What We Value

Rotary was founded on principles that remain at the organization's heart today. These principles reflect our core values — integrity, diversity, service, leadership, fellowship, or friendship. Our core values emerge as themes in our guiding principles.

Areas of Focus

The causes we target to maximize our impact are called our areas of focus. Our most successful and sustainable projects and activities fall within these areas. Through global grants and other resources, we help clubs focus their service efforts in the following areas:

Peacebuilding & Conflict Prevention

Supporting Environment

Disease Prevent & Treatment

Water Sanitation & Hygiene

Community Economic Development

Maternal & Child Health

Basic Education & Literacy 

Avenues of Service

  • We channel our commitment to service through the 5 Avenues of Service, the foundation of club activity.

  • Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. Strong relationships and an active membership development plan anchor a thriving club.

  • Vocational Service calls on all Rotarians to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society.

  • Community Service encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life of people in their communities and to serve the public interest.

  • International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, using local member expertise to build long-term partnerships for sustainable projects, seeking service partners abroad, and more.

  • Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs such as Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotary Youth Exchange.