The Royce and Jean Abbey Endowed Fund was initially established with the financial support of the District Governors of 1988/89, the year Royce Abbey was President of Rotary International. It has since been supplemented by donations by Rotarians and by contributions from the Royce Abbey Awards.

​

The earnings of the Fund are used for Humanitarian programmes and in particular to fund a scholarship for individuals from the Asia Pacific Region to undertake practical training in Australia in the areas of food production, forestry, agriculture, environmental research, and community leadership and development.

​

The training is intended to equip the successful candidates to impart the knowledge gained to their own communities.

​

The scholarship covers travel, accommodation, tuition and practical training with funding of up to USD$10,000 for each successful candidate.