The Establishment of a Global Organization 

The approximately 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and regions are the pillars of Rotary International. This umbrella organization primarily sees its mission as supporting the clubs in implementing their projects.

How Rotary is perceived worldwide depends on the activities of the individual clubs. The 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and regions are the backbone of Rotary International. This umbrella organization focuses mainly on supporting clubs in executing their projects. Clubs can rely on the legally independent Rotary Foundation, which provides grants for humanitarian projects upon request.

Clubs

Every Rotarian is a member of a club. All clubs, in turn, belong to the global association Rotary International (RI). Each club appoints its own officers and organizes its activities autonomously within the constitutional and statutory framework of Rotary International.

Districts

Rotary clubs are divided into around 530 districts worldwide, each with 50 to 80 clubs. In Germany, there are 15 districts. At the top of each district is a Governor, elected annually by the clubs, who acts as a representative of Rotary International. The Governor appoints the members of the District Council to assist with administrative tasks. While the Governor is nominated by the clubs in their district, the election occurs at the global Rotary Convention, where all clubs vote.

The Central Board (RI Board)

The 20-member Central Board (Board of Directors), consisting of the RI President, their successor, and the Secretary General as ex-officio members, meets quarterly to set the organization’s current policies. Elected to this body (also at the Rotary Convention) are 17 Directors, each serving a two-year term. To ensure transparency and fairness in the nomination procedure for these positions and the composition of the Presidential Nominating Committee, RI has created 34 zones, each covering a roughly equal number of club members.
The RI President is the highest official in Rotary, serving a one-year term, traditionally focusing their presidency on a specific theme.

The Central Office (Secretariat)

The administrative headquarters of RI is located in Evanston, near Chicago, USA. In addition, there are seven international offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland, as well as a dedicated Rotary office for the United Kingdom and Ireland (RIBI). Under the direction of the Secretary General, 650 staff members support Rotary clubs worldwide.

The Council on Legislation (CoL)

The Council on Legislation acts as Rotary’s "parliament." Every three years, the 530 districts send a delegate to a central conference where legislative proposals are discussed and voted on. These proposals are submitted by clubs, districts, the Central Board, or the Council itself. The decisions made by the CoL are incorporated into RI’s constitutional documents and are binding for all clubs.

The Rotary Foundation (TRF)

The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation under U.S. law, with Rotary International as its sole shareholder. The mission of TRF is to enable Rotarians to contribute to global health, education, poverty alleviation, and peace through various projects. The Foundation is entirely funded by donations from Rotarians and other supporters, with assets around $800 million as of 2012. In the Rotary year 2011/12, approximately $181 million in donations were collected, including $45 million for polio eradication. $110 million was donated for program work, which is distributed to club and district projects based on a specific procedure.

The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation
The 15-member Board of Trustees is appointed by the President of RI, with the approval of the Central Board. The Trustees oversee the operations of the Foundation, the central entity for all Rotarians. The Trustee Chair is appointed annually, while Trustees serve four-year terms.

Rotaract
Rotaract was established in 1968 as a program for young adults by Rotary International and is now a self-recognized organization of young adults within the Rotary family. The Rotarian service ideal "Service Above Self" is embodied by Rotaract with the programmatic focus "Learn – Help – Celebrate." A Rotaract Club consists of young women and men aged 18 to 30 who are committed to being role models in applying ethical principles in both professional and private life and who are willing to engage in community service. Each club should aim for a diverse range of studies and professions.

Interact
Interact was also founded by Rotary International in 1962 and is a service and community club for youth aged 14 to 18. This club connects young people’s willingness to engage in charitable and social goals with the experience of being part of a supportive community in a dynamic club environment.