Kiwanis International Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
KIWANIS IS A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE WORLD ONE CHILD AND ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME. THE ORGANIZATION COORDINATES EVENTS AND PROVIDES SERVICES TO CLUBS AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH IN TURN SPONSOR AND ADDRESS CHILD-FOCUSED CAUSES. KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION SERVICES TO OUR MEMBERS BY PROVIDING SEVERAL MAGAZINES REGARDING CURRENT EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS TO ENCOURAGE SERVICE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TO THE WORLD. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES MORE THAN 335,000 ADULT AND YOUTH MEMBERS IN ITS FAMILY OF ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. KIWANIS HAS A BRAND CAMPAIGN ENTITLED KIDS NEED KIWANIS.
- Income
- $20.4 million
- Spending
- $18.4 million
- Employees
- 105
- Volunteers
- 155,419
- Highest pay
- $254,693, chief operating officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $4.5 million spent. LEADERSHIP EDUCATION/DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION - KIDS NEED KIWANIS; FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS KIWANIS HAS BEEN BUILDING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD. KIWANIS OFFERS A UNIQUE BRAND OF LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE TO OTHERS. A MAJOR FOCUS FOR KIWANIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR THEIR CLUB, DIVISION, DISTRICT, AND INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE CLUB OFFICERS ON HOW TO LEAD AND OPERATE A CLUB, TO EDUCATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS ON HOW TO LEAD A DIVISION, TO EDUCATE DISTRICT OFFICERS ON HOW TO LEAD AND OPERATE A DISTRICT, AND TO EDUCATE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON HOW TO LEAD THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. WITH EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS, THE MISSION AND FUNCTION OF KIWANIS CLUBS AND KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL, SERVING THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES, CAN BE CARRIED OUT EFFECTIVELY. (EXPENSES $ 5,697,213 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $)(REVENUE $ 5,616,717) MEMBERS IN THE US AND CANADA PAY AN $8 SUBSCRIPTION FEE TO THE KIWANIS PUBLICATIONS FUND. THIS FUND IS USED TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE CONTENT INTENDED TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ON THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, PROVIDE BEST PRACTICES AND SHARE STORIES OF KIWANIS' GLOBAL IMPACT. THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS CONSIST OF ALL KIWANIS OWNED PRINT AND ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION METHODS (WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL LISTS, ETC). AND CONTAIN CONTENT FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY SERVICE, INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL, FUNDRAISING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH PROTECTION, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER TOPICS THAT ENCOURAGE MEMBERS AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS ON THE BENEFITS OF PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD. LIABILITY AND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE - A SERVICE THAT KIWANIS PROVIDES TO MEMBERS AND CLUBS IS THE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAM AND THE DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE PROGRAM. THIS INSURANCE PROTECTS MEMBERS AND CLUBS FROM LIABILITY THAT MAY ARISE FROM THE MANY ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT KIWANIS CLUBS PERFORMS DURING A YEAR, INCLUDING ACTS INVOLVING THE CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A KIWANIS CLUB IS FOR ITS MEMBERS TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE AND TO OPERATE AS A LOCAL SERVICE CLUB FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. HAVING THIS INSURANCE PROTECTION ALLOWS CLUBS TO ENGAGE IN PROJECTS THAT HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES. KIWANIS MERCHANDISE (RETAIL OPERATIONS) - KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL PROVIDES MEMBERS AND CLUBS WITH MATERIALS AND MERCHANDISE THAT ARE FREE OR AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THIS MATERIAL/MERCHANDISE IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST MEMBERS TO CARRY ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CLUB AND TO PROMOTE THE ORGANIZATION DURING SUCH CLUB ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A CLUB TO HAVE THE NEEDED MATERIALS AND MERCHANDISE TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROMOTE THE GOOD WORKS OF THE LOCAL CLUB.
- $1.7 million spent. KIWANIS MEETINGS AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION - THE ANNUAL KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IS HELD IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES AND LOCATIONS FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, IN WHICH IT BRINGS TOGETHER UP TO 5,000 KIWANIS MEMBERS AND GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST GLOBAL GATHERING OF KIWANIS MEMBERS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 70 COUNTRIES. WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL SPEAKERS, MOTIVATIONAL EVENTS AND CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE EVENT.
- $335,369 spent. SERVICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS - FOR MORE THAN 90 YEARS KIWANIS HAS BEEN BUILDING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS, OFFERING A UNIQUE BRAND OF LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE TO OTHERS. KIWANIS SPONSORS VARIOUS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, AND ADULTS WITH LIVING DISABILITIES, THAT CAN CHANGE LIVES. THROUGH KIWANIS SERVICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, YOUTH AND ADULT MEMBERS CAN EARN SCHOLARSHIPS, LEARN WITH FRIENDS AND HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD. PROGRAMS SUCH AS K-KIDS, TERRIFIC KIDS, BRINGING UP GRADES, BUILDERS CLUB, KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS, INC., KEY CLUB, KEY LEADER, CIRCLE K, AND AKTION CLUB ARE PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY KIWANIS AND IT IS THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS THAT THE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE SUCH AN IMPACT. BY INVESTING TIME IN THESE PROGRAMS, KIWANIS MEMBERS AND OTHERS SOW THE SEEDS OF SERVICE. A LARGE PART OF WHAT KIWANIS DOES IS TO SPONSOR THESE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT ORGANIZATIONS TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES JUST LIKE KIWANIS CLUBS DO. KIWANIS IS STILL VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN SPONSORING ALL OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS; HOWEVER, THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE PROGRAMS FOR BUILDERS CLUBS, K-KIDS, AND KEY LEADER ARE MANAGED UNDER KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS, INC. (EXPENSES $ 5,697,213 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $)(REVENUE $ 5,616,717) MEMBERS IN THE US AND CANADA PAY AN $8 SUBSCRIPTION FEE TO THE KIWANIS PUBLICATIONS FUND. THIS FUND IS USED TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE CONTENT INTENDED TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ON THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, PROVIDE BEST PRACTICES AND SHARE STORIES OF KIWANIS' GLOBAL IMPACT. THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS CONSIST OF ALL KIWANIS OWNED PRINT AND ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION METHODS (WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL LISTS, ETC). AND CONTAIN CONTENT FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY SERVICE, INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL, FUNDRAISING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH PROTECTION, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER TOPICS THAT ENCOURAGE MEMBERS AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS ON THE BENEFITS OF PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD. LIABILITY AND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE - A SERVICE THAT KIWANIS PROVIDES TO MEMBERS AND CLUBS IS THE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAM AND THE DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE PROGRAM. THIS INSURANCE PROTECTS MEMBERS AND CLUBS FROM LIABILITY THAT MAY ARISE FROM THE MANY ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT KIWANIS CLUBS PERFORMS DURING A YEAR, INCLUDING ACTS INVOLVING THE CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A KIWANIS CLUB IS FOR ITS MEMBERS TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE AND TO OPERATE AS A LOCAL SERVICE CLUB FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. HAVING THIS INSURANCE PROTECTION ALLOWS CLUBS TO ENGAGE IN PROJECTS THAT HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES. KIWANIS MERCHANDISE (RETAIL OPERATIONS) - KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL PROVIDES MEMBERS AND CLUBS WITH MATERIALS AND MERCHANDISE THAT ARE FREE OR AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THIS MATERIAL/MERCHANDISE IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST MEMBERS TO CARRY ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CLUB AND TO PROMOTE THE ORGANIZATION DURING SUCH CLUB ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A CLUB TO HAVE THE NEEDED MATERIALS AND MERCHANDISE TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROMOTE THE GOOD WORKS OF THE LOCAL CLUB.
- $5.7 million spent. MEMBERS IN THE US AND CANADA PAY AN $8 SUBSCRIPTION FEE TO THE KIWANIS PUBLICATIONS FUND. THIS FUND IS USED TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE CONTENT INTENDED TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ON THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, PROVIDE BEST PRACTICES AND SHARE STORIES OF KIWANIS' GLOBAL IMPACT. THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS CONSIST OF ALL KIWANIS OWNED PRINT AND ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION METHODS (WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL LISTS, ETC). AND CONTAIN CONTENT FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY SERVICE, INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL, FUNDRAISING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH PROTECTION, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER TOPICS THAT ENCOURAGE MEMBERS AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS ON THE BENEFITS OF PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD. LIABILITY AND DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE - A SERVICE THAT KIWANIS PROVIDES TO MEMBERS AND CLUBS IS THE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAM AND THE DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE PROGRAM. THIS INSURANCE PROTECTS MEMBERS AND CLUBS FROM LIABILITY THAT MAY ARISE FROM THE MANY ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT KIWANIS CLUBS PERFORMS DURING A YEAR, INCLUDING ACTS INVOLVING THE CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A KIWANIS CLUB IS FOR ITS MEMBERS TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE AND TO OPERATE AS A LOCAL SERVICE CLUB FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. HAVING THIS INSURANCE PROTECTION ALLOWS CLUBS TO ENGAGE IN PROJECTS THAT HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES. KIWANIS MERCHANDISE (RETAIL OPERATIONS) - KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL PROVIDES MEMBERS AND CLUBS WITH MATERIALS AND MERCHANDISE THAT ARE FREE OR AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THIS MATERIAL/MERCHANDISE IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST MEMBERS TO CARRY ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CLUB AND TO PROMOTE THE ORGANIZATION DURING SUCH CLUB ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A CLUB TO HAVE THE NEEDED MATERIALS AND MERCHANDISE TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROMOTE THE GOOD WORKS OF THE LOCAL CLUB.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1940.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.