What is a strategic plan?
Think of a strategic plan as an organization’s road map: You can choose the roads you want to take, and the strategic plan ensures you reach your destination — your goals.
Kiwanis International’s strategic plan is designed for each district and club to use as a guide for creating their own plans and choosing their own paths toward accomplishing common goals. The plan focuses on five goal areas — or priorities — that will help clubs, districts and our overall organization thrive for years to come as a positive force for good in the world.
Key Concepts
Focus on clubs
Our primary focus must be support for our member clubs — because the clubs are central to our success. They are the reason we exist. In everything we do, we must prioritize our communication with and support of our clubs. And most importantly, the creation of new clubs everywhere increases the Kiwanis impact, enhances the global brand and reduces the shared cost.
Kiwanis community
A local network of Kiwanis family clubs, supporters, donors and alumni, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and others including governments, educational institutions and others that work together under the Kiwanis name to deliver meaningful and impactful service for youth and children to the defined local community.
Our global network of service
The worldwide grouping of traditional Kiwanis family organizations and clubs, non-traditional Kiwanis members, supporters, donors and alumni, and other for-profit and not-for-profit organizations that have united under the Kiwanis name to deliver meaningful and impactful service for youth and children to communities of the world.
Signature project
An annual or recurring, significant, high-impact, high-visibility project within a community that is planned and executed by Kiwanis and its network that defines Kiwanis in the community and benefits youth and/or children.
Service leadership programs as partners
The Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs clubs and members, including Aktion Club, Builders Club, Circle K International, K-Kids and Key Club International, not only as service programs of Kiwanis, but as full-fledged partners in service as part of the global and community Kiwanis networks.
OUR GLOBAL NETWORK
Kiwanis’ global network is larger than clubs and members. It is the worldwide grouping of traditional Kiwanis family organizations and clubs, non-traditional Kiwanis members, supporters, donors, alumni and other for-profit and not-for-profit organizations that have united under the Kiwanis name. Together, we become an undeniable force for good in our communities. We are better connected and more capable of delivering meaningful and impactful service for youth and children to communities of the world. That means stronger communities that nurture their children. That means a bigger impact in the world.
OUR MOTTO
Serving the Children of the World
OUR DEFINING STATEMENT (OUR MISSION)
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
Kiwanis will be a positive influence in communities worldwide...so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.
OUR VIVID DESCRIPTION
Kiwanis’ global network includes a dynamic family of clubs, individual supporters, alumni, donors, NGO (non-government organization) partners and corporate sponsors. Every community around the world has an opportunity to participate in or benefit from a Kiwanis experience. Based upon a legacy of service to youth and children, this global network is dedicated to building community and improving lives by providing opportunities for service, fellowship, leadership and philanthropy according to local needs, cultures and member interests.
Goal: Perform meaningful service, with service to children as our priority.
Kiwanis is best expressed through meaningful service in communities around the world. Since the inception of the organization, meeting the needs of children and developing youth leaders has been what Kiwanis clubs do best. When we work together and with other organizations to address important needs for children, we change lives, build stronger communities and, in doing so, improve our own lives.
Strategies:
• Continue to focus on signature projects as a key for effective and impactful community service in Kiwanis communities.
• Continue to encourage active support of Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs by all Kiwanis clubs everywhere.
• Continue to utilize the Kiwanis Children’s Fund and all Kiwanis foundations everywhere to fund Kiwanis signature projects and Kiwanis-branded service.
Goal: Enhance the Kiwanis image and brand worldwide.
Kiwanians are the most effective “advertisements” for Kiwanis. We represent our image in living color, wear our brand and share our message with the world. The common factor is the name. It is vital in all markets that we build strength by being seen as one organization, as one Kiwanis, by the public. That is why it is important for all Kiwanis members to maintain our standards for brand guidelines and messaging. Additionally, it is crucial to empower members and clubs worldwide with the training and tools they need to share Kiwanis’ story as one unified voice.
Strategies:
• Continue to unite the Kiwanis brand for Kiwanis clubs, districts, foundations, subsidiaries and affiliates.
• Continue to build branding and marketing strategies to prioritize membership growth.
Goal: Ensure financial viability and responsible stewardship.
Kiwanis does amazing work in the world. In addition, being able to demonstrate good stewardship in every part of the organization is essential, and the organization has continued to meet overall financial and operational goals each year. Our ongoing commitment to strong financial management has served the organization well. When we make wise financial investments, find opportunities to turn profits into service, combine our financial and volunteer resources, create efficient structures and make processes easy and affordable, we can build our capacity to do even more for the children of the world.
Strategies:
• Streamline and improve efficiency in all financial operations.
• Improve cost-effectiveness in all aspects of operations.
• Continue to expand existing and develop new non-dues revenue sources.
• Continue to grow the Kiwanis Children’s Fund and endowment.
• Maximize performance of our investment portfolios.