Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Rotary Club of Charlottetown

The Rotary Club of Charlottetown is a long‑standing Rotary club based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, founded in 1917. As part of the global Rotary network, the club mobilizes volunteers and fundraising activities to support a wide range of community and international initiatives across the Island and beyond.

The club plays a direct funding role by redistributing money raised through Rotary Radio Bingo PEI and other fundraisers back into the community. A key mechanism is its project grant program for community organizations: funds from Rotary Radio Bingo are used to offer project grants to eligible Island organizations, with periodic calls for applications and publicized deadlines. These grants help support charitable, educational, health, and community development projects across Prince Edward Island.

In addition to project grants, the club provides educational funding through the STRIVE Scholarship Program. STRIVE targets Grade 12 students who demonstrate significant improvement in their senior year, offering an entry scholarship—valued at up to $1,500—to support tuition at universities, colleges such as UPEI and Holland College, or approved post‑secondary training programs of at least 20 weeks. Over the years, thousands of dollars have been awarded to local high school students.

While the club is member‑driven, its funding and in‑kind support are directed to a variety of beneficiaries: community organizations across Prince Edward Island, youth through scholarships and Rotary Youth Parliament, health and social programs such as dialysis transportation and food hampers, breakfast programs in local schools, and international humanitarian projects. The project grants and scholarship funding complement substantial volunteer efforts, such as sponsoring meals at the Upper Room Soup Kitchen.

Rotary Radio Bingo PEI, operated under license from the Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission, is a major recurring fundraising vehicle. All proceeds are designated "for the good of our communities" and are managed by the club in line with Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self.” Funds are then allocated through structured programs like the project grants and STRIVE Scholarship, as well as targeted support to partner initiatives such as Easter Seals PEI and literacy projects.

Overall, the Rotary Club of Charlottetown functions as a community‑based grantmaker and scholarship provider, channeling gaming and fundraising revenues into financial support for Island organizations and students, and reinforcing this with hands‑on volunteer service.