Grants kickstart new clubs’ projects

Grants kickstart new clubs’ projects

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). 

 

5 things to discover in the new Key Club book

5 things to discover in the new Key Club book

Find out what’s inside “A Century of Service,” the new book celebrating Key Club’s 100th anniversary.

By Erin Chandler 

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Key Club in 2025, we decided to create something big: a hardcover “coffee-table” book full of pictures and fun facts spanning Key Club’s entire first century! “A Century of Service” is available for purchase now in the Kiwanis Family Store. 

Here are five things you can look forward to seeing in the Key Club centennial book: 

  • Key Club history. Have you ever wondered exactly when and how Key Club got started? Who the Nininger Award was named for? When women first joined Key Club — and how they participated in service projects and conventions before that? All those answers and more can be found in the book’s timeline, profiles of Key Club heroes, lists of award recipients and tons of photos that give glimpses into Key Club history. 
  • Evolving fashion. You only have to look at the gallery of past Key Club presidents to see how trends have come and gone. Behold how the excessive use of hair products in the 1940s gives way to the crew cuts of the 1950s, only to return in the first decade of the 2000s. Judge which era boasted the snazziest neckties. Compare the style of a 1978 dance marathon to one in 2012. Photos of vintage Key Club pins, sweaters and hats also appear throughout the book. In Chapter 4, you can even count the cowboy hats that have appeared at Key Club conventions — the one accessory that spans the decades! 
  • Interesting service projects. In our collection of photographs, you’ll see which Key Club projects are truly timeless — clothing, food and book drives, for example — and which are rooted in a specific time and place — like participating in telethons. You’ll even find some unusual projects, such as cleaning a decommissioned battleship or dressing like superheroes for a holiday party. Maybe you’ll get inspiration for your next big Key Club or Kiwanis family project! 
  • Celebrity cameos. Key Club’s dedication to service has drawn its share of celebrity attention over the years. In addition to notable Key Club alumni, including two U.S. Senators and current “Today” cohost Craig Melvin, the eagle-eyed reader will spot photos of comedians Soupy Sales and Jerry Lewis, actresses Kim Novak and Ginny Sims, First Lady Nancy Reagan, singer Pat Boone, astronaut John Glenn, boxer Jack Dempsey and gymnast Laurie Hernandez. See if you can find them all! 
  • YOU? Paging through photos from 100 years of service, conventions, chartering ceremonies and more, it’s just possible that you might see yourself, a friend or a family member! There’s only one way to find out: Purchase your copy of “A Century of Service.” 
Get social media assets for your club

Get social media assets for your club

Add visual flair and positive messages to your feeds — for free.

By Tony Knoderer

Don’t forget: Kiwanis International can help you put more fun and color into your club’s social media feeds. Our webpage of assets offers items that are ready to download and use! 

Choose from an assortment of photographs and illustrations to catch people’s attention, along with words that inspire people to serve, mentor and more. You’ll even find assets and messaging that fit seasonal appeals or encourage people to celebrate educators. 

On the webpage, we also offer optional text that you can combine with each asset. If you wish, copy and paste the text into your Facebook, Instagram and X feeds. You can also adjust it to fit your club’s specific needs and information. 

Our social media assets are just one page among several in the branding and marketing section that we make available to Kiwanis club members on our website. Check out the links to downloadable logos, photographs and much more — including our free service for creating club websites 

It’s all part of the support that helps your club represent Kiwanis with quality and consistency.