus to the Club as a token of appreciation for inviting her to speak to the Club.
She started off by explaining the mission of The Rotary Foundation – to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. What she likes most about the mission is the first three words “to enable Rotarians” because it is through Rotarians that Rotary can make an impact.
There are six areas of focus under the future vision pilot project:-
- Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water and sanitation
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education and literacy
- Economic and community development
There are three types of grants:-
- District Grant: district administers; flexible and projects do not have to follow the six areas of focus.
- Global Grant: longer term; projects have to align with the six areas of focus and sustainable. Robbyn noted that Canadian Rotarians are a model of global grants as the Canadian government helps to support projects through Canadian Rotary Collaboration for International Development (CRCID) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) programs.
- Packaged Grants: newer program with other strategic partners; currently has four partners including Mercy Ships.
The Club has done several programs with grants from TRF including Post-partum health education in Taiwan through Global Grant; school resources and orphanage support in South Africa through Matching Grants; dormitory classroom in South Africa through Volunteer Service Grant. In total, the Club has received USD102,600 from TRF over the past five years.
Robbyn used an analogy between Rotarians and a bridge and noted that Rotarians act as the bridge between the programs arm and the funding arm of TRF.
Funding model of TRF is very unique and Robbyn explained how the Annual Fund-SHARE Programs works. Any contribution made to the program will be invested for three years where the gains on interest will be used for administration of the Foundation. After three years, the funds will be split equally between District Designated Funds (DDF) and World Fund. DDF is administered by the districts and World Fund is used per trustees’ discretion. A bonus for the World Fund is that it matches DDF 1:1 creating leverage for contributions from the clubs.
The Club ranks amongst the highest in the Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) program with a per capital of over $370 per member in the past five years and Robbyn congratulated the Club on such an achievement. She explained that $100 goes a long way such as a cataract operation in India to help people see again costs $33, and $100 can cure three people from blindness.
Paul Harris Society is district administered to recognize Rotarians with contributions $1,000 and over each year. Robbyn noted that only a minority of Rotarians are Paul Harris fellows but their contributions make up over 30% of the total contributions.
Lastly, Robbyn introduced the new recurring giving website to members – Rotary Direct.
Members can access the website through Rotary.org or through TRF Canada website where they will be redirected to Rotary Direct. Currently there is a promotion that has started April and will run through July where members will gain double recognition points for all recurring contributions set up during this period. For more information, visit http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/rotary_direct_double_points_info_guide_en.pdf.
Robbyn has given a DVD that explains the six areas of focus to the Club as a token of appreciation for inviting her to speak to the Club.