The Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo

Foundation Matching Gift Program

Rotarians aspire to make a difference in the community. The Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation was founded on the principle of supporting local causes in an effort to enhance the quality of life in the Rancho Bernardo area. The RBRF matching gift program will allow Rancho Bernardo Rotarians to make a restricted gift to the Foundation that will be matched dollar for dollar by the Foundation and then gifted to the organization selected by the Rotarian and approved by the Foundation Board. The end result will be greater impact on the community and greater exposure of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club.

Eligibility

Only members of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club are eligible to participate in the RBRF matching gift program. All organizations selected to receive funding through the matching gift program must be approved by the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation Board and ratified by the general club membership.

Matching Gift Limits:

The Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation accepts matching gift proposals from $250 to $1,000. The RBRF will match one-for-one all approved proposals. Here is how the matching program works:

Rotarian gift of $250 matched by the Foundation's $250 = $500 to the recipient organization

Rotarian gift of $1,000 matched by the Foundation's $1,000 = $2,000 to the recipient organization.

Local organizations are only eligible to receive a maximum of $2,000 from the matching gift program. This limit can be met in multiple gifts from Rotarians desiring to support the same organization.

Matching Gift Deadline:

Matching Gifts will be accepted from Rotarians at any time. All matching grants are paid out in the Spring and in the Fall.

Download the Matching Gift Application document: Matching Gift Application.doc.

Send the completed application to:

RB Rotary Foundation
PO Box 28005
San Diego, CA 92198-0005

Twice a year the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation grants funds to selected local qualified organizations and individuals who need startup capital or financial help. Qualified organizations and individuals who accept the invitation work with the Foundation to develop a grant proposal. All Rotary Club Members are welcome to personally submit recommendations to the Foundation for projects which they feel are needed in the community. Each application is treated as a one time request and not as an ongoing revenue source for the applicant.

The Foundation Board will consider the following issues before approving grants:

•  Is the group well administered and able to provide the services needed?
•  Do the group's services meet both short and long term objectives of the Foundation with continuing value to the community?
•  Does the group maintain accountability of proceeds received to ensure that the funds granted will be used for the avowed purpose?

Download the Grant Guidelines document: GrantGuidelines.doc.

Download the Grant Application document: GrantApplication.doc.

On July 25, 1978, the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club founded the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation, Inc., with the specific purpose, as stated in the Articles of Incorporation, "...to operate a foundation exclusively for charitable, cultural, scientific, civic, health and or educational purposes, primarily for the local community."

The Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation is committed to supporting local projects including, (but not limited to) youth, seniors and the Rancho Bernardo community. Rotary International Foundation, on the other hand, which receives strong financial support from our club members, serves the needs of the international community. Both foundations serve worthy purposes.

The mission of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation is to provide a vehicle for tax deductible gifts to carry out the spirit of Rotary by providing for increased humanitarian benefits in the area chartered to the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club.

The Foundation shall provide members of the club and others with opportunities and inspiration for their participation in fulfillment of this mission.

The Foundation shall work to enhance the quality of life in the club's service area, and to bring to the members of Rotary the joy of helping to achieve this purpose.

All Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club members are also members of the Foundation.

An annual meeting of the members is held in the second calendar quarter after fifteen days notice. Special meetings of the members may also be called by the President, after proper notice. In order to meet minimum quorum requirements, a minimum of 20 members must be represented.

1. You can experience the immediate gratification of knowing you are making a difference by helping to make our community a better place to work, live and raise a family.
2. You can personally see how your dollars are being put to work.
3. You can, in some instances, specify how you would like your gift to be used.
4. 100% of you gift goes to its intended purpose.
5. Your gift is used locally, influencing the welfare of the area where you live and work.
6. You can provide a voice in determining support for your special projects, by appearing before the Foundation Grants Committee, or the Board of Trustees to report on community needs.
7. You may serve on Foundation committees and help guide the Foundation in program development and charitable undertakings.
8. Your contributions to the Permanent Endowment Fund will help elevate the Foundation to a level where it will be capable of underwriting major community needs and responding to emergencies.

The Foundation Board of Trustees is charged with responsibility to manage and monitor all foundation a) fund raising efforts, b) giving programs and other activities.

Establishing the Foundation was a major step to coordinate and strengthen Rotary's objective of "Service Above Self." By maintaining a cooperative and international program and working in harmony with the Rotary Club leaders, the Foundation can:

1. Provide information to members and others as to how they too can benefit financially from special provisions available in the income tax code for charitable giving.
2. Provide for tax deductible contributions.
3. Study carefully all requests for funds to assure that grants are made only to organizations which: a) are well administered, b) provide needed services, c) maintain accountability of the proceeds received, and d) will be of continuing value to the community.
4. Carefully administer the funds to provide maximum benefit for the charitable purposes intended.
5. Encourage long range giving programs, which will permit support of major needs in the future, as well as to develop income earnings resources to assist in providing for current project needs.
6. Coordinate gifts with Rotary Club activities, and with other community organizations, to avoid duplication.
7. Bring greater recognition to the Rotary Club, its officers, directors and members.

Anyone, Rotarian or not, may contribute to the Club Foundation. Donations take many forms, In some cases, gifts can be designated for specific purposes. Please contact the Club Foundation for more information.

• Continuing education scholarships for local high school students. Funds for this program come from specific club activities and the income received from certain endowed funds received from individual donors for this purpose.
• Boy & Girl Scouts
• Clean Foundation
• North County Campus Life
• Rancho Bernardo High School Grad Nite
• Boys and Girls Club of Rancho Bernardo
• High School 4-Way Speech Contest
• Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
• Interact Club, Rancho Bernardo High School

• Rancho Bernardo Senior Services
• Josyln Senior Center
• Elizabeth Hospice

• Blue Sky Reserve
• Poway Center For The Performing Arts
• Bum Institute
• Rancho Bernardo Spirit of the 4th
• Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
• Rancho Bernardo Public Library Building Fund

The Foundation is organized under a separate charter from the Rotary club to qualify as a tax exempt organization under IRS Code 501 c(3). This provides the advantage of tax exemption for activities of the Foundation. Consequently, all contributions to the Foundation are fully tax deductible.

The Board of Trustees is comprised of Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club members, elected by the members at the annual meeting, plus the current President of the Rotary Club, as an ex-officio member. Elected members serve terms of three years, for fiscal years starting July 1. Terms are selected so that approximately one third are elected each year. The board may fill vacancies by appointment. Bylaws limit the board to a maximum of eleven members.

Officers are elected by the Foundation Board Members and serve one year terms.

The Treasurer prepares monthly financial reports of the activities of the Foundation, making them available to the members of the Club upon request. The annual report is reviewed by a CPA firm, and is available to the members upon request.