Building Your Rotary Legacy: A Campaign of Hope, Action, and Impact

At a recent gathering of Rotarians, we had the privilege of hearing from Celeste Herbert, Major Gifts Officer from The Rotary Foundation, who joined us for an inspiring and deeply thoughtful conversation about what it truly means to create a Rotary legacy.

Building Your Rotary Legacy: A Campaign of Hope, Action, and Impact

At a recent gathering of Rotarians, we had the privilege of hearing from Celeste Herbert, Major Gifts Officer from The Rotary Foundation, who joined us for an inspiring and deeply thoughtful conversation about what it truly means to create a Rotary legacy.

The discussion centered on a powerful truth: the needs in our communities—and around the world—have never been greater. But so too is our capacity, as Rotarians, to respond with purpose, generosity, and vision.

One of the most empowering aspects of Rotary Foundation grants is that we decide how the funds are used. Unlike many other foundations, The Rotary Foundation places a remarkable level of trust in its members. Rotarians are given the autonomy to direct funds in ways that best reflect our values, priorities, and local and global needs. It’s a unique model—and one that allows every gift to become a direct extension of our shared commitment to “Service Above Self.”

Introducing the Your Rotary Legacy Campaign

On July 1, District Governor Mary launched the Your Rotary Legacy Campaign, an ambitious and visionary effort designed to strengthen the future of Rotary service for years to come. 

The campaign has two key goals:

  1. Educate Rotarians about the many ways they can support our mission financially—whether now or through future planning.
  2. Inspire a group of committed Rotarians to make a major gift of $10,000 or more, through:
    • Cash contributions
    • Investable assets
    • Or a bequest as part of their estate plans

The financial goal is bold and hopeful: $2.7 million in major gifts. Thanks to the generosity of early supporters, the campaign is already off to a strong start. During the quiet phase, more than $600,000 has already been raised—an encouraging sign of the passion and belief Rotarians have in the work of The Rotary Foundation.

Entering the Public Phase

The campaign has now moved into its public phase, beginning with small group meetings where Rotarians can ask questions, explore options, and reflect on how their giving can align with their personal passions—whether that’s local youth programs, global health, clean water, peace initiatives, or another area of Rotary focus.

Members will soon see regular updates in the District newsletter and on the District website as the campaign continues to grow and evolve. These stories and reports will highlight not only the progress toward the financial goal, but also the very real impact that legacy gifts can have on communities near and far.

Exploring Your Legacy

Every Rotarian’s situation is unique—but each of us has the opportunity to shape a legacy that reflects what matters most to us. Whether you’re simply curious, just starting to think about long-term giving, or already considering a major gift, you don’t have to navigate the process alone.

If you’d like to explore how your gift—now or in the future—can make a lasting difference, you’re encouraged to reach out to:

They would be honored to talk with you, answer questions, and help you consider the possibilities. As Rotarians, we don’t just give to projects, we give to people, communities, and futures. The Your Rotary Legacy Campaign is an invitation to extend that impact far beyond our own lifetimes. 

Together, we can build a legacy of hope, action, and transformation—one thoughtful gift at a time.