District Simplified Grants (DSGs) are funds designated for local humanitarian projects that benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the economically disadvantaged.

Each year, clubs may apply for District Simplified Grants during October. Two or more clubs partner to sponsor a project — often an excellent choice for smaller clubs. Proposals must be for new projects.

A district committee reviews all applications and selects short-term Community Service or Vocational Service projects that significantly benefit the sponsoring clubs' communities. Awards are made of $3,500-$5,000 each, and require a full match from the sponsoring club(s).

Examples of projects that can receive DSG funding:

• Purchase of a vehicle for a charitable organization;
• Construction of infrastructure, such as service roads, wells, reservoirs, dams, bridges, latrines, toilet blocks, water supplies or similar structures;
• Development of parks, purchase of park play equipment, other park furniture (benches, etc);
• Projects associated with population growth and development, e.g. community health training, public health education, or newborn baby screenings;
• Purchase of technical equipment, such as computers, for community organizations.

Examples of projects that cannot receive DSG funding:

• Construction or renovation of structures in which individuals live, work or engage in any gainful activity;
• Purchase of land and buildings;
• Payment of salaries, stipends, or honorariums;
• Funding of administrative or operating expenses of any organization;
• Postsecondary education activities.

Examples of projects that District 5030 has funded in the last 2-3 years:

• Healing Garden at Highline Medical Center (Rotary Clubs of Southcenter, Burien-White Center, Tukwila, Des Moines, and Vashon);
• Van for Meals on Wheels (Rotary Club of Bellevue)
• Assault survivor kit for Eastside Puget Sound Hospitals (Rotary Club of University);
• Outdoor learning center - permanent tables, bark, trees at Eastgate Elementary School (Rotary Club of Bellevue Sunrise);
• Cribs and diaper drive tool kit for poor families (Rotary Clubs of West Seattle and Burien-White Center);
• Survival packs for Eastside Domestic Violence (Rotary Club of Bellevue Sunrise);
• Scholarships for 43 youth at Boys and Girls Clubs of Mercer Island (Rotary Club of Mercer Island);
• Refrigerator and freezer for Maple Valley food bank (Rotary Club of Maple Valley);
• Equipment for teaching youth in an environmental lab (Rotary Club of Vashon);
• Outdoor play area for homeless youth (Rotary Club of Redmond)
• Homework factory (Rotary Clubs of Shoreline Breakfast, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline);
• Medicine for a Rotacare Medical Clinic (Rotary Club of Renton);
• Dictionaries for school children (Rotary Clubs of Federal Way, Federal Way Sunrise, Kent Sunrise, Rainier, and Des Moines).