Through a will or trust
Many donors choose to name RGHF as a beneficiary in their will or living trust.
Why this matters
A fellowship sustained by its members
RGHF has no paid staff and receives no funding from Rotary International. Every record preserved, every essay written, and every historian supported happens because volunteers — and the people who support them — decided Rotary’s story was worth keeping.
A legacy gift is a way to extend that decision beyond your own involvement with the Fellowship. Whether it’s a gift you arrange now that takes effect later, or a gift made today in someone’s memory, it helps make sure the archive is still here for the Rotarians who come after us.
Start here
Three ways to give
Discuss a legacy gift
A gift arranged now — through your will, a beneficiary designation, or another plan — that supports RGHF’s work when the time comes. We’re glad to talk through what that could look like for you.
Discuss a legacy gift →Make a memorial or honorary gift
Recognize a Rotarian — someone you’ve lost, or someone whose service you want to celebrate — by supporting the preservation of Rotary’s history in their name.
Make a memorial or honorary gift →Ask about including RGHF in your estate plans
Still exploring your options, or just starting the conversation with your attorney or financial advisor? We’re happy to answer questions, with no obligation.
Ask how to include RGHF →What it supports
What a legacy gift makes possible
Preserving records before they’re lost
Club histories, photographs, and firsthand accounts don’t preserve themselves — legacy gifts help RGHF keep gathering and safeguarding them before they disappear.
Keeping the History Learning Center open
RGHF’s History Learning Center, open since 2000, gives Rotarians, Rotaractors, and researchers free access to Rotary’s founders, philosophy, and past.
Supporting our volunteer historians
RGHF has no paid staff. Every essay and corrected date is the work of volunteers who give their evenings, and often their retirements, to this fellowship.
Memorial & honorary gifts
A personal way to mark someone’s connection to Rotary
A memorial or honorary gift is a simple, personal way to mark someone’s connection to Rotary. You might give in memory of a Rotarian who has passed, or in honor of one still serving — a mentor, a longtime club member, a friend.
If you’d like, we can let the person you’re honoring — or their family — know a gift has been made in their name, in whatever way feels right to you. We’re glad to talk through how you’d like it handled; there’s no fixed program or public listing, just a conversation with our archive team.
Planning ahead
Ways to plan a gift
There’s more than one way to include RGHF in your future plans. These are the most common; your attorney or financial advisor can help you decide what fits your situation.
Through a beneficiary designation
Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and some investment accounts let you name a beneficiary directly, often without changing your will at all.
Through a gift of appreciated assets
Securities, real estate, or other property can sometimes be given in ways that benefit both RGHF and your own plans.
We’re not able to offer legal or tax advice, and nothing on this page should be treated as such — but we’re glad to answer questions about RGHF itself and point you toward the right conversation with your own advisor.
Questions people ask
Before you reach out
Is RGHF able to accept these kinds of gifts?
[ CONFIRM RGHF’S CURRENT TAX-EXEMPT / ENTITY STATUS BEFORE PUBLISHING — see the build handoff, Open Item 1. Do not guess at a tax-deductibility claim. ]
Do I need to decide on an amount right now?
No. Most legacy gifts are planned well before they ever take effect, and most donors are able to change their plans later if their circumstances change.
Will RGHF handle the legal paperwork?
No — that’s between you and your attorney or financial advisor. We’re happy to talk through what you’re considering, but we don’t draft or review legal documents.
Who do I talk to?
Use the form below, or reach out directly — we’ll connect you with the right person on RGHF’s archive team.
Legacy giving inquiry
Let’s talk it through.
Tell us a little about what you’re considering. A member of RGHF’s archive team will be in touch within a few business days — there’s no obligation, and nothing is finalized until you’re ready.
One more thing
Every gift helps, at any stage
RGHF is volunteer-run and receives no funding from Rotary International. Every gift — a conversation about your future plans, a memorial gift made today, or a name added to a beneficiary form — helps make sure Rotary’s story is still being told a hundred years from now.