Scorecards help clubs recruit and retain

Scorecards help clubs recruit and retain

Nov 2, 2026 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

Use our resources to track recruiting success and members’ interests.

By Tony Knoderer 

The more members a Kiwanis club has, the more kids it can serve. That’s why two of the most important factors in a club’s success are finding new members and retaining current members. But recruitment and retention require more than a single event or activity. For the strongest clubs, it’s an ongoing part of the culture. 

Kiwanis International offers two “scorecards” designed to help Kiwanis clubs keep track of two crucial pieces of information: recruiting success and member satisfaction. 

The club growth scorecard offers a simple and convenient way to keep track of your club’s success in converting guests to members. It also lets the club note which members invited guests and sponsored new members — so everyone can celebrate the individuals whose commitment made the roster grow. The two-sided piece also includes instructions for using the scorecard, measuring success and more. 

Similarly, the member engagement scorecard offers an easy-to-use chart for clubs to record:  

  • Local charities 
  • Organizations that members support  
  • Current service projects 
  • Ideas for projects to engage more members 

All together, it’s a way to ensure that service projects reflect what your club’s members are passionate about. There’s even a column for “unlimited funds” projects — to facilitate discussion of members’ dream initiatives.  

The opposite side of the page gives instructions for filling out the scorecard and using that information.

We encourage you to download, print and start using both scorecards! 

Tell potential sponsors who’s coming

Tell potential sponsors who’s coming

Oct 30, 2026 | Club building, Fundraising, General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

Demographic information can persuade local businesses to support your club event. 

By Tony Knoderer

When your club is planning a fundraising or service event, a search for local sponsors should be part of the process. After all, sponsorship support can help pay costs, draw community attention and generate further connections.

Of course, it’s important to show potential sponsors why they should get involved. But it’s often more than just a matter of telling them how many people will be there.

It’s important to know who will be there.

Thinking about demographics will give your club a good start. Here are a few examples of event attendees who might get the attention of potential sponsors: 

  • “Green” consumers. If your event has an environmental (or general outdoors) theme, it will attract folks coveted by garden centers and landscapers. 
  • Foodies. Planning a meal-intensive fundraiser? Grocery chains, caterers, bakeries and restaurants should top your list of sponsorship candidates. 
  • Sports enthusiasts. For a sports-themed event, sporting goods stores and local teams (professional or semiprofessional) have an obvious interest in reaching attendees. A less obvious (but potentially fruitful) option is your local sports medicine center. 
  • Pet lovers. Cat and dog owners spend a lot of money on their four-legged friends — and plenty of businesses know it. If your event (or a portion of it) caters to this crowd, pet stores, veterinarians, groomers and kennels want to hear from you. 

Want more information like the tips above? Our sponsorship toolkit has it. You’ll find all the guidance you need for the process, from identifying potential sponsors to pricing and selling opportunities — and delivering what you promise. 

5 steps to sponsorships

5 steps to sponsorships

Oct 29, 2026 | Club building, General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

See how to start seeking out the partners who will enhance your club’s fundraising event.

By Tony Knoderer 

For Kiwanis clubs around the world, the best fundraising events have sponsors — the local partners who will boost club resources, raise your community profile and create access to a pool of potential members.  

But sponsors don’t just come knocking on your door. You have to find them. Your club can make that work easier by taking these five steps to organize the sponsorship search:  

  1. Create a demographic report on your club. Include average age, education level, professional background and anything else that a prospective sponsor might find useful.  
  2. Identify the best club members for the hunt. Who can bring special skills or enthusiasm — or both — to the search for sponsorship?  
  3. Put together a report on your event. Gather as much information as possible about attendance, demographics of attendees and media exposure.  
  4. Identify potential competition for sponsorships. For instance, if someone in your area holds a similar event on the same weekend — or even the same month — you might want to switch dates.  
  5. Put someone in charge of promotions. Do you have a communications committee chair — or at least a member who heads up promotional efforts for events? If not, put someone in charge of your club’s website, newsletter and advertising.  

Of course, this is just the beginning. Fortunately, Kiwanis International provides a comprehensive resource to guide you to the sponsorships you need. With our sponsorship toolkit, you’ll learn how to: 

  • Inventory your club’s marketable assets.  
  • Price your event offerings. 
  • Seek corporate support.  
  • Develop long-term relationships with sponsors.  
  • Save time by using templates for proposal materials. 

Download our sponsorship toolkit to get your club started today!