Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland

What Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland does

Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (Rotary GB&I) is a UK-registered charitable non-profit and the regional arm of Rotary International, one of the world's largest humanitarian service organisations, founded globally in 1905. Headquartered at the Rotary Support Centre in Alcester, Warwickshire, with 80 employees, Rotary GB&I coordinates a federated network of more than 1,800 local Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland, organised into districts. Members — professional and community leaders — pay locally-set club dues and engage in volunteer service, while the organisation funds humanitarian work through donations channelled via The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Foundation United Kingdom (RFUK), and the Rotary GB&I Donations Trust, with Gift Aid reclaimed from HMRC.

Its core programme portfolio spans eight areas of focus: Promoting Peace, Fighting Disease, Providing Clean Water, Saving Mothers and Children, Supporting Education, Growing Local Economies, Protecting the Environment, and Ending Polio — the latter being Rotary's flagship cause since 1985, through which Rotary GB&I contributes to a global effort that has reduced polio cases by 99.9% and helped immunise nearly 3 billion children. Additional programmes include the Rotary Children's Fun Day (scaling to ~25,000 disadvantaged children in 2026), Rotary Young Citizen Awards (with Young Chef and Young Musician competitions), Peace Fellowships, Disaster Response & Recovery, and new initiatives such as Rotary Books4Home Impact Days (2026). Youth engagement is structured through Interact (ages 12–18), Rotaract (ages 18–30) and RotaKids.

The underlying technology is standard, non-proprietary membership and operations infrastructure: the My Rotary portal, Rotary View template database, EventsAir event management software, MailChimp email, Google Analytics, and AWS hosting. There is no evidence of proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or differentiated platform architecture. The business model is a hybrid of recurring membership dues (set at club level) and donations/fundraising, with no commercial products sold externally. Distribution is community-led: members join via local clubs, the Club Finder tool, or new flexible formats (direct membership, e-clubs, passport clubs, cause-based clubs). Marketing spans the rotarygbi.org website, the monthly Rotary Digital Magazine, email, social media, Rotary Impact Days, the global Rotary International Convention, and the togetherTalks virtual event series.

Name

Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland

Legal name

Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland

Website

https://rotarygbi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland is the UK and Ireland regional arm of global non-profit Rotary International, coordinating 1,800+ local clubs whose members raise funds and deliver volunteer humanitarian programmes in youth development, polio eradication, disaster relief, and community service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Service Organization

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Humanitarian service
• Community volunteering
• Membership organization
• Charitable fundraising
• Youth development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alcester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Rotary clubs and districts collect membership dues from their members, which support local and regional Rotary operations and humanitarian projects.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds through donations from members and the public to support humanitarian projects, disaster relief, youth programs, and The Rotary Foundation.
3. The Rotary Foundation: Rotary Foundation United Kingdom (RFUK) and the Rotary GB&I Donations Trust process charitable contributions including Gift Aid reclaim from HMRC.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rotary GB&I is a non-profit humanitarian service organisation that delivers community volunteering and charitable programmes through a network of more than 1,800 local clubs across Great Britain and Ireland. Its core offerings include youth development programmes (Rotary Children's Fun Day, Young Citizen Awards with Young Chef and Young Musician competitions, Peace Fellowships), the End Polio Now eradication campaign, Disaster Response & Recovery, The Rotary Foundation grants, and engagement events such as Rotary Impact Days, the Rotary International Convention, and the togetherTalks virtual series.

Product overview

Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland operates as a humanitarian service organisation offering a portfolio of community-focused programmes and membership services. The core offerings include youth development initiatives (Rotary Children's Fun Day, Rotary Young Citizen Awards with Young Chef and Young Musician competitions, Peace Fellowships), volunteer engagement events (Rotary Impact Days, Rotary International Convention, togetherTalks virtual series), and humanitarian causes (End Polio Now, Disaster Response & Recovery). Supporting infrastructure includes The Rotary Foundation for charitable giving, the Rotary Foundation UK and Rotary GB&I Donations Trust for donation processing, and Rotary View for member data management. Members access services through the Club Finder tool and Rotary Digital Magazine (available in digital, audio, and PDF formats).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• End Polio Now: Global campaign to eradicate polio, Rotary's key humanitarian priority since 1985
• Purple4Polio
• Rotary Young Citizen Awards
• Rotary Young Chef
• Rotary Young Musician
• Rotary Children's Fun Day
• Rotary Christmas Toy Boxes
• Rotary Impact Days
• togetherTalks
• The Rotary Foundation
• Interact
• Rotaract
• RotaKids

Products and services

• Rotary Children's Fun Day Annual programme providing memorable experiences for disadvantaged and vulnerable children across Great Britain and Ireland, including theme park, zoo, seaside, theatre and school-based activities; participation is free for selected children.
• Rotary Young Citizen Awards Annual awards programme recognising social impact, volunteering and fundraising achievements of young people supported by local Rotary clubs, with associated Young Chef and Young Musician competitions.
• End Polio Now Global polio eradication initiative, Rotary's key humanitarian priority since 1985, delivered as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative alongside WHO, UNICEF and CDC, and supported via the Purple4Polio public awareness campaign.
• Disaster Response & Recovery Humanitarian assistance programme mobilising Rotary's global community in response to natural and human-made disasters in collaboration with project partners, including the Rotary Responds to Ukraine appeal.
• The Rotary Foundation Charitable arm of Rotary supporting humanitarian projects, scholarships, peacebuilding efforts and the Rotary Foundation UK (RFUK) plus the Rotary GB&I Donations Trust for processing member and public contributions with Gift Aid reclaim from HMRC.
• Peace Fellowships Rotary scholarship programme providing opportunities for individuals to study peace and conflict resolution at designated universities worldwide.
• Rotary Impact Days Annual volunteering event initiative broadening access to volunteering activities and new opportunities across Great Britain and Ireland.
• Rotary International Convention Annual international gathering bringing together thousands of volunteers from around the world for celebration and networking, hosted under Rotary International and accessed by GB&I members.
• togetherTalks Virtual conversation series featuring thought leaders from business, humanitarian interest and other fields, providing engagement opportunities for Rotary members and the wider public.
• Rotary Digital Magazine Monthly digital magazine covering Rotary news, features and member stories from across Great Britain and Ireland, available in digital, audio and PDF formats through rotarygbi.org and a dedicated audio magazine page.
• Club Finder Online search tool enabling prospective and existing members to locate their local Rotary club by geographic area across Great Britain and Ireland, supporting self-serve membership acquisition.
• Rotary GB&I Membership (Traditional, Direct, E-Club, Passport Club and Cause-Based Clubs) Membership offering for individuals across Great Britain and Ireland, available via traditional local clubs, Direct Membership for those unable to attend in person, E-Clubs and Passport Clubs for online participation, and cause-based clubs such as the Bipolar E-Club; locally set membership dues support club and district operations.
• Rotary Books4Home Impact Days Literacy initiative in which Rotary clubs and members collect children's books to present to local schools, enabling children to take a book home to keep and supporting literacy skills development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1985
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Kids in MindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with children's charity providing mental health and wellbeing support for children escaping domestic violence. Kids in Mind supports the Rotary Children's Fun Day initiative and the Christmas Toy Boxes appeal, helping reach disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
• The Rotary Foundation (TRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal charitable foundation of Rotary International that supports humanitarian projects worldwide. Rotary GB&I works closely with TRF to process donations and fund international service projects.
• Rotary Foundation United Kingdom (RFUK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based arm of The Rotary Foundation that processes charitable contributions including Gift Aid reclaim from HMRC for UK donors.
• Warm Welcome CampaignnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotary GB&I joined as Volunteer Partner to support community spaces offering warmth, company, and support to those feeling lonely or isolated.
• Bipolar UKnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support those affected by bipolar disorder, including the establishment of a dedicated Bipolar E-Club.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lions Clubs International: The closest peer to Rotary: a global membership-based service club organisation with local clubs, district structure, and signature humanitarian causes (e.g. vision, disaster relief). It competes directly with Rotary for members, donors, and volunteer attention in Great Britain and Ireland.
• Kiwanis International: International service club organisation structured around local chapters with a strong focus on youth and community service. Operates a comparable club-district model and overlapping cause areas, making it a direct competitor for civic-minded members and charitable giving.
• Soroptimist International: A global volunteer service organisation for women with local clubs delivering humanitarian, educational, and advocacy projects. Comparable club-based membership model and project delivery in GB&I communities, often targeting the same donor and volunteer pools as Rotary.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF UK: A major UK fundraising arm of a global children's organisation, focused on child welfare, immunisation, and humanitarian response. Comparable to Rotary GB&I in children's programmes (Children's Fun Day, Christmas Toy Boxes) and in polio/immunisation fundraising.
• Médecins Sans Frontières UK: The UK arm of a leading international humanitarian medical organisation, raising funds and advocating for emergency healthcare delivery. Comparable to Rotary GB&I in the Fighting Disease and emergency response cause areas, but operating at materially larger scale and with paid field staff.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): The umbrella body for the UK voluntary sector, representing and supporting charities and volunteer organisations. Comparable in that Rotary GB&I is a member of the broader UK voluntary ecosystem, but NCVO operates as a sector infrastructure body rather than a direct service deliverer.
• Royal Voluntary Service: A large UK volunteer-led charity that mobilises older volunteers into hospital and community service. Overlaps with Rotary GB&I in community volunteering and NHS/hospital support activity, but operates with paid staff and a broader institutional mandate.

Regional players

• Round Table Great Britain & Ireland: A UK and Ireland service club network for younger men, historically linked to Rotary, that runs community fundraising projects and charitable appeals. Comparable local-club service model but with a different demographic focus and primarily domestic footprint.
• 41 Club (Former Round Tablers): The UK & Ireland alumni association for former Round Table members, focused on fellowship and continued community service. Comparable to Rotary's fellowship and ongoing volunteer engagement for older members, sharing similar fundraising event formats.

Emerging players

• ShelterBox: A disaster response charity co-founded by Rotary, providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to families displaced by disaster and conflict. Directly comparable in the humanitarian/disaster response cause area, and operationally linked to Rotary GB&I's Disaster Response & Recovery programme.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RotaryGBI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxH8UVMuL0M-7ZNLJdZp5Ig
• Facebookfacebook.com/RotaryGBI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rotary-international-in-great-britain-&-ireland
• Instagraminstagram.com/rotarygbi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland