Grants kickstart new clubs’ projects

Grants kickstart new clubs’ projects

Oct 2, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, News, Service projects | 0 comments

Learn about the Kickstarter Grant Program of the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. 

By Erin Chandler

The Kiwanis Children’s Fund has awarded its first Kickstarter grants to new Kiwanis clubs!  

The Kickstarter Grant Program helps new clubs launch signature projects to serve their communities. All clubs that charter with 30 or more active members will receive invitations to apply for a grant of up to US$1,000 in Tier 1 countries and up to US$500 in Tier 2 countries. Clubs are eligible to apply for up to 120 days following their organization dates. If they maintain their membership or grow to 40 or more active members within one year of chartering, they are eligible to apply for a second grant of up to US$1,000! 

Kickstarter grant applications are shorter than traditional club grant applications, and less funding is required from other sources to receive a grant. Grant funds are distributed more quickly, too — once an application is approved, the club should receive its grant within 30 days. 

 

One club’s Kickstarter grant experience 

One of the first clubs to receive a Kickstarter grant was the Kiwanis Club of Visionaries in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, which organized in April 2025. Grant funds will help the club launch its Visionary Library Project. In cooperation with local partners, club members will set up inviting, safe and accessible library spaces and reading corners in malls, rural schools and refugee learning centers throughout the community. They will fill the libraries with age-appropriate reading material that they curate and organize themselves. The club plans to foster a love of reading in the community by hosting storytelling sessions, reading workshops and other literacy-focused activities in these spaces. 

We talked to Adrian Ung, president of the Kiwanis Club of Visionaries, about his experience submitting a Kickstarter grant application for his club. 

What was the application process like?
Ung: The application process was clear and well structured. The guiding questions helped us articulate our goals and refine our project plan. It also was a great exercise in aligning our team around a shared vision. We truly appreciated how approachable and supportive the Kiwanis team was throughout. 

What advice would you give to other clubs considering applying for Kickstarter grants?
Ung: Go for it! This grant is a great way to give your club an early boost and bring your ideas to life. My advice: Focus on a project that reflects your club’s unique identity and passion. Be clear about your objectives, keep your proposal simple and compelling, and show how your initiative will create real community impact. 

What are you most looking forward to in launching your signature project?
Ung: We’re most excited about turning our vision into tangible action by launching a literacy initiative that brings books and storytelling to underserved communities. It’s a project that speaks to our hearts and allows us to serve children in a creative and inclusive way. We’re eager to see the smiles, spark curiosity and plant the seeds of lifelong learning. 

 

More Kickstarter grant projects 

New Kiwanis clubs all over the world are already benefiting from Kickstarter grants — and so are their communities: 

  • The Kiwanis Club of Plaquemines, Louisiana, U.S.: School Uniforms for Plaquemines Parish 
  • The Kiwanis Club of Greater Loveland Area, Ohio, U.S.: Care Closets, Summer Lunches and Materials for Projects 
  • The Kiwanis Club of Oldham County, Kentucky, U.S.: Oldham County Christmas Basket Project 
  • The Kiwanis Club of Greater Princeton Community, Indiana, U.S.: A/V Equipment for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) Program 
  • The Kiwanis Club of Sabine, Louisiana, U.S.: SPARK Alternative School Positive Behavior Incentive System Rewards 
  • The Kiwanis Club of Gardabaer-Hera, Iceland: Lestrarhetjur (Reading Heroes) 
  • The Kiwanis Clubs of Chuan Ai, Chun Hsin, Hsin Tung Li, Li Kuan, Shuang Shih Yung Li, Tung Te and Yung Shan: The Taiwan District’s One Club, One School Program 
  • The Kiwanis Clubs of Chuan Min, Feng Ya and Yu Lin: The Taiwan District’s Angel Dream Project 

 

Questions? 

You can learn more about Kickstarter grants on the program’s webpage. Remember, all eligible clubs will receive an invitation to apply for a Kickstarter grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund — but you still need to fill out the application!  

If you have questions, email grants@kiwanis.org. You can also call 1-800-KIWANIS (U.S. and Canada) or +1-317-217-6225 (worldwide). 

 

Grow your club with Two For Two

Grow your club with Two For Two

Sep 25, 2025 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

If you haven’t used our membership program, here are five steps to get started.

By Tony Knoderer

Kiwanis International’s Two For Two program continues to help Kiwanis clubs grow — through teamwork, accountability and even a little fun. In fact, our data shows that clubs using Two For Two have added twice as many new members than clubs that added members but didn’t use the program.  

Two For Two offers a simple concept: Each month, two current members invite two potential members to join. Of course, there’s more to it. But it’s easy to get started. Try these five steps: 

  1. Commit to your club’s growth. Membership growth is not a onetime campaign or event. It’s a continuous club operation. Inspire your club to make that commitment — because it will ultimately help more kids in your community.  
  2. Download the program guide. The Two For Two guide is filled with information and ideas: who to approach, how to approach them, ways to identify prospects and more. Cards help you follow through on contacts — and they also offer suggestions. Use the back cover to track your club’s progress.  
  3. Spend a club meeting working the plan. Identify two club members to reach out to two prospects for each of the next several months. Members who work in pairs can support each other and reach more people more rapidly. Refer to the Two For Two guide for help identifying people and personalities your club may be missing.  
  4. Reach out. When recruiting, make an appointment to talk to potential members — rather than “cold calling” or simply showing up at their location. Ask for a date and time.  
  5. Meet with a prospect. While discussing what Kiwanis is about, focus on impact. Potential members need to know what you do, how you do it, why the community needs them and where they can immediately fit. Then invite them to join your club!  

In addition to the program guide, you’ll find other resources and information on the program’s webpage. Just go to kiwanis.org/twofortwo. 

And check out our blog for posts and videos with membership tips, success stories and more! 

Two For Two works wonders in South Dakota town 

Two For Two works wonders in South Dakota town 

Sep 8, 2025 | Club building, General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

See how the program sparked immediate growth for a U.S. club. 

By Julie Saetre

When Vern Hagedorn took on the role of 2024-25 president of the Kiwanis Club of Black Hills, Hot Springs in South Dakota, U.S., he immediately faced a challenge: The previous year’s treasurer had resigned on the last Saturday of September, and no budget had been started for the impending Kiwanis year. The club roster had only six people — which meant six people to rebuild the club. But with Kiwanis International’s Two For Two initiative, they were enough to get immediate results. 

In clubs practicing Two For Two, two members reach out to two prospects each month. By working as a pair, those two members support each other and reach people more rapidly by strategizing and tailoring how they will explain the club, its impact and the benefits of membership to each prospect. 

For Hagedorn and his club, it’s working. He began by developing a packet of materials to help prepare current members for their first prospect visit. He also created materials about the club and Kiwanis to give to prospects, along with name cards listing contact information for each team.  

Next, one club meeting in November 2024 was devoted to creating a list of prospects to visit, including those working in occupation not represented by current members and anyone else who could enrich the club’s service efforts. A second meeting established teams and determined which pairs would visit which prospects. 

The results: “We have nearly doubled our membership since October 2024, from 6 to 11, and waiting for a response from another,” Hagedorn says. “The Two For Two program is very effective in our small community of about 3,500 residents, and I would highly recommend the program as one means of increasing membership.” 

Inspired to use the program in your club? Go to the Two For Two webpage, where you and your fellow members will find a guide, five easy steps to begin and more — including how to make the program work for your club.  

Already using Two For Two and want to share your success story? Let us know at shareyourstory@kiwanis.org.