The Rotary Foundation was established by Rotary International to receive and administer funds received as gifts to Rotary for the promotion of its objectives. With the death of Paul Harris, the Founder of Rotary, the Foundation received many donations in his memory. The foundation has administered this Trust in the promotion of projects directed toward the advancement of International understanding and goodwill.

In 1982-1983 the Foundation granted more than 1,300 scholarships for study in foreign countries. This involved more than 80 Rotary countries and involved expenditure of over $14 million U.S.

As one means of gaining additional contributions, the Foundation created the Paul Harris Fellowships. Any person who donates, or in whose name $1,000 (U.S.) or more is donated, is made a Paul Harris Fellow, with suitable certificate, medal and lapel pin. This led to the practice in some Rotary Clubs of honouring certain members by donating $1,000 to the Foundation in their name. This practice has been followed in the Rotary Club of Halifax and, in consequence, we now have 19 living Paul Harris Fellows in the Club. In addition 15 of our former members (all but three of whom are deceased) were made Paul Harris Fellows by our club.

Yet another development in recent years has been the practice of awarding Paul Harris Fellowships to non-Rotarians who have provided outstanding service within the community. 7 such awards have been made by our club.

Taking everything together, the total number of Paul Harris Fellowships awarded by our club amounts to 41.

By November 2002, the total number of Paul Harris Fellows worldwide had increased to 818,268, and appears to be increasing at the rate of approximately 3,000 per month.