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Winds and floods from Hurricane Katrina destroyed all the musical instruments at McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Serving over 400 kindergarten through eighth grade students, this arts magnet school was devastated by the effects of the hurricane.

The inaugural project was the re-establishment of the music program at St. Andrew's RC School in Grenada. Wind and flood from two consecutive hurricanes destroyed all musical instruments at the school. When IFRM member Peter Sotheran (RC of Guisborough and Great Ayton, England) contacted IFRM about the school's needs, the Fellowship responded with a grant to purchase needed instruments and music books. A supplemental IFRM grant, matched by community funds, provided monies for a steel band for the school's music program.

IFRM is proud to be the first Fellowship to utilize the RI Donor Advised Fund. By investing in this Fund, IFRM is able to both facilitate tax-deductible giving to our Fellowship as well as to use the Fund as a vehicle for funding domestic projects.

The original IFRM Trust Fund was founded in 1977 with seed money provided by founder Jim Whited and supplemented through the sale of sing-along tapes and individual donations.

The International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians (IFRM) began in 1972 to "promote and encourage the use and appreciation of music in Rotary Clubs by Rotarians in our society and, thereby, to encourage world understanding."