Grants help CKI serve schools and communities 

Grants help CKI serve schools and communities 

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

Six Circle K International projects receive Tomorrow Fund grants. 

By Erin Chandler

In college and university communities around the world, members of Circle K International are already making a difference through service and leadership. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund established the Tomorrow Fund to help these clubs and districts implement more creative solutions to problems and make the greatest possible positive impact.  

This February, the Children’s Fund awarded six Tomorrow Fund grants — all to improve the lives of people in CKI members’ schools and surrounding communities.  

Hygiene Kits for the Homeless
Circle K International of Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, U.S.
When Johns Hopkins University CKI teamed up with Hand4Hand Global to assemble and distribute 50 hygiene kits to people facing homelessness in their community last year, recipients were so enthusiastic that the club quickly ran out of supplies. This year, a Tomorrow Fund grant will help double the number of hygiene kits the club is able to make. Members also plan to add blankets, socks and hand warmers to the soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, menstrual products and other essential hygiene items the kits contain. The goal of the project is to improve the health and dignity of people experiencing homelessness and prevent them from being denied work or housing due to appearance or hygiene. 

Finals Week Care Package Tabling
Circle K International of the University of California San Diego, California, U.S.
When the University of California San Diego Student Foundation was hit by a decline in membership and funding, CKI members stepped up to make sure the foundation’s longstanding Finals Week Care Package project continues. Together, CKI and Student Foundation volunteers hand out practical care packages to students during the week of final exams. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help fill the packages with snacks, small hygiene products, hand sanitizer, face masks and a few comfort items, like stickers. This small form of support reduces stress and financial strain on students during busy times, and it grows in popularity each year. 

UE Circle K International Prom
Circle K International of the University of Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
For over 10 years, University of Evansville CKI has hosted a prom for special education students in nearby school districts. A Tomorrow Fund grant will go toward decorations, food, and craft supplies for attendees. The event is an opportunity for high school students with disabilities and their families to dance and have fun in a supportive and welcoming environment. 

CKI Artsaya Maglaro 2026
Circle K International of the University of the Philippines Los Baños
University of the Philippines Los Baños CKI is working to guide kids away from screens and toward outdoor activities, social connection and creativity. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help cover food and supplies for the club’s Artsaya Maglaro project, where 30 kids — 10 more than last year — will spend part of their summer vacations taking part in traditional games of the Philippines followed by creative art sessions. The club hopes to make the project bigger every year to promote physical, mental and emotional health and development while reviving a deeply rooted Filipino tradition of play. 

Resiliency Ropes
Circle K International Georgia District, U.S.
At this year’s Georgia District convention, CKI and Key Club members will spend one hour making approximately 300 kid-friendly “resiliency rope” bracelets for children in foster care in the Atlanta area. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help supply the paracord, clips and other supplies to make the durable bracelets. Kids in foster care can then use their resiliency ropes as calming, sensory grounding tools during times of stress. The resiliency ropes also can secure items or bags. CKI members hope that the bracelets will help give kids in foster care a sense of control and continuity in the midst of instability. 

Food Pantry Meal Kits
Circle K International Nebraska-Iowa District, U.S.
A Tomorrow Fund grant will help purchase supplies for meal kits that CKI, Kiwanis and Key Club members will assemble at the 2026 Nebraska-Iowa CKI District Convention. Each kit will contain nonperishable foods, shelf-stable ingredients and a recipe card for a balanced meal that can feed a family of four. Convention attendees also will assemble birthday boxes with cake ingredients, a cake pan, balloons, candles and a birthday card. The goal of the project is not just to address food insecurity, but to alleviate the mental burden of planning a healthy meal and the financial burden that can come with celebrating important milestones. The project is designed to be easily replicable in convention attendees’ home clubs and communities.  

How to get involved
Does your Circle K International group have a project idea that could benefit from a Tomorrow Fund grant? Learn more about the grant and how to apply. If your Kiwanis club does not yet sponsor a CKI club, learn about the advantages of chartering one.  

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). 

 

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.