Grants help Key Clubs increase access and inspiration

Grants help Key Clubs increase access and inspiration

Aug 20, 2026 | General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service Leadership Programs, Service projects | 0 comments

The Kiwanis Children’s Fund supported 31 service projects through the Youth Opportunities Fund.

By Erin Chandler

Key Club has been making a difference in schools and communities around the world for over 100 years. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund established the Youth Opportunities Fund so that Key Club leaders can continue taking action for the next 100 years and beyond.    

In April, the Children’s Fund awarded Youth Opportunities Fund grants for 31 outstanding Key Club projects that increase access to food, water and hygiene supplies; plant gardens; celebrate art and culture; and inspire other young people on the path to leadership. 

Here are the top 10 projects — as determined by the Key Club International Board committee and Children’s Fund representatives — in alphabetical order by club name:  

Hygiene Drive
Fremont Senior High School Key Club, Nebraska, U.S.
In a school with a 37% rate of chronic absenteeism, the Fremont High School Key Club hopes to help students with financial needs or mental health challenges feel more prepared — and more confident about coming to school. The club will work with other clubs to make personal hygiene supplies available, assembling the supplies into bags for their fellow students to pick up in the school’s guidance office, social worker’s office, nurse’s office, athletic office and at a Key Club Health Fair. The supplies will be purchased by the club — with help from a Youth Opportunities Fund grant — and donated by individuals or local businesses.  

Hygiene Kit Drive
Granite Hills High School Key Club, California, U.S.
A Youth Opportunities Fund grant will help the Granite Hills High School Key Club collect unused toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant and other essential hygiene supplies from students and staff. Club members will assemble the donated items into over 70 hygiene kits and deliver them to Sharia’s Closet, a local nonprofit that distributes free clothing and hygiene items to individuals and families in crisis. Club members hope the supplies will improve health, confidence and opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship. 

Walk for Clean Water
Hershey High School Key Club, Pennsylvania, U.S.
A past Youth Opportunities Fund grant recipient, the Hershey High School Key Club will use this year’s grant to increase attendance at its annual Walk for Clean Water. Members plan to launch a new online advertising platform and add more games and activities for event attendees. The club partners with Thirst Project each year to bring the community together for a 3.75-mile walk — the average distance that people in communities without clean water walk to the nearest well. Since 2016, the club has raised over US$202,000 to fund more than 17 wells in the African nation of Eswatini, improving health outcomes while freeing up more time for children to attend school and for mothers to pursue careers. 

AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Community Day
Hmong American Peace Academy Key Club, Wisconsin, U.S.
The Hmong American Peace Academy Key Club has only existed for three years, but this is already its second Youth Opportunities Fund grant for AAPI Community Day. The event kicks off AAPI Month in May with an event that celebrates the cultures and interests of students from kindergarten through high school. The entire Key Club participates in displaying members’ art, making or bringing cultural foods, leading activities ranging from Hmong dance lessons to Esports, and participating in the event highlight: the talent show. The student performers sing in multiple languages, dance, play instruments, put on a fashion show, juggle, do card tricks and more. Funds go to organizations that support the AAPI community, such as the Hmong American Women’s Association and the Hmong American Friendship Association. 

Pillars Create Pathways
Lincoln High School Key Club, Iowa, U.S.
When members of the Lincoln High School Key Club received funds to attend a district event from their sponsoring Kiwanis club, they came back inspired — but realized that, in an area with limited economic resources, most would not be able to access a similar experience. That’s why they decided to launch their own daylong leadership seminar and workshop based on the Pillars of Key Club (Leadership, Character Building, Caring and Inclusiveness). The event will feature lectures and presentations from “local celebrity” guest speakers, each of whom also will lead a small group discussion. With help from a Youth Opportunities Fund grant, students from six area schools will be able to attend the event at Lincoln High School free of charge. The club hopes attendees will be inspired and motivated to achieve their life goals. 

Little Free Pantries
Lincoln Southeast High School Key Club, Nebraska, U.S.
A Youth Opportunities Fund grant will help the Lincoln Southeast High School Key Club place Little Free Pantries containing food, essential hygiene products like soap and hand sanitizer, and school supplies throughout the community. The pantries will be built with help from the school’s shop department and then placed in areas where people in need can access them 24/7, including at the local Boys and Girls Club and in front of the school itself. Members hope the pantries will help improve the community’s health and wellbeing while strengthening bonds between community members. 

Youth Leadership Garden
Morris Knolls High School Key Club, New Jersey, U.S.
Community surveys indicated the need for a project that addressed mental health and improved the local environment with more green spaces. The Morris Knolls High School Key Club responded with the idea for a community garden at a local elementary or middle school. A Youth Opportunities Fund will help the club educate younger students on the environment through games and activities, plant the garden with a combination of flowers and vegetables, and maintain the project with a combination of students and volunteer groups. 

Community Care Health Kits
Oswego East High School Key Club, Illinois, U.S.
A Youth Opportunities Fund grant will help the Oswego High School Key Club purchase essential health and hygiene supplies — including toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products and more — to create 40 health kits. Club members will purchase and organize the supplies, assemble the kits and deliver them for distribution to Hesed House, a local shelter for those experiencing homelessness, and Mutual Ground, a domestic violence and crisis services organization. The club views the project as a meaningful, hands-on way to help others in the community toward health, dignity and overall well-being. 

Level Up: Building Pathways to the Future
Rosiorii de Vede Key Club, Romania
Last year, the Rosiorii de Vede Key Club piloted two successful workshops to get students at Mihai Eminescu Secondary School and Alexandru Depărățeanu Secondary School engaged and enthusiastic about learning. This year, a Youth Opportunities Fund grant will help expand the program to weekly after-school sessions that include homework support, learning reinforcement, creative workshops and personal growth activities. The 15 Key Club mentors, many of whom are graduates of these schools, will receive professional training sessions before taking on their roles, while other volunteers will work on promoting the project and coordinating sessions. The club hopes the project will help at least 50 younger students in difficult circumstances to rediscover their confidence and the joy of learning. 

Solving Food Insecurity
Washtenaw International High School Key Club, Michigan, U.S.
The Washtenaw International High School Key Club will collaborate with local food banks to figure out what items are most needed for families to have well-rounded meals. A Youth Opportunities Fund grant will help them supplement what they collect from their existing food drives to fill these gaps. Club members will assemble the donated and purchased food into nutritious food packs that can last for several weeks. The food packs will be distributed by local organizations to thousands of local families, helping to address food insecurity and the achievement gaps it can cause. 

How to get involved 
Does your Key Club have a project idea that could benefit from a Youth Opportunities Fund grant? Learn more about the grant and how to apply on the Key Club website. If your club does not yet sponsor a Key Club, learn about the advantages of chartering one today.   

New club kickstarts student success

New club kickstarts student success

Jul 21, 2026 | Club building, General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service projects | 0 comments

A Children’s Fund grant helps the new Kiwanis Voices Club of Mírame launch a signature project. 

By Erin Chandler

The Kiwanis Voices Club of Mírame, Panama, is one of the latest clubs to apply for and receive a Kickstarter grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. As a result, the new club — part of the Kiwanis Voices program, which creates Kiwanis clubs for adults ages 18-26 — will help local students stay in school.  

Thanks to the Kickstarter program, a club that charters with 30 or more active members is invited to apply for a grant to help fund the club’s signature project — the service, event or fundraiser that the club will become known for in the community. For the Kiwanis Voices Club of Mírame, that project is Backpacks with Dreams (Mochilas con sueños), which will address the issue of school absences and damaged school supplies due to seasonal weather. 

Currently, when students walk to school during Panama’s rainy season, their supplies get wet and deteriorate. This has a negative effect on academic performance while also increasing school absenteeism and the financial burden on families who must replace supplies.  

Thanks in part to the Kickstarter grant, the Mírame club will partner with local organizations and the Ministry of Education to deliver waterproof backpacks and school supply kits to primary and pre-secondary students at the Ciri Grande Educational Center. Club members will be involved in every step of the project, including planning, purchasing and sorting supplies, and distributing the backpacks. They hope the project will help 100 kids in its first year. 

Club President Isai Meléndez shared some thoughts about the experience of launching the project as a new Kiwanis club. 

What led your club to choose Backpacks with Dreams as your signature project?
We believe education is one of the most powerful tools for changing lives. As a newly chartered Kiwanis club, we wanted our first signature project to reflect our commitment to serving children while creating a meaningful and lasting impact. After learning about the challenges faced by students in rural communities who lack access to basic school supplies, we knew we could make a difference by providing the resources they need to begin the school year with hope, confidence and dignity. 

What excites you most about your club’s first signature project?
What excites us most is turning a shared dream into a reality that directly benefits children and their families. Backpacks with Dreams represents the beginning of our club’s legacy and proves that even as a new Kiwanis club, we can make a meaningful difference in our community. Our favorite part is the distribution day, when we see the excitement, joy and hope on the students’ faces as they receive a backpack prepared especially for them. It reminds us that even a small act of kindness can open the door to great opportunities. 

What challenges, rewards or surprises have you experienced as a new Kiwanis club?
One of our greatest challenges has been introducing our club to the community, strengthening our organization and securing the resources needed to carry out meaningful service projects. We have also learned that coordinating volunteers, building partnerships and planning every detail requires commitment and teamwork. At the same time, the rewards have been incredible. We have seen individuals, businesses and organizations come together to support our mission, proving that when people believe in a meaningful purpose, they are eager to help. One of our biggest surprises has been discovering how much can be accomplished when passionate people work together to serve others. 

What advice would you give to other new Kiwanis clubs, especially those considering applying for a Kickstarter grant?
Our advice is to dream big and never let being a new club hold you back. Focus on identifying a real need in your community, develop a clear and well-planned project, involve every club member and document your progress along the way. Most importantly, tell your story with authenticity and clearly communicate the impact your project will have. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund Kickstarter Grant is an incredible opportunity to turn ideas into meaningful service. With teamwork, dedication and a genuine passion for helping children, even a new club can create a lasting impact in its community.

Find more information

  • Learn more about Kickstarter grants. Remember, the Kiwanis Children’s Fund will invite all eligible clubs to apply — but you still need to fill out the application!  
  • Email [email protected] with any questions about this or any Children’s Fund grants. You can also call 1-800-KIWANIS (U.S. and Canada) or +1-317-217-6225 (worldwide). 
  • Learn about Kiwanis Voices, our pilot program for creating Kiwanis clubs that consist exclusively of members who are ages 18-26 years old. 
Microgrants brighten kids’ futures

Microgrants brighten kids’ futures

Jul 10, 2026 | General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service projects | 0 comments

From January through March, smaller clubs made a big impact through the Kiwanis Children’s Fund.

By Erin Chandler

In January, February and March, 12 Kiwanis clubs from around the world received microgrants, thanks to a Kiwanis Children’s Fund program that awards grants of US$250-$1,000 to clubs with 35 or fewer members. The following three projects highlight some of the ways Kiwanis clubs are using microgrants to give young people of all ages a more promising start in each of the Kiwanis cause areas: education and literacy, health and nutrition, and youth leadership development.    

Health and Nutrition
Improving Child Health Through Deworming Outreach in Nakivale Refugee Settlement
Kiwanis Club of Likasi DRC-Virtual, Uganda
With help from a Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant, the Kiwanis Club of Likasi DRC has launched an initiative to improve the health and nutrition of 500 vulnerable children, including orphans, in Uganda’s Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Volunteers traveled 31 miles by rented motor scooters to the city of Mbara for medication to treat intestinal parasites. Led by two Kiwanians who are nurses living in the settlement, they distributed the medication over the course of three weeks, going house-to-house in villages without easy access to schools or clinics. While food scarcity is a severe and ongoing problem in the settlement, with most residents receiving only one meal a day, eliminating intestinal parasites helps children better absorb the nutrients they do receive. Club members hope this effort will increase the children’s strength and energy, reduce illness and lay the groundwork for future efforts to address health and nutrition among Nakivale’s refugees. 

Education and Literacy
Kiwanis Improves Education
Kiwanis Club of Dooly County, Georgia, U.S.
With just 17 members, the Kiwanis Club of Dooly County is working to strengthen literacy and encourage a lifelong love of learning for at least 50 students per year. A Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant will help the club purchase books for the community’s students in kindergarten through second grade. The goal is to turn these students into confident readers before standardized testing begins in third grade, so club members work with local schools to select a wide variety of books that will capture kids’ imagination and appeal to their diverse interests and experiences. The club also provides continuing motivation for learning by working with local organizations to present STAR Student scholarships to graduating high school students each year. 

Youth Leadership Development
Bridges to Success: Community-Based Mentorship and Career Pathways for Youth
Kiwanis Club of Rosiorii De Vede, Romania
The Kiwanis Club of Rosiorii De Vede plans to use a Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant to help members reach young people when they are most in need of guidance: while planning their future education and career pathways. The club will host approximately 100 high school students at five mentorship and career guidance sessions that will include structured activities and discussions with mentors in the areas of career exploration, goal setting, leadership development and understanding educational pathways. The mentors will be former Key Club members — many of them reengaging with the Kiwanis family for the first time since graduation — in professional fields such as medicine, law, engineering, journalism, agronomy and entrepreneurship. The program will culminate in the Community Education and Career Fair, where high school and eighth-grade students can interact directly with educational and professional organizations. The club hopes to support students making difficult decisions, lead them to be confident in their futures and strengthen intergenerational bonds in the Kiwanis family. 

How you can help 
To learn more about Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrants, visit kiwanis.org/microgrant-program.     

If you want to help the Children’s Fund provide grants like these that reach children around the world, you can make a gift to The Kiwanis Possibility Project. Your club also can apply for a grant to help kids in your community today.