Local Foundation
In the late 1980s, the Rotary Club of Fairhope began to raise funds exclusively for philanthropy and charitable giving. In order to sequester those funds from annual club operations and lesser giving, the Fairhope Rotary Foundation was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable foundation. Donations to the foundation may qualify for tax-exempt status.
(It should be noted that the Fairhope Rotary does not offer tax advice. Circumstances, current law, and other factors come into play and you should consult your accounting professional for applicable laws that could impact your donation(s).)
Often referred to as the “club foundation” to distinguish it from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, this local foundation is administered by members who serve as trustees on its board. The club foundation has ties to the Rotary Club of Fairhope but is a legally independent entity under state and federal laws. Many of the charitable funds raised locally by Fairhope Rotarians are held in trust and administered by the club foundation.
Foundation Board
The board of trustees of the Fairhope Rotary Foundation is a legal entity separate and distinct from the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Fairhope. The board members serve as fiduciaries to hold and administer funds raised, donated, or bequeathed. The foundation started largely as a means of administering scholarship monies, but, beginning in 2010 under club president Ed Wall, the foundation was encouraged to build a permanent endowment that can benefit future generations in much the same way that the Endowment Fund (formerly known as the Permanent Fund) of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has grown into a highly respected and largely self-sustaining capital fund.
Current members of the Fairhope Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees:
President: Lee Turner
Vice President: Anil Vira
Secretary: Trinka Brabston
Treasurer: B. G. Hinds
Director at Large: Gene Brabston
Director at Large: Milin Vira
Ex Officio: Brian Lorenzato (Immediate Past President)
Ex Officio: Anil Vira (President)
Ex Officio: Adaina Biggs (President Elect)
Grant Requests
As a general rule, all requests for funds, including grant requests, must be initiated in writing through the Rotary Club of Fairhope, which may then choose to submit a request to the club foundation or to apply for a district grant or find funding from other sources as most appropriate.
Contact the Foundation
| Mailing | Fairhope Rotary Foundation P.O. Box 741 Fairhope, AL 36533-0741 |
| Legal | Fairhope Rotary Foundation ℅ Hartman, Blackmon & Kilgore, P.C. Certified Public Accountants P.O. Box 1469 Fairhope, AL 36533-1469 |
Foundation Facts
What is your nonprofit EIN or tax ID number?
63-1187030
I would like to make a memorial gift or designate the club foundation as a legatee in my estate. How do I do that?
Contact the CFO in writing, and we will work with you to provide your attorney or other party with the information needed and to recognize your gift if you so choose.
I want to make a donation to a specific project. How do I do that?
As a general rule of thumb, the rules governing nonprofit organizations strictly limit “predesignated” giving. To obtain the tax benefits of a donation, you may request that it go to an existing board-approved project, or it must be given to and administered by the Foundation with no strings attached. Your tax professional can work with you and the Foundation to maintain our fiduciary responsibilities and attempt to honor legitimate requests.
