Rotary Global Grant (District 5960)

    The Rotary Global Grant funds one year of graduate study abroad in areas related to Rotary’s six areas of focus. Applicants attending St. Olaf College may apply through Rotary District 5960. If an applicant has a home address outside of District 5960 (southeastern MN and part of Western Wisconsin), they may also apply through their home district’s Rotary Center. Applicants who wish to apply through their home district should ensure that there is a global grant offered through their home district (not all Rotary Districts offer the Global Grant).

    Initial Deadline: Fall (usually October); early applications are encouraged.
    St. Olaf Contact: Doug Casson (casson), Co-Director of External Fellowships and Scholarships or Bryan Shealer (shealer), Sr. Associate Director in the Piper Center for Vocation and Career.
    Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus

    Grants must relate to at least one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus, listed below. For more details, please see the Areas of Focus Policy Statements, available on the Rotary website. The areas of focus are:

    • Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
    • Disease prevention and treatment
    • Water and sanitation
    • Maternal and child health
    • Basic education and literacy
    • Economic and community development
    • Environment

    Eligibility:

    Typically seniors or alumni intending to begin study the following fall or spring (after graduation).  Anyone who will have obtained a bachelor’s degree by the time they begin the grant period is eligible to apply.  U.S Citizens and International Students are eligible.

    Global grants must relate to one or more of the seven areas of Rotary focus, have a long-term impact, and must be for a graduate-level program.
    Academic studies MUST be at an accredited university outside of the United States and U.S. Territories. Students can be admitted to the institution already or have a reasonable expectation of admission. (i.e. you don’t have to be admitted to the university program to apply for the grant but you should ensure that you meet the admissions requirements.)
    There must be at least one Rotary Club in the country of study. (Find A Club Search)

    Criteria for Selection:

    Applications are judged on the following:

    • Compelling rationale for the desired program of study
    • Qualifications that align with future goals
    • Clarity in written and oral communication

    Application Procedure:

    Please see the Rotary website for specific applications details.  After an applicant submits their final application to the Rotary Club, there will be an initial review of the applicant’s materials. The applicant may be given feedback and an opportunity to revise their application materials (note: feedback is not guaranteed and depends on the number of applicants in the pool). Once the application is finalized, the application will be submitted by the Club on the applicant’s behalf to the District. Following this submission, the applicant may be asked to interview with the District. Typically one applicant is chosen by the District as the recipient of the award.

    Award Benefits:

    A global grant’s financing is $35,000. Global Grant Fellowships (Scholarship) fund studies for a period of one to four academic years in graduate-level programs. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, room and board, books, travel expenses, visas, inoculations, as well as any humanitarian projects the club or district has planned that relate to the scholar’s studies.