The Rotary Charitable Foundation of North Bethesda, founded in 1994, is a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. The Foundation was created to provide financial assistance to deserving individuals who need help in pursuing college training, and to support worthy community organizations.

The Foundation has funded several full one-year scholarships to Montgomery College and the University of Maryland’s Shady Grove campus . Students competing for the scholarships must complete an application, meet selection criteria, and be interviewed by members of the Rotary Club of North Bethesda. The student’s financial need is the most important factor for selection.

The Foundation provides incentive awards to deserving high school students who complete their studies in various vocational and technical career fields. In selecting students, Rotary Club members work with high school advisors. The awards are presented by Rotary members during the school’s awards ceremony. The Foundation works closely with the Rotary Club of North Bethesda and participates in the Club’s fundraising projects. 

The Foundation is committed to assisting young people in their pursuit for higher education, to inspiring and recognizing the achievement of those who have completed their educational goal and will be entering the work place, and to supporting community organizations whose goals and objectives are to meet the needs of those less fortunate in our community.

In 2024, the Foundation awarded ten “mini-grants” to ten community organizations in Montgomery County as part of the North Bethesda Rotary’s 50th Anniversary. For more information on the organizations, select this link.