New club kickstarts its signature project

New club kickstarts its signature project

Feb 13, 2026 | Club building, General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service projects | 0 comments

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Vernon County launches into service with a Children’s Fund grant. 

By Erin Chandler

The newly chartered Kiwanis Club of Greater Vernon County, Missouri, U.S., is one of the latest clubs to apply for and receive a Kickstarter grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund.  

All clubs that charter with 30 or more active members are invited to apply for a Kickstarter grant to help fund a signature project — the service, event or fundraiser that the club will become known for in the community.  

For the Kiwanis Club of Greater Vernon County, that project is the Feeding Futures After School Nutrition Program. The club will partner with local schools to provide nutritious snacks and meal bags to students who might not have reliable access to food outside of school breakfasts and lunches. Club members will personally purchase, package and deliver the food to students’ homes. They hope the project will reach 100-150 kids in its first year. 

We asked the club’s president, Kalli Gober, a few questions about the experience of launching the project as a new Kiwanis club. 

What led your club to choose the Feeding Futures After School Nutrition Program as your signature project? 
As a new Kiwanis club, we wanted a project that addressed an immediate, visible need in our community and directly supported children and families. Food insecurity continues to be a real challenge in our area, especially after school hours when many kids don’t have reliable access to meals or snacks. The Feeding Futures After School Nutrition Program was a natural fit because it allows us to make a direct, meaningful impact while building partnerships with schools, local organizations and volunteers. It aligns perfectly with Kiwanis’ focus on improving the lives of children and gives our members a hands-on way to serve. 

What are you most looking forward to in your club’s signature project?  
I’m most looking forward to seeing the project come to life and watching our members, community partners and volunteers come together around a shared purpose. There’s something powerful about a simple, practical project that meets basic needs for our community. My favorite part will be knowing that what we’re doing will have an immediate impact.  

What are some of the challenges, rewards and/or surprises you’ve encountered as a new Kiwanis club? 
One of the biggest challenges has been building momentum and awareness as a new club. It takes time to grow membership, establish routines and help people understand what Kiwanis is all about. At the same time, one of the biggest rewards has been seeing how willing our community is to support the mission once they learn about it. A pleasant surprise has been the number of partnerships and connections that have come from simply reaching out and sharing our vision. People truly want to help when given the opportunity. 

What advice would you give other new Kiwanis clubs, especially those considering a Kickstarter grant application? 
Start with a project that meets a clear, local need and that your members are genuinely excited about. Keep it simple, practical and achievable in your first year. When applying for a Kickstarter grant, be specific about the impact you’ll make and the partnerships you’ll build. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to collaborate — community support is often stronger than you expect. Most importantly, focus on projects that create visible results, because that momentum will help your club grow and stay engaged. 

You can learn more about Kickstarter grants in the members’ section of our website. 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). 

 

Tell your club’s story on social media

Tell your club’s story on social media

Feb 6, 2026 | Club building, General interest, News | 0 comments

For most platforms, you need three simple elements. 

By Tony Knoderer

Pretend you know nothing about Kiwanis or your club. Now look at the three most recent posts on your club’s social media account. Ask yourself:  

  • Is it clear that we’re a group of volunteers?  
  • Is it clear that we help kids?  
  • Is our community impact easy to see? 

You can say all these things, of course, but it’s important to show it. (Oh, and you have about three seconds — the average time someone looks at a social media post before deciding whether to interact or scroll past.) 

So, how can you convey what you do and the impact you make in a few seconds? 

Include these elements
You don’t need fancy software or a degree in design to make a good social media post. For most platforms, all you need is: 

  • A visual element. Photos and illustrations draw people in. When you talk about a service project, for example, include photos — particularly active shots of the service being performed, not just members lined up for the camera. 
  • A clear, conversational tone. Give people the feeling that a real person is “talking” to them. 
  • A call to action. What do you want people to do after seeing your post? 

These elements help people focus on the value of your club — to kids in your community and to club members — and the fact that you want others to be a part of it.  

If the topic of a post is especially important to a particular member, you might even ask them to write it! Here’s an example: 

As a mom of two kids who graduated from the Pleasant Hills School District, I know how dedicated our teachers are, sometimes even paying for extra classroom supplies out of their own pockets. 👩‍🏫 My Kiwanis club and I are ready to help them — and you’re welcome to assist! 

Join me at Southview Elementary School next Tuesday, July 8, as we fill backpacks full of school supplies for students to lessen the burden on our teachers. Let me know if you’d like to sign up! ❤️ 

Remember: People join people. Make sure that anyone who sees your post understands that Kiwanis volunteers are folks like them. 

Other resources
From social media to websites and more, Kiwanis International has tools for your club’s needs. Go to our branding and marketing webpage for resources such as:  

  • Kiwanis logos  
  • Social media images  
  • Our “Tips and Tools” booklet  
  • Free club websites  
  • Custom club logos  

And when your club is celebrating an anniversary, make it an event that gets the community’s attention. Go to our dedicated webpage for: 

  • Celebration ideas 
  • Custom anniversary logos 
  • Tips to get media coverage 
Grants make kids’ days special

Grants make kids’ days special

Feb 5, 2026 | General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service projects | 0 comments

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

By Erin Chandler

In October, November and December, Kiwanis clubs around the world received Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrants for projects that fostered children’s growth through memorable moments and everyday experiences. The following three projects highlight some of the ways Kiwanis clubs are using microgrants to give young people of all ages a promising start in the Kiwanis cause areas: education and literacy, health and nutrition, and youth leadership development.   

Health and nutrition
Animal-Assisted Happiness
Kiwanis Club of Milpitas, California, U.S.
A Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant will give students with severe disabilities a day of fun with therapeutic barnyard animals. Students at Russell Middle School and Milpitas High School will be accompanied by a mainstream student “buddy” as they greet the chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and miniature goats. Many of the students have limited communication skills and difficulty interacting with people, but their caregivers say that outside stimuli and interaction with animals may help with their development. The project’s trial run, in collaboration with an organization that brings the animals directly to the school, has been a great success. 

Education and literacy
Book Nooks
Kiwanis Club of Barbados-In Action, Barbados
The Kiwanis Club of Barbados-In Action has already installed “book nooks” in 37 nursery and primary school classrooms, motivating kids and teachers around the island to enjoy reading. A microgrant from the Children’s Fund will help the club toward its goal of creating 200 book nooks over the Kiwanis year. Club members set up each nook with mats, cushions, books and a book display unit, and they inaugurate the nook with a story-time session. They have also recruited community partners to continue visiting and reading to the children. This project supports the Barbados government’s initiative to improve literacy in the country — and while many programs are focusing on adults, the Kiwanis club is directing its efforts toward early learning. The club’s goal is to “create a reading revolution in Barbados” by inspiring kids to love reading, improving literacy levels and strengthening bonds between schools and communities. 

Youth Leadership Development
Rock Indian Grove Rehabilitation
Kiwanis Club of Hemet Valley, California, U.S.
The Ramona Pageant, which dramatizes conflicts between Native Americans and settlers in 19th century California, is the state’s official outdoor play and has been performed annually for over 100 years. A Children’s Fund microgrant will help the Kiwanis Club of Hemet Valley become a part of this dramatic legacy as they rehabilitate the long-neglected staging area for the 75 child volunteers who portray the play’s Native American villagers. The club will fund and assist with grading the area, removing graffiti, cleaning and rebuilding a spring-fed pond, clearing brush, trimming trees and installing picnic tables. A safe and fun place for the kids to get ready for their performance will emphasize the significance of their role in telling an important story — encouraging them to stay engaged in community service and California history. 

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.