There
are three distinct aspects of donations to the Florida Kiwanis
Foundation. More detailed descriptions can be found on this
website, but this recap will help explain these three
categories.
Building
Sustaining
Preserving
Building the Foundation means
growing the endowment fund. The endowment of any
foundation is the backbone of its existence and is the tool
that allows for the continuation of programs. Kiwanis touches
the lives of people of all ages, but when it matters, Young
Children are Priority One!!
Ralph Davis was the first president of
the foundation and in his honor, we have creating The Ralph
Davis Fellowship. Kiwanians, friends, groups and clubs
that contribute $1000 or more can designate someone for
membership in the Fellowship. The funds raised in this manner
go directly into the endowment fund of the foundation, where
only the income is used to support club projects, youth
leadership programs and issue scholarships.
One of the driving forces in the creation of
the Foundation was Robert W. Thal. In his honor,
we have created The Robert W. Thal Life Member Fellowship.
Although annual givers are the life blood in sustaining the
programs of the Foundation, dedicated Kiwanians can "jump
ahead" and pay the difference between their accumulated
support to date and the 20 year mark of $500. One half
of the lump sum payments goes directly into the endowment
fund. The other one half goes directly to the grants
fund as if it being paid one year at a time.
The Foundation
exists for several reasons. One is to aid clubs with projects
that may be bigger than they alone can handle. This is
similar to the philosophy of Kiwanis. A single volunteer
can only do so much. Together, groups of Kiwanians can
do much. So it is with club projects. If everyone gave a
little to the whole, the outcome is staggering.
If the endowment is the backbone of the
foundation, then annually contributing Sustaining Members make
up the life blood. Until such time as the endowment can
fully fund all grant requests, the amount disbursed each year
in the form of grants, leadership development programs (Key
Club and CKI), and scholarships must be raised again and
again.. Sustaining Members contribute a minimum of
$25 annually and the sum goes directly into the Grants Fund.
No amount of these funds are used for operating
expenses. The are exhausted each year, creating
immediate impact on the children in the state. Talk about
getting the largest bang for your buck!
Clubs that sponsor youth programs such as
CKI, Key Club, Builder's clubs, K-Kids, and or AKtion clubs
are encouraged to seek 100% involvement from their club
members. Those clubs that do achieve 100% membership are
recognized.
The Foundation
exists as a tool for Kiwanis clubs and our various youth
organizations such as CKI, Key Club, Builder's clubs, K-Kids,
and AKtion clubs. There is structure, planning, training,
accounting and accountability, investment strategies,
governance, oversight, policies and procedures and a wide
range of dedicated individuals, trustees and officers that
work hard to preserve the functionality and the image of the
Foundation so that it is there, continues to be there when
needed, and will be there in the future.
Because the Foundation is a tool for use by
the Kiwanis Clubs of Florida, it is imperative that each club
do its part to cover the necessary expenses of the foundation
operation. We do not ask much. Just $5 per
member per year.
Donations from clubs, called the Annual
Giving Program, go toward operating expenses. This is
our only source of operating expense funds. We do this so that
no funds collected from Individual Kiwanians or the public
at-large need be used for operational expenses.