Rotary and Gates Foundation extend partnership to end polio

Rotary and the Gates Foundation are renewing their longstanding partnership to end polio, announcing a joint commitment of up to US$450 million to support the global polio eradication effort at the annual Rotary International Convention.

“While historic progress has been made toward defeating polio—90 percent of the world’s population is free from the wild poliovirus—we’re facing significant challenges from competing financial priorities to fragile health systems. Furthermore, the detection of polio in places like Papua New Guinea that were previously polio free demonstrates that polio anywhere is a threat everywhere,” said Rotary International PolioPlus Committee Chair Mike McGovern. “The extension of our fundraising partnership with the Gates Foundation allows us to reach children around the world with lifesaving vaccines, keeping every child and community safe from this preventable disease.”

Rotary ill continue to raise $50 million per year, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars from the Gates Foundation. This renewed agreement will translate into up to a total of $450 million to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

"Rotary was the first to envision a world without polio—and today, we have the tools and knowledge to make that vision a reality,” said Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation. “If we all maintain our commitment and keep funding the solutions we know work, then soon, no family will have to live in fear of this horrific disease ever again."

The funds are used to support everything from vaccine delivery, surveillance, and community engagement to the implementation and maintenance of polio eradication programs in affected regions, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, the only countries that continue to report cases of wild poliovirus.

The funding also allows Rotary to help aid emergency response for polio outbreaks, and in late 2024, Rotary committed US$500,000 to support the first round of a two-round polio vaccination campaign in Gaza following confirmation of a 10-month-old child who contracted polio in the region.

Polio—a paralyzing and sometimes deadly disease—will become the second human disease in history to be eradicated, and this critical funding ensures that efforts to protect children in at-risk countries continue.

“For 40 years Rotary has remained steadfast in our commitment to ending polio for good, and the Gates Foundation partnership renewal underscores the importance of this effort,” said Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick. “With gratitude to the Gates Foundation, we remain resolute in delivering on our promise of a polio-free world.”

Canadian Rotary members have contributed US$50 million of the more than US$2.9 billion Rotary has committed to fighting polio and countless volunteer hours since Rotary launched its polio eradication program, PolioPlus, in 1985. In 1988, Rotary joined in partnership with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to form the GPEI. The Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance later joined. When the initiative launched, there were 350,000 cases of polio every year, but thanks to the GPEI’s efforts, in partnership with world governments—including Canada’s which most recently pledged CAD$151 million to the GPEI and has committed more than CAD$1 billion to date as demonstration of its longstanding, unwavering support for polio eradication—the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent.

Anyone can be a part of the fight to end polio and have their donation to Rotary matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation. Visit endpolio.org to learn more and donate.

For media inquiries:

Calgary: Sydney Boll: sboll@national.ca │Mobile: +1 403-479-8796
USA: Stephanie Graff: stephanie.graff@rotary.org

About Rotary: Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world: including approximately 3,000 members in more than 100 clubs in Alberta and more than 20,000 members in over 750 clubs across Canada. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.