Why should a school or community organization start a Builders Club?
Builders Club is a ready-to-go, student-led service leadership program that provides schools and organizations with all the materials, guidelines and support necessary to get a club started. Club materials are designed to build soft and hard skills, boost students’ confidence and further their social-emotional learning. Targeted for the middle years, Builders Club gives students opportunities to understand themselves, their community and the world. Members put their talents to use in meaningful ways through service projects and by leading in tasks or serving as an officer (president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer) or committee chair. Here’s information about how to start a club. The Petition to Charter form provides details about the chartering process.
How does a student join a Builders Club?
Builders Club membership is open to middle years/middle school students who want to help others and learn how to be a leader in their school and community. To join:
Contact the school or organization’s Builders Club faculty advisor.
If the school or organization does not have a Builders Club, contact a local Kiwanis club to ask for help. Use the Kiwanis club locator to find a club.
If there isn’t a Kiwanis club in the community, email . The Service Leadership Programs staff at Kiwanis International will help you work with the school or organization to start a club.
Can homeschool students, parents or a homeschool cooperative create a Builders Club?
Yes! To start (or “charter”) a Builders Club, a homeschool group will need:
A group of students, ages 6-11. Kiwanis recommends 15 or more members, though Builders Clubs range from 10-150 members.
An adult who serves as the faculty advisor.
A community-based site where the club will meet.
Among the adults who will serve as the faculty advisor and chaperones, completion of the required background check with Kiwanis International and Praesidium online training (see Kiwanis Youth Protection Policy). All adults must also follow any policies and procedures of the site where the group meets.
A local Kiwanis club that will sponsor your Builders Club. Use the Kiwanis locator to find a club in your area, and then contact the club with your request. If no Kiwanis club is available to sponsor your club, pay the club’s charter fees and annual renewal fee.
For more information, visit buildersclub.org/start-a-club. Email with questions.
What are the benefits of being a Builders Club member?
During the middle years in school, students want to understand themselves and their world. They need a place to belong. In Builders Club, students:
Make friends, have fun and gain confidence.
Get to know themselves and their talents — and then put them to use — through the club experience.
Learn a host of skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, public speaking, planning, marketing and fundraising — as well as empathy, the most human skill.
Learn about needs and issues in their school or organization and in their community — and conduct high-quality service to help.
Discover that everyone can lead, in big and small ways.
And don’t forget: When a Builders Club member graduates, they can continue their service leadership journey by joining a Key Club!
How many members are needed to start a Builders Club?
We suggest 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. Larger clubs ensure that 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 Builders Club?
In North America and the Caribbean, the cost to start (or “charter”) a Builders Club is US$400 — and the annual cost to renew a club is US$215, which allows the organization to provide the club with program materials, virtual advisor training and support from Kiwanis staff, as well as liability insurance coverage for club activities that happen outside the school or organization.
For the costs of chartering and renewing a Builders Club outside of North America and the Caribbean, email .
What resources are provided for Builders Clubs?
Kiwanis International provides many resources to help Builders Club advisors in every aspect of guiding a club and supporting officers, chairs and members to conduct high-quality service. Builders Clubs receive a program kit when they charter — and then again annually when they renew (in North America and the Caribbean). The kit includes essential tools such as an Advisor Toolkit, Member and Officer Toolkit, Service Toolkit, member and officer buttons, and more. Check out the program kit flyer to see the list of items clubs receive. Find the online resources available to them at buildersclub.org/resources-main.
How can the faculty advisor help the club receive its renewal kit quickly?
The secretary of the sponsoring Kiwanis club is responsible for paying the Builders Club’s renewal fee each year. To receive the program kit at or near the start of the school year, contact the secretary and your Kiwanis advisor before the start of the school year to ask that the fee be paid and to provide the following information:
The expected number of members.
The faculty advisor’s name and contact information.
Where the program kit should be mailed. If the secretary is mailing the kit to your school/organization, verify the address and a phone number.
Allow two to four weeks from the time of payment to receive club materials. 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 Builders Club?
Clubs can meet as often as they wish. Most clubs meet weekly or monthly, for 30 to 60 minutes. Club meetings can occur before school, after school, during lunch or during a school/organization activity period. Depending on the number of service projects that club members commit to, more time is usually spent outside of scheduled club meeting times to allow officers or other members to complete specific tasks.
Is the Builders Club program flexible?
Absolutely. Each club is run independently and can adapt to the school’s or organization’s schedule — and to the needs of advisors, officers and members.
What if the school or organization cannot find a faculty advisor?
If the club is unable to find a teacher, counselor or other staff member to serve as the Builders Club’s faculty advisor, a parent can serve in this role. Before working with a Builders Club, the parent will need to meet volunteer requirements established by the school and get the approval of the school principal. The parent must also adhere to Kiwanis Youth Protection Policy — including passing a criminal background check with Kiwanis International and completing Praesidium online training. The parent must also adhere to any other policies or rules of the school or community organization.
How does a school or organization find a Kiwanis club to sponsor a Builders Club?
Use Kiwanis International’s club finder to locate a Kiwanis club in your area. Contact the Kiwanis club about your interest in having them sponsor your Builders Club. If you’re unable to locate a Kiwanis club in your area, email for help.
What if there isn’t a local Kiwanis club in our community to sponsor the Builders Club?
A Builders Club can be established by a school or organization without Kiwanis club involvement. The sponsoring school or organization is then responsible for paying the club’s charter and annual renewal fees and may need to assign more than one staff member as advisors. Even without a Kiwanis club affiliation, payment of the annual fee gives the Builders Club access to support from Kiwanis International staff and many benefits, including liability insurance that covers off-campus activities.
Does Builders Club offer awards and recognition?
Yes. Each year, Builders Club members, officers, advisors and clubs are recognized for the outstanding service, performance and club activities they complete. Check out award and contest opportunities and guidelines for participation.
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, which offers protection for claims of property damage and bodily injury. Refer to page 32 of the Builders Club Advisor Toolkit.
Is branded merchandise available for purchase?
Absolutely. The Kiwanis Store offers a variety of Builders Club merchandise. Clubs and members can also order branded custom items by using Kiwanis International’s approved vendors at ShopKiwanis.com.
What are the Kiwanis club’s responsibilities to the Builders Club it sponsors?
The sponsoring Kiwanis club is asked to support the Builders Club in the following ways:
Pay the annual Builders Club renewal fee to Kiwanis International and maintain an expense line item in the Kiwanis club budget to support the Builders 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, every two years, passing a criminal background check conducted by Kiwanis International and completing online Youth Protection Training courses. Visit Kiwanis International’s youth protection webpage for more information.
Ensure the Kiwanis advisor attends Builders Club meetings and events and helps the faculty advisor train club officers after they are elected. Many Kiwanis advisors also help the Builders Club make connections with 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 Builders Club.
Invite Builders Club advisors, officers and/or members to attend Kiwanis club meetings.
How and when should a Kiwanis club secretary pay the Builders Club’s annual renewal fee?
Payment must be received by Kiwanis International before a club program kit will be shipped. To ensure your Builders 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 complete the following steps:
Log into the Secretary Dashboard at kiwanis.org/login. Scroll down to Sponsorships. Select the pencil icon next to the name of the Builders Club that your Kiwanis club sponsors. Then:
Enter the estimated membership count for the Builders 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, still go into the dashboard to enter the information requested above in #1 and print the invoice to mail with the check.
If your Builders Club has more than 60 members, you will need to order one or more supplemental kits. Each kit costs US$50 and provides Builders Club Member and Officer Toolkits and member buttons for an additional 30 members. The supplemental kits 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.
How many Kiwanis volunteers are needed to support a Builders Club?
The main Kiwanis volunteer that supports a Builders Club is the Kiwanis advisor. Other Kiwanis club members can help the Builders Club with service projects, if invited by the faculty advisor. All Kiwanis volunteers involved with the Builders Club must pass a criminal background check with Kiwanis International and must complete Kiwanis Youth Protection training before working with a Builders Club. Visit the youth protection page on the Kiwanis International website 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 Programs staff at .