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Why should a school or community organization start a K-Kids club?
K-Kids is a ready-to-go, student-led service and leadership program that provides schools and organizations with all the materials, guidelines, and support to get a club started. Club materials are designed to further social-emotional learning, build essential skills, foster students’ self-confidence and enhance a culture of kindness. Unique for a primary and elementary school aged program, K-Kids gives young students opportunities to lead on a board as a club officer (president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer) and to serve as committee chairpersons. Here’s information about how to Start a Club.
How does a student join a K-Kids club?
K-Kids membership is open to any primary/elementary school age student who wants to help others and to learn how to be a leader in their school and community.
Contact the school or organization’s K-Kids faculty advisor.
If the school or organization does not have a K-Kids club, contact a local Kiwanis club to ask their help in starting a club. Use the Kiwanis club locator to find a club.
If there isn’t a Kiwanis club in the community, contact the Service Leadership Program staff at Kiwanis International by emailing us at to learn how the school or organization can start a club.
How many members are needed to start a K-Kids club?
We suggest that a club has 15 or more members. Clubs range in size from 10 to 150 members. Club size creates opportunities for advisors to adjust activities to the number of members involved. For instance, small clubs can invite other youth in the school or organization to help during service events. While larger clubs ensure there are additional advisors or adult volunteers to help members and keep them safe during off-campus service projects.
How much does it cost to start a K-Kids club?
The cost to charter (start) a K-Kids club is US$300 in North America and the Caribbean. For the cost to charter and renew clubs in other countries around the world, please contact . The Petition to Charter form provides details about the chartering process.
How much does it cost to renew an existing K-Kids club?
The cost to renew a club is US$215 every year in North America and the Caribbean and less in other countries around the world. This US$215 annual renewal fee gives the club program materials, virtual advisor training and support from Kiwanis staff, and liability insurance coverage for club activities that happen outside the school or organization.
How much does it cost to reactivate an existing K-Kids club?
The cost during the 2024-25 service year is $24 to reactivate a club.
What resources are provided for K-Kids clubs to help with their work?
Kiwanis International provides many resources to help K-Kids advisors in every aspect of guiding a club and supporting officers, chairs, and members to conduct high-quality service. K-Kids clubs receive a program kit when they charter, and annually when they renew (in North America and the Caribbean). The kit includes essential tools such as an Advisor Guide, Member Guide, Service Guide, Officer Guides, Committee Chair Guide, member and officer buttons, and more. Check out the program kit flyer to see the list of items clubs receive and additional resources available online at www.kiwaniskids.org/resources-main/.
How can the faculty advisor help the club receive its renewal kit quickly after the beginning of the school year?
The secretary of the sponsoring Kiwanis club is responsible for paying your K-Kids renewal fee each year. To receive your program kit at or near the start of the year, contact the secretary and your Kiwanis advisor before the start of the school year to ask the fee be paid and to provide the following information: (a) the anticipated number of members; (b) the faculty advisor name and contact information; and (c) learn where the program kit will be mailed – if the secretary is mailing the kit to your school/organization, verify the address and a phone number. Allow 2-4 weeks from time of payment to receive club materials. Any refund request must be reviewed. Refunds will not be given if member materials have been received.
If your club doesn’t receive the program kit, check first with your Kiwanis advisor and Kiwanis club secretary to ensure the fee was paid; if it was, contact the Kiwanis International member services team at 1-800-549-2647 ext. 411 or email .
How much time does it take to support a K-Kids club?
Clubs can meet as often as they wish. Most clubs meet weekly or monthly for 30 to 60 minutes. Club meetings occur before school, after school, during lunch, or during a school/organization activity period. Depending on the number of service projects club members commit to doing, more time is usually spent outside of scheduled club meeting times to allow officers or other members to complete specific tasks.
Is the K-Kids club program flexible?
Absolutely. Each club is run independently and can adapt to the needs of the school or organization’s schedule, and needs of advisors, officers and members.
What if the school or organization cannot find a faculty advisor for its K-Kids club?
If the club is unable to find a teacher, counselor or other staff member to serve as a faculty advisor, a parent can volunteer to serve in this role. The parent will need to meet volunteer requirements established by the school, have the approval of the principal, and adhere to Kiwanis Youth Protection Policy before working with a K-Kids club. This includes passing a criminal background check with Kiwanis International and completing online training.
How does a school or organization find a Kiwanis club to sponsor a K-Kids club?
Use the Kiwanis International Club Finder to locate a local Kiwanis club in your area. Contact the Kiwanis club about your interest in having them sponsor your K-Kids club. If you’re unable to locate a Kiwanis club in your area, contact the Kiwanis Member Services team at for help.
What if there isn’t a local Kiwanis club in our community to sponsor the K-Kids club?
A K-Kids club can be established by a school or organization without Kiwanis club involvement. The sponsoring school or organization is responsible for paying the K-Kids club’s charter fee and annual renewal fees and may need to assign more than one staff member to serve as advisors. Although the K-Kids club does not have a Kiwanis club affiliation, paying its annual fee gives it access to support from Kiwanis International staff and many benefits, including liability insurance that covers off-campus activities.
Are there award opportunities available for K-Kids?
Yes, each year K-Kids members, officers, advisors and clubs are recognized for the outstanding service, performance, and club activities they complete. Check out current award and contest opportunities and guidelines for participation. Entries must be submitted online by the April 1, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada) deadline.
What if a member or advisor is injured during a club meeting or event?
Club members and advisors who are included on the club’s official membership roster are covered by Kiwanis International liability insurance. Kiwanis insurance is designed to offers protection for claims of property damage and bodily injury. Refer to page 26 of the K-Kids Advisor Guide for information on insurance coverage.
Is there K-Kids club branded merchandise available for purchase?
Yes. The Kiwanis store offers K-Kids branded merchandise. Clubs and members can order branded custom items by using Kiwanis International’s approved vendors at ShopKiwanis.com.
Information for Kiwanis Clubs
What are the responsibilities of the Kiwanis club to the K-Kids club it sponsors?
The sponsoring Kiwanis club is asked to support the K-Kid club in the following ways.
Pay the annual K-Kids club renewal fee to Kiwanis International and maintain an expense line item in the Kiwanis club budget to support the K-Kids club’s fee and, if possible, to help with its service activities.
Appoint a Kiwanis advisor to the club. Ensure the advisor receives adequate training, which includes passing a criminal background check conducted by Kiwanis International and completing online Youth Protection Training courses every two years. Visit Kiwanis Youth Protection for more information. Please note, California resident background checks require a different process.
Ensure the Kiwanis advisor attends K-Kids meetings and events and assists the faculty advisor with training club officers after they are elected. Many Kiwanis advisors also help the K-Kids make connections to potential service partners in the community.
Meet with the school principal or organization leader before or after the club charters and when there are changes in faculty advisors.
Host or participate in joint service or celebratory activities involving the officers and/or members of the K-Kids club.
Invite K-Kids club advisors, officers and/or members to attend Kiwanis club meetings.
How and when should a Kiwanis club secretary pay the K-Kids club’s annual renewal fee?
Payment must be received by Kiwanis International before a club program kit will be shipped. To ensure your K-Kids club receives its program kits at the beginning of the school year, the sponsoring Kiwanis club’s secretary should work with the Kiwanis advisor to gather the bulleted information below from the faculty advisor and then renew the K-Kids club by:
Logging into the Secretary Dashboard at org/login. Scroll down to Sponsorships. Select the pencil icon next to the name of the K-Kids club that your Kiwanis club sponsors and:
Enter the estimated membership count for the K-Kids club. A member count above 10 must be entered.
Verify or update the mailing address to which the kit should be shipped.
Enter the name of the person the kit will be shipped to and their phone number. If a mailing address is not verified or updated, the kit will be mailed to the Kiwanis club secretary.
Pay the renewal fee by credit card. The invoice appears on the dashboard under the Finance tab beginning on August 1. If the secretary pays by check, go into the dashboard to enter the correct member count.
If your K-Kids club has more than 60 members, you will need to order one or more supplemental kits. Each kit costs US$50 and provides enough materials for an additional 30 members. These can be ordered through the secretary dashboard or by phone at 317-875-8755 or 800-KIWANIS, ext. 411 (U.S. and Canada).
Allow 2-4 weeks from time of payment to receive club materials. Payment by check will take longer about 1 week longer to be shipped.
Any refund request must be reviewed. Refunds will not be given if member materials have been received.
How many Kiwanis volunteers are needed to support a K-Kids club?
The main Kiwanis volunteer that supports a K-Kids club is the Kiwanis advisor. Other Kiwanis club members can help the K-Kids club with service projects, if invited by the faculty advisor. All Kiwanis volunteers involved with the K-Kids club must pass a criminal background check with Kiwanis International and must complete Kiwanis Youth Protection training before working with a K-Kids club. Visit Kiwanis Youth Protection for more information.
Have more questions?
Contact the Kiwanis International member services team at 1-800-549-2647 ext. 411 or email . or contact the Service Leadership Program staff at .