Simply put, a Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, US$1000 to The Rotary Foundation.
Paul Harris Fellow recognition is named in honour of the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris. The recognition is marked by the presentation of a Paul Harris pin and citation. The importance? The money donated is used to fund the powerful work of this global philanthropy organisation.
But what about the Paul Harris Award? Technically, there is no such thing! It is often mistakenly termed an award. Confused? Read on!
In some cultures, people proudly wear their Paul Harris pins, or other donor regalia, to demonstrate their level of giving to the Foundation.
In many cultures, including Australia, people wear their personal giving pin, but also individual donors, clubs, businesses or other organisations use their donation to name and recognise others. This is a Rotary tradition of supporting the Foundation by honouring others. Perhaps where the term “award” mistakenly comes into play!
The recognition bestowed in this way is considered an honour and testament to the recipient. In this context, is not just an acknowledgement of donation to The Rotary Foundation, it is a recognition of a person who advances the ideals and causes of Rotary. A person who demonstrates the shared purpose, objectives and mission of The Rotary Foundation to build world understanding and peace. This is accompanied by a fair degree of ceremony and celebration. The recognition is a surprise to the recipient, with family members, friends or associates often covertly invited to witness the presentation and citation, sharing in this special occasion. It is a very humbling experience to be recognised in this way.
When a US$1000 donation is made, the donor is assigned 1000 credits. If a Rotary Club is the donor, the Club is assigned the credits. If it is a personal donation, the individual is assigned the credits. The individual will be sent a Paul Harris pin recognising the donation. Successive donations of US$1000 accrue more credits, until a level of US$9000 Paul Harris recognitions is reached. Beyond this there are higher tiers of donor recognition such as Major Donor levels, Bequest Society, and membership to the Arch Klumph Society, the highest tier of donors, at US$250,000. The pins sent to donors reflect the level of giving. In the case of a Rotary Club, a business or an organization, the credits accumulate.
This goes to explaining the “jewels” in the Paul Harris pin. One Paul Harris Fellow recognition, a US$1000 donation, is reflected by a plain Paul Harris pin. Multiples of US$1000 donations are recognised with successive multiple blue stone pins, known as a sapphire pin, up to US$6000 or Each US$1000 is recognized by a replacement pin, so a sapphire pin with 5 blue stones indicates giving of US$6000. Red stone, or ruby pins reflect giving of US$7000 to US$9000 …… a Paul Harris pin with 3 “rubies”
The sole purpose of donation is to fund The Rotary Foundation to do good in the world.
The Rotary Club of Berwick appoints a Paul Harris Fellow nominating committee that is formed each year, comprised of Past Presidents – a chairperson and usually two others, to make or evaluate nomination of people from within Rotary or the community. The committee is required to investigate the background of the nominee and to determine whether the information obtained aligns with Rotary values. The club can then use the accumulated credits to name and recognise the nominee as a Paul Harris Fellow.
An individual who has accumulated donation credits can also personally nominate a Paul Harris Fellow independently of the Club.
The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation is Rotary International’s global philanthropy organisation, transforming gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. The Rotary Foundation is Rotary’s charity operated by and on behalf of Rotary members, attaining a Charity Navigator 4 star 100% rating for 16 consecutive years. Donations are tax deductible
The purpose of any donation to fund The Rotary Foundation is to do good in the world by advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
The money donated becomes available for use in the form of grants that are matched by clubs or districts giving a multiplication factor – aka more bang for your buck!
Our club is currently making application for a district grant to spend in our community. The way it works is we make application following governance criteria, providing half the value of the available grant. If the grant is approved, the magic is our that money will be matched with money that was donated to the Rotary Foundation. Our dollars can be further multiplied if we combine with other clubs! We are planning application for a global grant with the potential of supporting a school in Timor Leste. Last year we combined funding resources with the Rotary Club of Pakenham’s initiative to obtain a Rotary Foundation grant to fund a shipping container filled with goods to be distributed to places of great need in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwee. A powerful multiplier effect.
Ways to give…….
Our Club giving is historically determined by our annual budget, based on estimated income and reserve funds. It always takes priority.
Our personal giving is determined by you! Rotary members and members of the community can and are encouraged to give. Many of our members donate regularly, being members of the Paul Harris Society and the Centurion program. Some of our members are major donors and some also have a bequest noted in their wills. Many of our families and friends are donors.
Business and other organisations donate too. Many high-profile partnerships have been forged, an example being the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s longstanding pledge to match every Rotary dollar donated to the End Polio Campaign with two dollars.
Anyone can donate directly. It’s as simple as clicking here:
Or contact our club Rotary Foundation director, Tim Moore, tim@cinet.com.au
One of the simplest ways for Rotary members to give is to become a Centurion program member. This is an annual, voluntary, tax deductible membership of AUD$100 and can be effected for far less than the cost of a coffee a week, by filling and submitting an application form …. see Tim!
For more information go to:
Hopefully you now understand what a PHF is!
