Overview

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 112 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

  • Promote peace
  • Fight disease
  • Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
  • Save mothers and children
  • Support education
  • Grow local economies

Overview

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

  • Promote peace
  • Fight disease
  • Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
  • Save mothers and children
  • Support education
  • Grow local economies

Rotary Club of Washington DC

The Rotary Club of Washington, DC was founded July 1912 – globally, the 46th Rotary Club to be established following the founding of the very first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905.

Today, as the first Rotary Club established in our nation’s capital—Rotary Club of Washington, DC—meets every Wednesday over lunch, 12:30-1:30 p.m., at the prestigious University Club, 1135 16th St. NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC. Our diverse club has about 140 members. Our reach is global but is intimately local.  Our brand mantra “Transforming Lives Through Service” represents our hands-on commitment to change the world, one person, one family, one community, at a time.  To learn more about our members and how to become a member, visit out MEMBERSHIP page.  Below is a sampling of a few of the local projects in which we are involved…

  • Grate Patrol – Attend, publicize and coordinate the Club’s participation in the Salvation Army Grate Patrol. The Grate Patrol Homeless Outreach Program brings an evening meal and the opportunity for professional help to the homeless on the streets of Washington, DC. Members volunteer with twice a month with our Rotaract Club.

  • Trees for the Capital – Attend, publicize and coordinate tree plantings with the National Park Service to recognize weekly speakers and special occasions. We host tree planting ceremonies 1-2 times per year on the Tidal Basin or in Farragut Park in Northwest.

  • Walter Reed Bingo – The Club’s manages a bingo game monthly at Walter Reed National Military Hospital in Bethesda for military veterans and their families. The club has been hosting this event since World War II.

Foundation Special Project
Grants of $20,000

Foundation Special Project Grants of $20,000 supporting larger projects that demonstrate long-term sustainability and impact and offer opportunities for Rotary members to volunteer and raise the profile of the organization and Rotary in the DC community.

Service Grants

Consistent with The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC’s International Service Committee (ISC) identifies projects, contributes to funding, and oversees and reports on the completion of projects located around the world.

The ISC funds and oversees international humanitarian projects that align with The Rotary Foundation’s mission of advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Recent projects have been selected from Rotary’s six Areas of Focus — maternal and child health, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, peace and conflict prevention/resolution, and economic and community development.

Types of Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Washington, D.C. helps to select World Peace Fellowship and Global Grant (formerly Ambassadorial) Scholars for our Rotary District, District 7620.

Applications for the World Peace Fellowships can be found on Rotary International’s website. The deadline to submit an application to our club for a 2024-2025 Peace Fellowships is May 31.  Applications for the Global Grant Scholarships can be found on the 7620 District website (www.rotary7620.org).

Please contact Mr. Octavian Ionici at oionici@gmail.com for more information.

Dictionary Projects

The Rotary Club of Washington DC has been an active participant in The Dictionary Project for more than 10 years, providing over 48,900 dictionaries to students in the District of Columbia. We appreciate the dedication of the Washington DC Rotarians and their years of service. By giving students their own personal dictionary, members are providing the building block for a greater culture of literacy in the community.