The Rotary Club of Oberlin was chartered on May 7, 1938 as a community service organization of local business and professional leaders.   Its stated purposes are to promote fellowship among members of the community involved in a variety of occupations, to promote the ideal of community service and of viewing one's profession as an opportunity to serve, and to advance "international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional [individuals] united in the ideal of service."

Members in good standing of the Rotary Club of Oberlin nominate citizens of the community for membership, which is granted in such a way that all sectors of the local business and professional community are represented.  Areas of service for Oberlin Rotarians over the years have included sponsoring Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, supporting sports and recreation activities for children and youth, offering scholarships, and funding exchange students at the high school and college level.  Rotary Club of Oberlin works in tandem with Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation in worldwide efforts to support education and eradicate diseases such as polio in the Third World.

The Rotary Club of Oberlin is governed by a twelve-member elected Board of Directors that serve for one-year renewable terms.  The Board elects a president from among its members, with the retiring president serving as vice-president for one year and ex-officio member of the Board.  The Board also appoints a secretary-treasurer who may or may not be an elected member of the board; if not, he serves ex-officio as well.