What to know to start a K-Kids Club
K-Kids is a student-led service club for students in elementary/primary school. K-Kids was originally developed by, and is modeled after, Kiwanis International, a global network of men and women devoted to serving the children of the world. The stated purpose of K-Kids is to develop leadership through service to the school and community.
Clubs are chartered in partnership with a Kiwanis club and a school or community-based organization serving elementary school students. Use the Kiwanis club locator to find a Kiwanis club near you and complete a petition for charter. A sponsoring Kiwanis club pays the initial chartering fee for K-Kids clubs, which can vary from US$180 to US$300 depending on geographic location. A list and PDFs of items included in the K-Kids program kit are available for download on the K-Kids advisor resource page. Scroll down the page to view club resources.
K-Kids is open to any elementary school student who wants to join. Each club and school principal or community-based organization leader has the latitude to set conditions for membership, so it varies from club to club. Generally, any student who is interested in performing community service may join K-Kids.
A Key Club (a service club for high school students) or a Circle K club (a service club for college or university students) may also co-sponsor a K-Kids club.
When a school or community-based organization has agreed to build a K-Kids club with a Kiwanis club, it’s time to get started!
If at one time your elementary/primary school or community-based organization serving elementary students had a K-Kids club, you may be eligible to reactivate it rather than charter a new club. To find out if your club is eligible for reactivation, contact the Kiwanis International member services team at 1-800-549-2647, option 1 or email . To begin the process download and complete the K-Kids club reactivation form.
A sponsoring Kiwanis club pays the initial chartering fee for K-Kids clubs, which can vary from US$180 to US$300 depending on geographic location. To find out how much it would cost to charter a K-Kids club at your primary/elementary school or community-based organization serving elementary students, contact the Kiwanis International member services team at 1-800-549-2647 ext. 411 or email .
Every year thereafter, a sponsoring Kiwanis club pays an annual renewal fee of US $215. The renewal fee will be included on the Kiwanis club’s invoice in the online reporting system. For K-Kids without a sponsoring Kiwanis club, the club is billed directly on an annual basis. This fee provides a program kit with club and member materials.
There is no dues structure for K-Kids, unless adopted by the local club. If your club chooses to collect member dues, establish that expectation – including the amount – in your club bylaws. Aim to keep these dues at a minimal amount so that no member is prohibited from joining. Plan to use those funds for club-level projects and expenses.
K-Kids clubs receive a program kit annually. The kit includes essential tools such as an advisor guide, member guide, member, officer and committee chair buttons and more. View samples of materials included in the program kit on the club advisor page. Sponsoring Kiwanis clubs are able to update the membership counts and shipping addresses for the program prior to the shipment of the kits. Instructions are emailed to the Kiwanis club secretary and can also be found on the K-Kids Club Renewal Center.
For K-Kids clubs without a sponsoring Kiwanis club, the faculty adivsors can update the membership counts prior to the shipment of the kits by contacting the Kiwanis International member services team at 1-800-549-2647, option 1 or email .
Confirming the number of K-Kids club members prior to registering online is helpful as program kits include supplies for up to 60 K-Kids members. If additional materials are needed, a supplemental program kit can be ordered at the time of registration. Supplemental program kits include member materials for 30 additional members. Visit the Club Renewal Center for more information.
If the correct member count was not provided at the time of registration, the K-Kids club member count can be adjusted by e-mailing the club name and club ID number with the updated membership count to the Kiwanis Member Services team at .