At our April 26 Meeting, Allan and Polly Cady were presented with recognition materials from The Rotary Foundation.  Newer members may not have understood the significance of the presentation which was handled by our club's Foundation Chair, Chuck Flint, and the Cady's good friend from Yuma Rotary , Mark Hansberger.
 
Having reached over $10,000 with their lifetime giving, not including transferred recognition points,  to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund, Polio Plus Fund or one or more approved global grants, Allan and Polly have achieved the first level of Major Donor recognition.  The crystal on the right and the bottom pin in the photo are given to donors who have reached this level of giving.
 
 
Allan and Polly were also welcomed into the Bequest Society, as having made a level 4 commitment in their estate plans to leave a legacy to The Rotary Foundation.  The top pin and the crystal on the left were the gifts they received for making this significant commitment.   
 
Mesa West Rotary has an unusually high percentage of members who are major donors, and Allan and Polly have now joined that prestigious group.  
 
As Rotarians, we often get caught up in the work of our local club.   When that is our primary focus, it is easy to forget that we are part of a much larger organization that is able to support projects all over the world, effecting positive change, because of the generosity of donors to The Rotary Foundation.  An occasion celebrating that generosity from two of our own members is a good time to review the various levels of TRF individual donor recognition:
 
  • Sustaining Member - personally contributes $100 or more each Rotary year to the Annual Fund.  These donations count toward Paul Harris Fellow, Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society, and Major Donor recognition.
  • Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given to anyone who contributes (or in whose name is contributed, using Foundation recognition points) a gift of $1,000 or more cumulatively to the Annual Fund, the Polio Plus Fund, or an approved global grant.  Recognition consists of a certificate and a pin.
  • Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given at subsequent $1,000 levels of cash contributions and transferred Foundation recognition points.  Recognition consists of a pin set with additional stones corresponding to the level of the recipient's recognition amount.
    • Level 1 - $2,000 to $2,999 - one sapphire
    • Level 2 - $3,000 to $3,999 - two sapphires
    • Level 3 - $4,000 to $4,999 - three sapphires
    • Level 4 - $5,000 to $5,999 - four sapphires
    • Level 5 - $6,000 to $6,999 - five sapphires
    • Level 6 - $7,000 to $7,999 - one ruby
    • Level 7 - $8,000 to $8,999 - two rubies
    • Level 8 - $9,000 to $9,999 - three rubies
  • Paul Harris Society recognizes individuals who choose to contribute $1,000 or more each Rotary year to the Annual Fund, the Polio Plus Fund, or an approved global grant.  Members who give at this level receive a chevron-style medalion to be worn behind a Rotary or Paul Harris recognition pin.
  • Major Donor recognition is given when individuals or couples whose combined personal contributions to The Rotary Foundation(not transferred recognition points) have reached $10,000, regardless of the gift designation.  Major donors receive a crystal recognition piece and pin(s) commemorating their gift at each new recognition level.
    • Level 1 - $10,000 to $24,999
    • Level 2 - $25,000 to $49,999
    • Level 3 - $50,000 to $99,999
    • Level 4 - $100,000 to $249,999
  • Arch Klumph Society - Donors who contribute $250,000 or more become members of the Arch Klumph Society.  Portraits, biographies, and, in some cases, video clips are housed in the digital Arch Klumph Gallery on the 17th Floor of the Rotary International World Headquarters.  Another digital gallery travels to Rotary events around the world.   Members receive lapel pins and pendants, signed certificates, and invitations to the society's exclusive events, held worldwide.  New members are invited to a special induction ceremony. 
    • Trustees Circle - $250,000 to $499,999
    • Chair's Circle - $500,000 to $999,999
    • Foundation Circle - $1 million to $2,499,000
    • Platinum Trustees Circle -  $2.5 million to $4,999,999
    • Platinum Chair's Circle - $5 million to $9,999,999
    • Platinum Foundation Circle - $10 million and above
  • Benefactor - someone who informs The Rotary Foundation in writing that they have made a provision in their estate plan for the Foundation or who makes an outright gift of $1,000 or more to the Endowment Fund.  Benefactors receive a certificate and insignia to be worn with a Rotary or Paul Harris Fellow pin.  
  • Bequest Society - couples or individuals who have made commitments in their estate plans totaling $10,000 or more.  Donors may elect to receive an engraved piece and a pin commemorating the commitment at each new recognition level.  
    • Level 1 - $10,000 to $24,999
    • Level 2 - $25,000 to $49,999
    • Level 3 - $50,000 to $99,999
    • Level 4 - $100,000 to $249,999
    • Level 5 - $250,000 to $499,999
    • Level 6 - $500,000 to $999,999
    • Level 7 - $1 million to $2,499,999
    • Level 8 - $2.5 million to $4,999,999
    • Level 9 - $5 million to $9,999,999
    • Level 10 - $10 million and above.