An external review of Programs of Scale is planned for January to June 2026, to help Rotary build on the success of the initiative that provides members with resources to implement large-scale, high-impact programs.

This won’t affect the current 2026 application and award cycle, but the timeline means there won’t be a 2027 application cycle. As such, the program will not be accepting concept notes in August 2026.

The Board of Trustees, which approved the review in April, will receive the final findings and recommendations in October 2026. Trustees will use the results to decide on any changes to the Programs of Scale grant offerings and to:

• Find ways to improve the application process
• Strengthen the Foundation’s grant processes and offerings
• Support award recipients’ ability to scale projects beyond the Foundation’s investment

Since the first US$2 million Programs of Scale grant was awarded in 2021, the initiative has shown very positive results. The review is expected to offer actionable insights about the specific reasons for that.

This review means that clubs and districts planning to apply for a future Programs of Scale award will have more time to strengthen their applications by building relationships with potential partners, gathering evidence supporting their intended outcomes, and using global grants to implement scalable project models.

We expect to share the findings of this review so members will have a greater ability to design effective service projects and make an even bigger impact in the future.

If you have questions about additional grant opportunities, write to grants@rotary.org.

If you have questions about Programs of Scale, write to programsofscale@rotary.org.