The Trust Fund In Action

Grants

The Grant Allocations Committee (GAC) is responsible for reviewing requests for the Club’s grants. The GAC reviews grant applications and makes the appropriate recommendations to the club's Board of Directors acting as Trustees of the Trust Fund. The maximum Grant request is typically $3,000. Quarterly grant application deadlines are the 15th of July, October, January and April. Please find the application on this page.

Youth Services

As one of the club's core missions, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers puts the Trust's funds to good use in the community through various youth services. For a more detailed look at all of these different types of services the club offers, see our Youth Services page.

Grant Allocations for Rotary Year 2025-2026

In the 2025-26 Year, The Rotary Club of Fort Myers Trust Fund has allocated over $45,000 to local non-profits, some of which are listed below.

Big Brothers Big Sisters – Laptops – $2,610
Edison-Ford Winter Estates – Digital History Program – $1,000
Hope Clubhouse – Multi Media Center Equipment – $3,273
Area Agency on Aging for SW Florida – Washer & Dryer – $1,400
Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough – Cash Register – $2,244
After the Rain – Beds & Dressers – $3,000
Calusa Water Keepers – Water Quality Tester – $3,398

The New Beginnings of SW Florida – Household items for 6 units – $2,945
Community Cooperative – Commercial Dishwasher – $4,861
Harry Chapin Food Bank – Insulated Tote Bags for Families – $3,000
St Martin de Porres Outreach Ministries – Nonperishable Items – $3,000
Valeries House – Materials for Grief Counseling Activities – $3,000
Lutheran Services Oasis Youth Center – Washer & Dryer – $2949
Sally J Pimental Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center – Wrap for Van – $3,335

Special Projects for Rotary Year 2025-2026

Community Literacy Center Uganda

The Rotary Club of Fort Myers is proud to announce it raised $50,000 to establish a Community Literacy & Skills Development Center in Buzibwera, Uganda. We are working with two organizations in Uganda who have an established presence, “10 18 Uganda” and “Touch the Slum”. Read more about it….

Harry Chapin’s Hunger in Action Center

The Rotary Club of Fort Myers was proud to support the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s new Hunger in Action Center by providing $25,000 for endcaps at the new facility. Read more about the new center…..

Coins for Altzheimer Reserch Trust (CART)

From the beginning, CART has been a novel fundraising program. Originally founded by Roger Ackerman, a Rotarian in Sumter, SC, members were encouraged to voluntarily empty their pockets and purses of change, or whatever amount they choose, at weekly Rotary meetings. While the name itself (CART) stands for “Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust,” as the organization grew, we also began accepting contributions of currency, checks and credit cards from Rotarians in clubs and districts all along the East Coast. To date, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers has raised over $8000 for CART! Learn more about CART…

Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Fort Myers scholarship opportunity is open to all Lee County High School students and Lee County residents, having a 3.0 GPA (unweighted) or higher, and currently attending any Florida college or university. The Scholarship Committee is responsible for reviewing requests for the Club’s scholarships and makes the appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors acting as Trustees of the Trust Fund. For the 2025-2026 Rotary year the club has awarded $17,000 in scholarships to deserving students! Learn more about our scholarship program…

Rotary Club of Fort Myers Year 2025-26 Charitable Giving!

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