The purpose of Builders Club is to develop leadership through service to the school and community.
Builders Club is a student-led service club for students in junior high/middle school. Builders Club 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 Builders Club 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 form. A sponsoring Kiwanis club pays the initial chartering fee for Builders Clubs, which can be up to US$400. Additional items like a banner or a gong can be purchased separately through the Kiwanis Family Store.
Builders Club is open to any junior high/middle 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 Builders Club.
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.
If at one time your junior high/middle school or community-based organization serving junior high/middle school students had a Builders 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 . Download and complete the Builders Club Petition for Reactivation Form to start the process. Also review this guide for inactive clubs.
A sponsoring Kiwanis club pays the initial chartering fee for Builders Clubs, which can be up to US $400 or more depending on geographic location and additional materials purchased for the club. To find out how much it would cost to charter a Builders Club at your junior high/middle school or community-based organization serving junior high/middle school students, contact the Kiwanis International member services team at 1-800-549-2647 option 1 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 Builders Clubs 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 Builders Clubs, 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.
Builders Clubs receive a program kit annually. The kit includes essential tools such as an advisor guide, member handbooks, buttons and more. View samples of program kit items on the club advisor webpage. 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 Club Renewal Center.
For Builders 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 Builders Club members prior to registering online is helpful as program kits include supplies for up to 60 Builders Club 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 Builders 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 .