D9212 LEGACY AWARDS 2026 SUBMISSION GUIDE
As we celebrate the final, historic year of Rotary International District 9212, we are proud to launch The D9212 Legacy Awards. This program is designed to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Rotary and Rotaract clubs that have defined our 13-year journey of service. This guide provides all the necessary information for clubs wishing to submit entries for these prestigious awards.
A. Guiding Principles
1. INTRODUCTION
- Legacy: To create a lasting record of the achievements that have defined District 9212.
- Impact: To celebrate the tangible, evidence-based impact our clubs have made in our communities.
- Inclusivity: To ensure fair recognition for clubs of all sizes and across all member countries.
- Celebration: To honour our shared journey and inspire future service within our new districts.
B. Awards Process & Timeline
|
Activity |
Date |
|
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Submission of Entries Opens |
Monday 20th, April 2026 |
|
2 |
Submission Deadline |
Thursday 30th, April 2026 |
|
3 |
Awards Gala |
Friday 22nd, May 2026 |
C. General Entry Requirements Format
- The application should be in PDF format, with a maximum of 5 pages.
- Each submission must be in English.
- Submissions must be supported with a clear narrative that addresses the specific award criteria, including evidence of impact (e.g., photos, links to videos, testimonials, data).
- On the first page of your submission, you must include the name of the Club, the full name and contact details (email/phone) of the Club President, and the name of your Assistant Governor/ADRR.
D. Eligibility
- To be eligible to submit an entry for the competitive awards, clubs must have a minimum of 25 members as of January 1, 2026.
- All clubs must be in good standing with the District. Any club with unresolved governance, financial stewardship, or ethical concerns will be deemed ineligible.
- Entries containing false or misleading information will be disqualified.
2. SUBMISSION-BASED AWARD CATEGORIES
This section details the awards that require a formal submission.
A. Project Excellence Award
Description: Recognises a club that has implemented a project demonstrating transformative community impact. An added advantage will be given for projects conducted in partnership with at least two other clubs.
Submission Required: Yes.
Tips for a Strong Entry: Go beyond descriptions. Include powerful testimonials from beneficiaries, a simple budget showing resourcefulness, and photos that show your members in action, demonstrating both impact and fellowship.
B. Creative Fundraiser of the Year
Description: Recognises a club for the most creative, innovative, and successful fundraising initiative for either club projects or The Rotary Foundation.
Submission Required: Yes.
Tips for a Strong Entry: Show the judges what made your idea unique. Include examples of your marketing materials, explain the event's atmosphere, and provide clear data on funds raised versus your goal and the cost of the event.
Description: Recognises a club for the most creative, innovative, and successful fundraising initiative for either club projects or The Rotary Foundation.
Submission Required: Yes.
Tips for a Strong Entry: Show the judges what made your idea unique. Include examples of your marketing materials, explain the event's atmosphere, and provide clear data on funds raised versus your goal and the cost of the event.
C. PR & Storytelling Award
Description: Recognises consistent, year-long effort to build a strong public image through compelling storytelling and media engagement.
Submission Required: Yes.
Tips for a Strong Entry: Include screenshots of high-engagement social media posts, links to any media coverage you received, and evidence of how your storytelling led to a real-world outcome (e.g., new volunteers, a sold-out event).
D. Professional Development Award (Rotaract Only)
Description: Recognises a Rotaract club with the most impactful professional development programs for its members.
Submission Required: Yes.
Tips for a Strong Entry: Provide a calendar of your training events for the year, include sample presentations or speaker lists, and share direct quotes from members about how the program helped their personal or professional growth.
3. DATA-DRIVEN & LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The following awards do not require a submission. Winners are determined automatically from official data or selected holistically by the judging panel. The only action required is to ensure all your club's data is fully updated in Rotary Club Central before the deadlines.
A. Membership Excellence Awards
What will be assessed: The awards committee will extract data directly from Rotary's dashboards as of April 19, 2026. Clubs are automatically placed into one of two categories:
The Trailblazer Award: For clubs under 5 years old (chartered after July 1, 2021).
The Vanguard Award: For clubs 5 years and older (chartered on or before July 1, 2021).
The assessment will be based on net membership growth, percentage growth, and member retention rates.
B. The Rotary Foundation (TRF) & Fundraising Awards
What will be assessed: Contribution data will be extracted from Rotary International records as of April 26, 2026.
Annual TRF Giving - Champions by Total Contribution: The winners for the following 6 awards will be determined by the highest total amounts or numbers contributed during the Rotary year:
Legacy TRF Award: Based on cumulative giving over 13 years.
DG's Recognition: For clubs contributing $10,000+ in the current year.
C. Leadership Excellence & Club of the Year Awards
What will be assessed: The judging panel will conduct a holistic review of a club's performance across all other award categories (both submitted and data-driven) to select the Rotary & Rotaract Club of the Year—a winner that demonstrates true all-around excellence. The Club President of the Year is then bestowed upon the leader of that winning club.
Assistant Governor/ADRR of the Year will be selected by District Leadership based on their support and the overall success of the clubs in their portfolio.
Q: Can our club submit entries for multiple categories?
A: Yes, you are encouraged to submit entries for every category in which your club has excelled.
Q: Our club has fewer than 25 members. Can we still be recognised?
A: While clubs with fewer than 25 members are not eligible for the submission-based awards, your performance is still automatically considered for all data-driven awards (Membership and TRF).
Q: Who can I contact if I have questions?
A: For any questions, email Carole Kimutai, District Awards Chair at dcaawards2026@rotary9212.org
The following awards do not require a submission. Winners are determined automatically from official data or selected holistically by the judging panel. The only action required is to ensure all your club's data is fully updated in Rotary Club Central before the deadlines.
A. Membership Excellence Awards
What will be assessed: The awards committee will extract data directly from Rotary's dashboards as of April 19, 2026. Clubs are automatically placed into one of two categories:
The Trailblazer Award: For clubs under 5 years old (chartered after July 1, 2021).
The Vanguard Award: For clubs 5 years and older (chartered on or before July 1, 2021).
The assessment will be based on net membership growth, percentage growth, and member retention rates.
B. The Rotary Foundation (TRF) & Fundraising Awards
What will be assessed: Contribution data will be extracted from Rotary International records as of April 26, 2026.
Annual TRF Giving - Champions by Total Contribution: The winners for the following 6 awards will be determined by the highest total amounts or numbers contributed during the Rotary year:
- Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Champion
- First-Time PHF Champion
- Major Donor Champion
- PolioPlus Champion
- Legacy Giving Champion
- All-Giving Club Recognition
Excellence in Per-Capita Giving: This will be awarded based on Annual Fund contributions divided by the number of members. Winners are recognised in three club-size tiers:
Tier 1: 25-50 members
Tier 2: 51-100 members
Tier 3: 101+ members
Tier 1: 25-50 members
Tier 2: 51-100 members
Tier 3: 101+ members
Legacy TRF Award: Based on cumulative giving over 13 years.
DG's Recognition: For clubs contributing $10,000+ in the current year.
C. Leadership Excellence & Club of the Year Awards
What will be assessed: The judging panel will conduct a holistic review of a club's performance across all other award categories (both submitted and data-driven) to select the Rotary & Rotaract Club of the Year—a winner that demonstrates true all-around excellence. The Club President of the Year is then bestowed upon the leader of that winning club.
Assistant Governor/ADRR of the Year will be selected by District Leadership based on their support and the overall success of the clubs in their portfolio.
4. JUDGING CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSIONS
All submitted entries will be scored out of 100 points. To ensure clarity and ease of judging, we strongly encourage clubs to structure their 5-page submission using the four criteria below as main headings.
All submitted entries will be scored out of 100 points. To ensure clarity and ease of judging, we strongly encourage clubs to structure their 5-page submission using the four criteria below as main headings.
|
Section |
Key Issues |
Max Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Context & Need |
How well was the problem, opportunity, or community need defined? |
20 |
|
2. Strategy & Objectives |
Were the goals clear and measurable? Was the plan creative? |
25 |
|
3. Execution & Implementation |
How effectively was the project delivered? Evidence of member involvement. |
20 |
|
4. Impact & Results |
How compelling is the evidence of success and tangible impact? |
35 |
|
TOTAL SCORE |
100 |
5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q: Is there a fee to submit an entry?
A: No, there are no fees to participate.
Q: Is there a fee to submit an entry?
A: No, there are no fees to participate.
Q: Can our club submit entries for multiple categories?
A: Yes, you are encouraged to submit entries for every category in which your club has excelled.
Q: Our club has fewer than 25 members. Can we still be recognised?
A: While clubs with fewer than 25 members are not eligible for the submission-based awards, your performance is still automatically considered for all data-driven awards (Membership and TRF).
Q: Who can I contact if I have questions?
A: For any questions, email Carole Kimutai, District Awards Chair at dcaawards2026@rotary9212.org