GRANTS & AWARDS
A local community garden Rotary Club of Summit County grant recipient
Scholarship Information
We are dedicated to giving back to our community in many ways throughout each year, from student excellence to poetry and short story contests, to the Hero award, and professional excellence awards. Information about those programs can be found below.
Scholarships: We also have a strong and enduring commitment to education -- and our mission is to facilitate pathways to higher education for aspiring Summit County learners through financial support and personal connection.
Local Grants: We are also dedicated to providing support to dozens of local organizations in their quest to provide services to our communities through our local grants process, which is detailed below.
Local Writing Contests: To learn more about our writing contests that offer cash prizes, please go to our Literacy page and scroll down to SHORT STORY AND POETRY CONTESTS.
Recent scholarships awarded
In 2025, Rotary gave $55,000 in scholarships to 22 local students studying at colleges of their choosing and 12 scholarships to students studying at CMC.
For more information:
Interested students apply through their respective high schools using a scholarship portal managed by The Summit Foundation or through the Colorado Mountain College scholarship portal.
Mission:
The mission of the Summit County Rotary Scholarship Committee is to facilitate pathways to post-secondary education for aspiring Summit County learners through financial support and personal connection.
Vision:
Together, we work towards the day when every local student is educationally equipped to give back to their community.
Scholarships are made available through the fund-raising efforts of local Rotarians. Rotarians believe in the words of Nelson Mandela, who said: Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president.
Scholarships offered:
The Rotary Club of Summit County's Scholarship Committee works with The Summit Foundation to offer scholarships to rising college Freshman, sophomores and juniors. All recipients graduated from Summit County high schools. We also work with the Colorado Mountain College Charitable Fund to award scholarships to degree seeking students at Colorado Mountain College studying at the Breckenridge and Dillon campuses.
While individual criteria differs, scholarships generally target students who demonstrate service and leadership. Specific scholarships are also available for students who are the first in their family to attend college, for students with special interest in Technical fields, and for students who have shown involvement in Rotary activities. The committee partners with The Summit Daily News on one named scholarship that honors former Summit Daily publisher and Rotarian Meg Boyer and targets female students who plan to pursue journalism or business degrees.
These scholarships are made available through the fund-raising efforts of local Rotarians. Rotarians believe in the words of Nelson Mandela, who said: Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president.
Policies & Procedures for Rotary Local
Grant Submittal
Grant Submittal
2025 General Policy:
The Rotary Club of Summit County is a service Club committed to serving others. Donations and contributions will be made according to the following guidelines and within the limits of the Club’s budget and finances. As a part of the budgeting process, the Board of Directors will determine the amount of funds available during the coming year for donations and contributions to worthy organizations.
Qualifications:
Any organization may request a monetary contribution. Rotary Local Grants are designed to benefit residents and the community of Summit County. The following will be considered when evaluating the merits and amount of any contribution:
Contributions will not be made to the following:
- Support for government entities is not provided unless restricted to a specific project (i.e., youth programs or flu shots)
- Projects without demonstrated need
- Projects without long-term benefit
- Projects that provide only publicity to the Club.
- Event Sponsorship
- Political organizations
- Direct support to individuals
- Travel expenses, including airfare for individuals/groups for trips outside Summit County.
- Organizations without a defined objective, purpose, and goal.
- Grants to religious organizations are considered for specific programs with no religious requirement or proselytization (i.e., Adult Day program located in a church)
Contributions may be requested:
- To support Summit County community projects only.
- For local educational programs.
- To assist locals in hardship and disaster cases.
- Based on local needs.
- Based on the number of local individuals who benefit.
- Based on benefit to our local community.
Request Evaluation:
Recommendations for funding will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Type of organization
- Need, project merits
- Long term benefits
- Number of persons benefited
- Other possible support
- One time contributions vs on-going support
- Past contributions to organizations
- Possibility of Rotary Participation
- Reputation and stability of the requesting organization
- Rotary recognition
- Type of organization
- Need, project merits
- Long term benefits
- Number of persons benefited
- Other possible support
- One time contributions vs on-going support
- Past contributions to organizations
- Possibility of Rotary Participation
- Reputation and stability of the requesting organization
- Rotary recognition
Procedures:
1.) Organizations wishing monetary contributions from the Club must submit all requests in writing following the guidelines set forth in the “Rotary Local Grants” criteria.
2.) The Local Grants Committee will review the applications on a calendar quarter basis in March, June, September, and December. Applications shall be submitted by the 1st day of the review month to be considered for funding.
3.) The Local Grants Chairman will notify the organization of the award or denial. If the request is approved, the Rotary Local Grants Committee will request a signed contract to ensure that the funding is used as stated in the application.
4.) Once the signed contract is received back to the Local Grants Chairman, the funds will be released.
5.) A brief report will be required from grant recipients on the impact of the grant, people served and outcomes of the program.
2.) The Local Grants Committee will review the applications on a calendar quarter basis in March, June, September, and December. Applications shall be submitted by the 1st day of the review month to be considered for funding.
3.) The Local Grants Chairman will notify the organization of the award or denial. If the request is approved, the Rotary Local Grants Committee will request a signed contract to ensure that the funding is used as stated in the application.
4.) Once the signed contract is received back to the Local Grants Chairman, the funds will be released.
5.) A brief report will be required from grant recipients on the impact of the grant, people served and outcomes of the program.
The Local Grants Committee will comply with the above procedures, time frame, and schedules. However, if an applicant cannot complete the application within the described time schedule or far enough in advance of the date the funds are needed, efforts will be made to expedite the application through the process.
Only one application per organization will be considered per calendar year. Whether the organization's project is funded or not funded, the organization must wait until the next calendar year to submit another application.
Rotary Club of Summit County
Local Grant Application Format
Local Grant Application Format
Rotary Club of Summit County - Local Grant Application Format
All requests must be consistent with the following Rotary Club 4-way test:
- It is the truth?
- It is fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Please include the following information in your application:
- Name of Project:
- Organization requesting funds:
- Contact person:
- Address:
- Phone number(s)
- e-mail address:
- Brief description of project:
- Who and how many people will benefit:
- Time frame for project and completion:
- Total cost of project:
- Amount requested from Rotary:
- Other sources of funding:
- How do you plan to provide feedback to the Rotary Club?
- Possible recognition and benefit to the Rotary Club of Summit County:
Applications will be reviewed quarterly and shall be submitted on or before the 1st day of March, June, September, or December and at least 60 days before the date the funds are required. Decisions on funding applications will be made by the Committee and returned to the applicant in writing.
Please email applications to: Susan Juergensmeier
Local Grants Chair
