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Annex A, Operational Forms


How to use: These 10 forms are designed to be photocopied and used in the field. Print them BEFORE the disaster. Keep 20 copies of each in your emergency kit. Each form works on paper (by hand) or digitally (fillable PDF).


Table of forms

  1. SITREP, Situation Report
  2. Rapid Needs Assessment
  3. Beneficiary Register
  4. Daily Financial Log
  5. Volunteer Registration
  6. Donations and Gifts Tracking
  7. Press and Social Media Releases
  8. NGO Partnership Agreement (MOU)
  9. After-Action Report (AAR)
  10. Funding Decision Tree

Form 1, SITREP, Situation Report

Frequency: Every 6 hours (Phase 1), then daily (Phase 2), then weekly (Phase 3). Filled by: Club Disaster Coordinator or District DRO. Recipients: District (DRO), Zone, DNA-RAG if activated.


SITREP No. _ | Date: /_/_ | Time: :____

Club / District: ___________

Report author: ____ Phone: ______

Type of disaster: ______

Activation level: ☐ Club alone ☐ DCA-3 ☐ DCA-2 ☐ DCA-1

Financial recommendation (to be checked by the author): ☐ No external funding needed ☐ District DDRF ☐ DRG to be submitted ☐ Zone Fund ☐ Global Grant to be set up


A, General situation

Element Data
Affected geographic area __________
Estimated total population affected __________
Number of confirmed deaths __________
Number of injured __________
Number of displaced persons __________
Number of destroyed homes __________
Number of damaged homes __________
Critical infrastructure out of service __________

B, Status of essential services

Service Functional Partial Out of service
Drinking water
Electricity
Telephone network
Main roads
Hospital / health center
Schools
Market / supply

C, Rotary actions underway

Action Responsible No. beneficiaries Status
________ ______ ___ ☐ In progress ☐ Completed
________ ______ ___ ☐ In progress ☐ Completed
________ ______ ___ ☐ In progress ☐ Completed
________ ______ ___ ☐ In progress ☐ Completed
________ ______ ___ ☐ In progress ☐ Completed
________ ______ ___ ☐ In progress ☐ Completed

D, Immediate unmet needs

Priority Need Estimated quantity Urgency
1 ________ ___ ☐ Critical ☐ Urgent ☐ Moderate
2 ________ ___ ☐ Critical ☐ Urgent ☐ Moderate
3 ________ ___ ☐ Critical ☐ Urgent ☐ Moderate
4 ________ ___ ☐ Critical ☐ Urgent ☐ Moderate
5 ________ ___ ☐ Critical ☐ Urgent ☐ Moderate

E, Available resources

Resource Quantity Source
Funds available (club/district) _____ USD ________
Active volunteers _____ ________
Vehicles _____ ________
Emergency stocks _____ ________

F, Next steps (next 6-24 hours)




G, Requests to the higher level

☐ No request

☐ Activation of higher DCA → justification: _________

☐ DRG request → estimated amount: _____ USD

☐ RAG activation → which one: ____________

☐ Other: ___________

Signature: ____ Date/Time: _____


Form 2, Rapid Needs Assessment

When: Within the first 6 hours after the disaster. By whom: Club assessment team (minimum 2 persons). Duration: 1 to 3 hours in the field.


Date: _//_ Start time: _: End time: _:

Assessors: 1. ____ 2. ____

Area assessed: ___________

GPS (if available): Lat: ___ Long: _____


Domain 1, Affected population

Category Estimated number
Affected families ______
Affected persons (total) ______
Children (0-5 years) ______
Children (6-17 years) ______
Pregnant / breastfeeding women ______
Elderly (65+) ______
Persons with disabilities ______
Deceased persons ______
Injured persons ______
Missing persons ______

Domain 2, Housing / shelter

Status Number of houses
Totally destroyed ______
Partially damaged (habitable) ______
Partially damaged (uninhabitable) ______
Intact ______

Emergency housing needed for: ______ families

Potential sites identified: __________

Domain 3, Water and sanitation (WASH)

Element Yes No Partial
Access to drinking water
Functional water network
Usable latrines / toilets
Risk of water contamination
Functional waste disposal system

Liters of drinking water needed / day: ______

Domain 4, Food

Element Yes No Details
Food stocks available in the area For ___ days
Functional local market ______
External supply possible ______
Community kitchen possible ______

Number of meals / day needed: ______

Domain 5, Health

Element Yes No Details
Functional health center nearby ______
Medical personnel available ______
Medicines available ______
Identified epidemic risk ______
Women/children requiring urgent care No.: _______

Domain 6, Infrastructure

Infrastructure Functional Damaged Destroyed
Main road
Bridge(s)
Electricity
Fixed telephone
Mobile network
Internet

Domain 7, Access

Site access by: ☐ Road ☐ Track ☐ Foot only ☐ Water

Access time from the club: ______ hours

Obstacles identified: ___________

Domain 8, Safety

Element Yes No Details
Area safe for responders ______
Secondary risks (aftershocks, floods, landslides) ______
Presence of law enforcement ______
Reported looting risk ______
Safe access for distributions ______

Immediate priority needs (rank 1 to 10)

Rank Need
___ Drinking water
___ Food
___ Emergency shelters / tarps
___ Medical care
___ Clothing / blankets
___ Hygiene items
___ Evacuation
___ Search and rescue
___ Psychological support
___ Other: ________

Organizations already present

Organization Type of aid Contact
________ ________ ______
________ ________ ______
________ ________ ______
________ ________ ______

Observations and photos

Field notes: ___________



Photos taken: ☐ Yes (number: _____) ☐ No

Assessor 1 signature: ___ Date: ______

Assessor 2 signature: ___ Date: ______


Form 3, Beneficiary Register

Use: Document each distribution of aid. One form per distribution point per day. Mandatory for TRF stewardship reports.


Distribution header

Date: _//_ Distribution location: _______

Type of aid distributed: ____________

Distribution manager: ____ Club: ______

Funding: ☐ Club funds ☐ DRG ☐ DDRF ☐ Global Grant ☐ Direct donations ☐ Other


Beneficiary list

No. Full name No. pers. in household Location / address Identified needs Aid received (type + quantity) Signature or fingerprint
1 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
2 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
3 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
4 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
5 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
6 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
7 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
8 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
9 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
10 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
11 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
12 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
13 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
14 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
15 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
16 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
17 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
18 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
19 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
20 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
21 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
22 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
23 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
24 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______
25 ______ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______

Distribution summary

Element Total
Total number of beneficiaries ______
Total number of households served ______
Total quantity distributed ______
Estimated value (USD) ______
Remaining stock ______

Notes: __________

Manager signature: __ Witness signature: ______


Form 4, Daily Financial Log

Use: Dedicated disaster cash log. One form per day. Dual signature mandatory for any expense > 100 USD.


Financial log, Date: _//_

Club / District: ____ Treasurer: ______

Dedicated disaster account No.: ________


Opening balance

Source Amount (USD)
Previous day's balance carried over ____
Allocated club funds ____
DRG received ____
DDRF received ____
Donations received today ____
TOTAL AVAILABLE ____

Expenses of the day

No. Description Supplier Amount (USD) Category Receipt No. Authorized by
1 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
2 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
3 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
4 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
5 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
6 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
7 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
8 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
9 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
10 ________ ______ ___ ______ _ ______
TOTAL EXPENSES ___

Categories: A = Food/water | B = Shelters/materials | C = Transport/logistics | D = Health/hygiene | E = Communication | F = Administration | G = Other

Closing balance

Calculation Amount (USD)
Total available ____
- Total expenses ____
= Closing balance ____

Cumulative balance since the start of the operation: ____ USD

Supporting documents

Type Quantity
Receipts / invoices attached ______
Purchase orders ______
Photos of receipts (if originals lost) ______

Treasurer signature: ____ President signature: _______


Form 5, Volunteer Registration

Use: Register each volunteer BEFORE deployment. Verify skills, availability and health status. Keep this register for insurance and follow-up.


Volunteer registration form

Registration date: _//_ Club: _______


Identity

Field Information
Full name _______
Date of birth _//_
Primary phone _______
Secondary phone _______
Email _______
Address _______
Emergency contact (name + phone) _______
Rotary member ☐ Yes (Club: ______) ☐ No
Rotaract / Interact ☐ Yes ☐ No

Skills

Skill Yes Level Certification
First aid / basic CPR ☐ Basic ☐ Advanced Date: ____
Psychological support (PFA) ☐ Basic ☐ Advanced Date: ____
Medical (nurse, doctor) Specialty: ____ No.: ____
Construction / repair ☐ Basic ☐ Advanced _____
Electricity / plumbing ☐ Basic ☐ Advanced _____
Heavy vehicle driving License: ____ _____
Communication / media ☐ Basic ☐ Advanced _____
Logistics / stock management ☐ Basic ☐ Advanced _____
Community cooking ☐ Basic ☐ Advanced _____
Translation (languages: ___) ______ _____
Other: ________ ______ _____

Availability and assignment

Day Available Hours Assignment / area
Monday _: to _: ______
Tuesday _: to _: ______
Wednesday _: to _: ______
Thursday _: to _: ______
Friday _: to _: ______
Saturday _: to _: ______
Sunday _: to _: ______

Possible commitment duration: ☐ 1-3 days ☐ 1 week ☐ 2 weeks ☐ 1 month+

Mobility: ☐ Personal vehicle ☐ Public transport ☐ Transport needed

Health and safety

Element Response
Medical restrictions ☐ No ☐ Yes: _________
Allergies ☐ No ☐ Yes: _________
Vaccinations up to date ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Don't know
Personal insurance covering volunteering ☐ Yes ☐ No

Field check-in/out

Date Arrival time (check-in) Departure time (check-out) Area / mission Manager signature
____ _:_ _:_ ______ _____
____ _:_ _:_ ______ _____
____ _:_ _:_ ______ _____
____ _:_ _:_ ______ _____
____ _:_ _:_ ______ _____
____ _:_ _:_ ______ _____
____ _:_ _:_ ______ _____

Commitment

I commit to: - [ ] Respect safety instructions - [ ] Follow the coordinator's instructions - [ ] Not communicate with the media without authorization - [ ] Report any incident or injury immediately - [ ] Respect the dignity of persons helped

Signature: ____ Date: _/_/_____


Consolidated volunteer register (summary table)

No. Name Primary skill Phone Availability Deployed on Area Check-out
1 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
2 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
3 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
4 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
5 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
6 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
7 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
8 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
9 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
10 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
11 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
12 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
13 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
14 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
15 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
16 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
17 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
18 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
19 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _
20 ______ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _

Form 6, Donations and Gifts Tracking

Use: Track every donation received. Mandatory for transparency, tax receipts and thank-you letters. One form per week or per campaign.


Donation register, Operation: _______

Club / District: ____ Period: from /_ to /____

Tracking manager: ____ Phone: ______


No. Donor (name or organization) Amount / Description Date Reception method Allocation / purpose Tax receipt issued Thanks sent
1 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
2 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
3 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
4 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
5 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
6 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
7 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
8 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
9 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
10 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
11 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
12 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
13 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
14 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____
15 ________ ____ __ ☐ Transfer ☐ Check ☐ Cash ☐ In kind ____

Totals

Category Total
Total monetary donations (USD) ____
Total in-kind donations (estimated value USD) ____
Grand total ____
Number of tax receipts issued ____
Number of thanks sent ____

Form 7, Press and Social Media Releases

Golden rule: ONE designated spokesperson. Every release validated by the President or DG before publication.


7.1 Press release template

PRESS RELEASE
[Rotary Logo]

For immediate release
Date: ____/____/________

Press contact:
Name: ________________________________
Phone: ________________________________
Email: ________________________________

------------------------------------------------------

[HEADLINE — Clear action, 10 words maximum]
Example: Rotary Club of [city] mobilizes [X] volunteers
         after [type of disaster]

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[City], [date] — The Rotary Club of [name] / District
[number] of Rotary mobilizes following [brief description
of the disaster] which affected [area] on [date].

PARAGRAPH 1 — The facts:
[Describe the situation: number of people affected, damage,
context]

PARAGRAPH 2 — Rotary's action:
[Concretely describe what Rotary is doing: number of
volunteers, type of aid, amounts committed, partnerships]

PARAGRAPH 3 — Quote:
"[Quote from Club President or District Governor],"
says [Name], [Title].

PARAGRAPH 4 — How to help:
Those wishing to contribute can:
- Make a donation: [link or bank details]
- Volunteer: [contact]
- Follow developments: [Facebook page / website]

PARAGRAPH 5 — About Rotary:
Rotary brings together [X] members in [X] clubs across
the world. [1-2 sentences on the Rotary mission and disaster
response].

------------------------------------------------------
END OF RELEASE

High-resolution photos available on request.

7.2 Social media templates

Initial post (0-6 hours)

ALERT — [Type of disaster] in [location]

The Rotary Club of [name] is activating its emergency response.

Our teams are in the field to assess needs
and provide first aid.

More information to follow.

#Rotary #[City] #DisasterResponse #PeopleOfAction

Mobilization post (6-24 hours)

UPDATE — Response to [disaster] in [location]

Our teams have already:
- [Action 1 — e.g., distributed 200 hygiene kits]
- [Action 2 — e.g., opened 2 shelter centers]
- [Action 3 — e.g., mobilized 45 volunteers]

[X] families have received emergency aid.

To help financially: [donation link]
To volunteer: [contact]

#Rotary #PeopleOfAction #DisasterRelief

Thank-you post (after operation)

THANK YOU — Summary of our response to [disaster]

In [X] days, thanks to YOU:
- [X] families helped
- [X] volunteers mobilized
- [X] USD collected and distributed
- [X] kits distributed

Thanks to our partners: [list]
Thanks to all donors and volunteers.

Rotary continues to support the reconstruction.

#Rotary #PeopleOfAction #ThankYou

Form 8, NGO Partnership Agreement (MOU)

Use: Formalize any partnership with an NGO that exceeds 2 weeks or 5,000 USD. Mandatory for Global Grants.


PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

------------------------------------------------------

BETWEEN:

The [Rotary Club of _________ / District _________ of Rotary]
Represented by: _________________________________________
Position: _______________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
Phone: __________________ Email: __________________________

Hereinafter referred to as "Rotary"

AND:

[Name of NGO / Partner organization]
Represented by: _________________________________________
Position: _______________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
Phone: __________________ Email: __________________________

Hereinafter referred to as "the Partner"

------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE 1 — PURPOSE

This agreement defines the terms of collaboration
between Rotary and the Partner for the response to:

Type of disaster: ____________________________________
Geographic area: ______________________________________
Target population: ________________________________________
Start date: ____/____/________
Expected duration: ___________________________________________

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ARTICLE 2 — ROTARY COMMITMENTS

Rotary commits to:
☐ Provide funding of ____________ USD
☐ Mobilize ____________ volunteers
☐ Provide equipment: ___________________________________
☐ Ensure coordination with District / Zone
☐ Produce stewardship reports required by TRF
☐ Other: _________________________________________________

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ARTICLE 3 — PARTNER COMMITMENTS

The Partner commits to:
☐ Deploy ____________ qualified personnel
☐ Provide technical expertise in: _________________________
☐ Ensure logistics of: ________________________________
☐ Provide activity reports: ☐ Weekly ☐ Monthly
☐ Respect humanitarian standards (Sphere, CHS)
☐ Mention Rotary in its communications
☐ Provide financial supporting documents
☐ Other: _________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE 4 — BUDGET AND FINANCING

Total operation budget: ____________ USD
Line item Rotary (USD) Partner (USD) Other (USD)
Personnel ____ ____ ____
Material / equipment ____ ____ ____
Transport / logistics ____ ____ ____
Food / water ____ ____ ____
Housing ____ ____ ____
Administration ____ ____ ____
Other ____ ____ ____
TOTAL ____ ____ ____
Payment terms:
☐ In one payment upon signing
☐ In _____ installments: _____________________________________
☐ Upon presentation of invoices
☐ Other: _________________________________________________

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ARTICLE 5 — COORDINATION

Coordination meetings: ☐ Daily ☐ Weekly
☐ Bi-monthly

Rotary focal point: _________________ Phone: _________________
Partner focal point: ______________ Phone: _________________

Progress reports: ☐ Weekly ☐ Monthly

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ARTICLE 6 — COMMUNICATION AND VISIBILITY

- All public communication mentions both parties.
- The Rotary logo is used in accordance with the RI brand guide.
- The Partner does not solicit donations on behalf of Rotary.
- Photos of beneficiaries respect their dignity and
  consent.

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ARTICLE 7 — DURATION AND TERMINATION

Duration: from ____/____/________ to ____/____/________

Renewal: ☐ Automatic ☐ By mutual agreement ☐ No

Early termination: possible by each party with
_______ days' notice, by written notification.

In case of termination, the Partner returns unused
funds within _______ days.

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ARTICLE 8 — REPORTS AND STEWARDSHIP

The Partner provides Rotary with:
☐ Interim report no later than ____/____/________
☐ Final report no later than ____/____/________
☐ Supporting documents (receipts, invoices, photos)
☐ Beneficiary list (anonymized if necessary)
☐ Impact evaluation

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ARTICLE 9 — DISPUTES

Any dispute will be resolved by amicable conciliation.
Failing this, the competent courts of __________________
will be seized.

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Made in two copies in ________________, on ____/____/________

For Rotary:                    For the Partner:

Name: ____________________         Name: ____________________
Position: ________________         Position: ________________
Signature:                         Signature:



Witness:                            Witness:
Name: ____________________         Name: ____________________
Signature:                         Signature:

Form 9, After-Action Report (AAR)

Use: Structured debriefing meeting after each operation. Mandatory. Recommended duration: 2-3 hours. All participants invited.


After-Action Report, Operation: _________

AAR date: _//_

Facilitator: ____ Secretary: ____

Participants:

No. Name Role in the operation
1 ________ ________
2 ________ ________
3 ________ ________
4 ________ ________
5 ________ ________
6 ________ ________
7 ________ ________
8 ________ ________

Section A, Operation timeline

Date/Time Event / Decision By whom
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______
____ _______ ______

Section B, Operation summary

Element Detail
Type of disaster _______
Disaster date _//_
Rotary activation date _//_
Closure date _//_
Total operation duration _ days
Geographic area _______
Activation level ☐ Club ☐ DCA-3 ☐ DCA-2 ☐ DCA-1

Section C, Results

Indicator Initial target Actual result
People helped ______ ______
Households served ______ ______
Volunteers mobilized ______ ______
Volunteer hours ______ ______
Total budget spent (USD) ______ ______
Kits distributed ______ ______
Meals served ______ ______
Shelters provided ______ ______

Section D, Funding

Source Amount received (USD) Amount spent (USD) Balance (USD)
Club funds ______ ______ ______
DRG ______ ______ ______
DDRF ______ ______ ______
Global Grant ______ ______ ______
Direct donations ______ ______ ______
Zone Fund ______ ______ ______
Other ______ ______ ______
TOTAL ______ ______ ______

Section E, What worked well

No. Element Detail / Example
1 ________ _______
2 ________ _______
3 ________ _______
4 ________ _______
5 ________ _______

Section F, What did not work / needs improvement

No. Problem identified Impact Recommended corrective action Responsible
1 ______ ☐ Critical ☐ Moderate ☐ Minor ______ ____
2 ______ ☐ Critical ☐ Moderate ☐ Minor ______ ____
3 ______ ☐ Critical ☐ Moderate ☐ Minor ______ ____
4 ______ ☐ Critical ☐ Moderate ☐ Minor ______ ____
5 ______ ☐ Critical ☐ Moderate ☐ Minor ______ ____

Section G, Recommendations

No. Recommendation Priority Deadline Responsible
1 _________ ☐ High ☐ Medium ☐ Low ____ ____
2 _________ ☐ High ☐ Medium ☐ Low ____ ____
3 _________ ☐ High ☐ Medium ☐ Low ____ ____
4 _________ ☐ High ☐ Medium ☐ Low ____ ____
5 _________ ☐ High ☐ Medium ☐ Low ____ ____

Section H, Post-operation psychological support

Element Yes No Details
Signs of stress / fatigue identified in volunteers _____
Psychological debriefing organized Date: ____
Referral to professional support if necessary _____
1-month follow-up planned Date: ____

This report will be archived and transmitted to: - [ ] District (DRO) - [ ] Zone (if DCA-2/3) - [ ] DNA-RAG (if activated) - [ ] TRF (with stewardship report)

Facilitator signature: ___ Date: _//__


Form 10, Funding Decision Tree

Use: When a disaster occurs, follow this tree to determine which funding mechanism to activate, in what order.


DISASTER OCCURS
        |
        v
Does the Club have own funds available?
|-- YES --> Use immediately (no approval needed)
|           Recommended max budget: 2,000-5,000 USD
|           |
|           v
|           Sufficient?
|           |-- YES --> Continue with club funds + move to AAR
|           '-- NO --> v
|
'-- NO --> v

Does the District have a DDRF (District Disaster Relief Fund)?
|-- YES --> The DG authorizes an immediate disbursement
|           Typical amount: 5,000-15,000 USD
|           Lead time: a few hours
|           |
|           v
|           Sufficient?
|           |-- YES --> Continue + report to District
|           '-- NO --> v
|
'-- NO --> v

Request a DRG (Disaster Response Grant) from TRF
|-- Amount: up to 25,000 USD
|-- Condition: District qualified by TRF
|-- Approval lead time: 2-4 weeks (24-48 h pre-impact for named storms)
|-- Submission via MyRotary (DG + DRFC)
|   |
|   v
|   Sufficient?
|   |-- YES --> Execute + stewardship report within 12 months
|   '-- NO --> v
|
v
Does the Zone have a Zone Disaster Response Fund?
|-- YES --> Request a supplement from the Zone
|           Typical amount: 10,000-50,000 USD
|           |
|           v
|           Sufficient?
|           |-- YES --> Execute + report to Zone
|           '-- NO --> v
|
'-- NO --> v

Set up a TRF Global Grant
|-- Amount: 30,000 to 400,000 USD
|-- Requires: District DDF + international partner
|-- Lead time: 3-6 months (planning to recovery)
|-- Ideal for: reconstruction, WASH, training
|
v
Can they be combined?
|-- YES — Mechanisms are COMBINABLE:
|   |-- DRG + DDRF + Club funds = immediate response
|   |-- Global Grant = medium-term recovery
|   |-- Zone Fund = multi-district coordination
|   '-- DNA-RAG Fund = technical expertise
|
v
WARNING — Non-combination rules:
|-- A DRG does NOT fund the same expenses as a Global Grant
|-- DDF used for a Global Grant cannot be used for a DRG
|-- Club funds do NOT require TRF stewardship
'-- Any TRF funding (DRG + Global Grant) requires a report

Mechanism summary table

Mechanism Amount Lead time Who decides Stewardship
Club funds 1,000-5,000 USD Immediate President No (internal)
DDRF 5,000-15,000 USD Hours DG District report
DRG Up to 25,000 USD 2-4 weeks (24-48 h pre-impact) TRF Yes (12 months)
Zone Fund 10,000-50,000 USD Days Zone Director Zone report
Global Grant 30,000-400,000 USD 3-6 months TRF Yes (mandatory)
DNA-RAG Fund Variable Days DNA-RAG Chair RAG report
TRF Central Fund Variable Weeks TRF Trustees Yes

Quick reference, which funding at which moment

This quick reference condenses the full decision tree into a single sheet, to be photocopied and slipped into the club's emergency kit. It answers one operational question: at H+12, at D+5, at D+30, at M+6, which of the seven mechanisms should be activated?

By response phase

Phase Time since event Mechanisms to activate Club's immediate action
Immediate emergency 0–72 h Club funds + DDRF + DRG (in preparation) Engage initial spending from own funds. Ask the DG to activate the DDRF. Prepare the field assessment for the DRG.
Stabilization 1–4 weeks Approved DRG + Zone Fund + DNA-RAG Fund Launch community kitchen, structured distributions, volunteer rotations. Document each expense for the preliminary DRG report (D+45).
Short-term recovery 1–6 months DRG balance + Global Grant under preparation + NGO partnerships Identify lasting needs (water, schools, health). Find the international partner club via Club Finder or DNA-RAG.
Reconstruction 6–24 months Global Grant + Packaged Grants + TRF Central Fund Steer the project over time. Interim report at M+6, final report at closure.

By type of emergency

Typical situation First reflex Central mechanism Why
Localized disaster, club acting alone Own funds + extraordinary dues Club funds DCA-3, no district escalation required
Regional disaster, several clubs affected DDRF activation by the DG DDRF + DRG DCA-2, the district coordinates
Major disaster, several districts DG + RI + DNA-RAG in coordination DRG + DNA-RAG Fund + Zone Fund DCA-1, international mobilization
Named cyclone approaching Preemptive DRG submission DRG (24-48 h pre-impact) The only case where the DRG is processed in hours, not weeks
Post-disaster reconstruction Global Grant assembly at D+30 Global Grant The DRG is over, time for the long term

Three rules never to forget

  1. The DDRF is immediate, the DRG takes weeks. Do not wait for the DRG to engage initial spending. The DDRF, club funds and spontaneous donations cover the first 72 hours.
  2. The preliminary report at D+45 conditions everything that follows. Without this report, the DRG balance is frozen and the district's TRF qualification is called into question. Not one club, not one district: the entire network of your district loses access to grants.
  3. The DRG does not fund direct cash to victims. Water, shelter, kits, food: yes. Cash: no, except in exceptional approved cases. This is the most frequent trap in the first hours, when a generous Rotarian is tempted to hand out banknotes.

Contacts to keep at hand

Who Why When
DG (district governor) Activates the DCA and releases the DDRF H+0 to H+6
DRO (district disaster response officer) Operational coordination between clubs H+0 to D+30
DRFC (district foundation chair) Submits the DRG and co-signs the Global Grant D+1 to D+10
DNA-RAG zone representative Technical expertise and international coordination DCA-2 and DCA-1
Local ShelterBox lead If emergency shelters are required DCA-2 and DCA-1

Tip. Print these three tables and paste them into the inside cover of the club's emergency kit. At H+0, this is the page the Disaster Coordinator opens first.


Annex A, Operational Forms, Rotary Club Disaster Response Book