Key Club International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS IS A SUBSIDIARY OF KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL AND EXISTS TO DELIVER PROGRAMS FOR K-12 STUDENTS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE, BUILD CHARACTER AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP. KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS (KYP) PRIDES ITSELF ON PROVIDING MORE THAN 12 MILLION HOURS OF SERVICE TO THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES. PROJECTS RANGE FROM ASSISTING SHUT-INS TO TUTORING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH THE US FUND FOR UNICEF DURING HALLOWEEN FOR THE ANNUAL TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR UNICEF WHICH ANNUALLY BRINGS MORE THAN $250,000. BRANDS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE PART OF KYP INCLUDE: KEY CLUB (FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS), BUILDERS CLUB (FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS), K KIDS (FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS), AND KEY LEADER (HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP).
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 10.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 233,274
- Highest pay
- $161,170, kyp executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. 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 (5)
- $1.3 million spent. KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL (KCI) - A MAJOR FOCUS OF KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS (KYP) IS LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL. THROUGH THE MANY EFFORTS OF STAFF, THE TRAINING MEETINGS, AND THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PRODUCED, THE STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN LIFE-LONG SERVICE LEADERSHIP SKILLS. MEMBERS OF KCI LEARN SUCH SKILLS BY PARTICIPATING IN LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS, PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THEIR LOCAL KCI CLUB AND SPONSORING KIWANIS CLUB, LEADING THE ORGANIZATION ON A MEMBER-ELECTED BOARD, WORKING AS OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR LOCAL KEY CLUB CLUBS, WORKING WITH OTHER ADULTS IN SPONSORING KIWANIS CLUBS, AND RECEIVING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE MATERIALS PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. MANY MATERIALS AND EDUCATION MEETINGS HELP TO WALK STUDENTS THROUGH THE STEPS OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO ENVISION, ENLIST, EMBODY, EMPOWER, EVALUATE, AND ENCOURAGE. STUDENTS LEARN THAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS BASED ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP, WHICH REQUIRES LEADERS TO PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS FIRST, AND TO REALIZE THAT NO MATTER WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A TITLE, THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE WORLD. MANY KCI PROGRAMS TAKE MEMBERS OF KCI THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE PROJECTS TOGETHER - GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER SERVICE-MINDED ADULTS. KCI CONTINUES TO BE THE LEADING ORGANIZATION IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND A LARGE PORTION OF THAT DEVELOPMENT IS THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LEADERSHIP HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS. KCI PROVIDES A LEADERSHIP GUIDE FOR ALL OFFICERS OF EACH OF THEIR CLUBS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT HELP WITH PRODUCING SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL SERVICE PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, KCI PUBLISHES OTHER MATERIALS DURING THE YEAR FOR ALL OF ITS MEMBERS THAT CONTAINS EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND PERFORMING CHARITABLE SERVICE TO THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.
- $415,851 spent. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION - THE ANNUAL KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL (KCI) CONVENTION TAKES PLACE IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR. IT BRINGS TOGETHER AS MANY AS 750 YOUNG ADULTS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE TO LEARN SERVICE AND SOCIAL SKILLS FROM OTHER MEMBERS. IT ALLOWS THE MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES, STATES, AND COUNTRIES WITHIN THE KCI ORGANIZATION, TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE PAST YEAR AND TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE SERVICE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION. WORKSHOPS AND OTHER TRAINING SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED TO TRAIN THE MEMBERS ON SERVICE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION (BOARD OF DIRECTORS) IS ELECTED DURING THIS ANNUAL MEETING AND LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS TAKE PLACE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL BYLAWS, WHICH ARE SUBSEQUENTLY RATIFIED BY THE ADULT KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
- $162,067 spent. KEY LEADER (KL) - ANOTHER FOCUS OF KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS (KYP) IS LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENTIAL WORKSHOP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. ATTENDANCE IS OPEN TO ANY INTERESTED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAT PAYS THE APPLICABLE REGISTRATION FEE. MOST ATTENDEES ARE MEMBERS OF KEY CLUB. THROUGH THIS WORKSHOP, THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN AND THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED, THE STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN LIFE-LONG SERVICE LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN A WEEKEND CAMP SETTING. ATTENDEES OF KL LEARN SUCH SKILLS BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES AT THESE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS. ATTENDEES ARE SPONSORED BY LOCAL KIWANIS CLUBS, KIWANIS DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, OR PARENTS. THE WORKSHOPS ARE PROFESSIONALLY-LED AND ALLOW ATTENDEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE LEADERSHIP, SELF-ESTEEM AND TEAM BUILDING. EACH WORKSHOP IS ADULT-LED AND SUPERVISED. MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL KIWANIS CLUBS AND HOSTING KIWANIS DISTRICT SUPPORT THE WORKSHOP WITH CHAPERONES AND FUNDS. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED TO ALL ATTENDEES TO BE USED DURING THE WEEKEND AND ALSO AS A REFERENCE UPON COMPLETION OF THE EVENT.
- $842,598 spent. BUILDERS CLUB (BC) AND K-KIDS (KK) - ANOTHER FOCUS OF KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS(KYP) IS LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL (BUILDERS CLUB) AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (K-KIDS). THROUGH THE MANY EFFORTS OF STAFF, THE TRAINING MEETINGS, AND THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PRODUCED, THE STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN LIFE-LONG SERVICE LEADERSHIP SKILLS. MEMBERS OF BUILDERS CLUB (BC) AND K-KIDS (KK) LEARN SUCH SKILLS BY PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THEIR LOCAL CLUBS AND SPONSORING KIWANIS CLUB, WORKING AS OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR LOCAL CLUBS, WORKING WITH OTHER ADULTS IN SPONSORING KIWANIS CLUBS, AND RECEIVING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE MATERIALS PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. MANY MATERIALS AND EDUCATION MEETINGS HELP TO WALK STUDENTS THROUGH THE STEPS OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO ENVISION, ENLIST, EMBODY, EMPOWER, EVALUATE, AND ENCOURAGE STUDENTS THAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS BASED ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP, WHICH REQUIRES LEADERS TO PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS FIRST, AND TO REALIZE THAT NO MATTER WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A TITLE, THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE WORLD. MANY BC AND KK PROGRAMS TAKE MEMBERS THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE PROJECTS TOGETHER - GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER SERVICE-MINDED ADULTS. BC AND KK CONTINUES TO BE A LEADING ORGANIZATION IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND A LARGE PORTION OF THAT DEVELOPMENT IS THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS. BC AND KK PROVIDES A MEMBER HANDBOOK AND GUIDE FOR ALL OFFICERS OF EACH OF THEIR CLUBS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT HELP WITH PRODUCING SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL SERVICE PROJECTS. ALL MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS HAVE THE PURPOSE TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND PERFORMING CHARITABLE SERVICES TO THE LOCAL, SCHOOL, AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES. TWO PROGRAMS THAT K-KIDS HAS DEVELOPED THAT ARE COMMUNICATED TO MEMBERS AND IMPLEMENTED IN THE K-KIDS CLUBS ARE "BRING UP GRADES" (BUG) AND "TERRIFIC KIDS" (TK).
- (EXPENSES $ 842,598 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 130,366)(REVENUE $ 1,386) BUILDERS CLUB (BC) AND K-KIDS (KK) - ANOTHER FOCUS OF KIWANIS YOUTH PROGRAMS(KYP) IS LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL (BUILDERS CLUB) AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (K-KIDS). THROUGH THE MANY EFFORTS OF STAFF, THE TRAINING MEETINGS, AND THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PRODUCED, THE STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN LIFE-LONG SERVICE LEADERSHIP SKILLS. MEMBERS OF BUILDERS CLUB (BC) AND K-KIDS (KK) LEARN SUCH SKILLS BY PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THEIR LOCAL CLUBS AND SPONSORING KIWANIS CLUB, WORKING AS OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR LOCAL CLUBS, WORKING WITH OTHER ADULTS IN SPONSORING KIWANIS CLUBS, AND RECEIVING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE MATERIALS PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. MANY MATERIALS AND EDUCATION MEETINGS HELP TO WALK STUDENTS THROUGH THE STEPS OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO ENVISION, ENLIST, EMBODY, EMPOWER, EVALUATE, AND ENCOURAGE STUDENTS THAT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS BASED ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP, WHICH REQUIRES LEADERS TO PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS FIRST, AND TO REALIZE THAT NO MATTER WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A TITLE, THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE WORLD. MANY BC AND KK PROGRAMS TAKE MEMBERS THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE PROJECTS TOGETHER - GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER SERVICE-MINDED ADULTS. BC AND KK CONTINUES TO BE A LEADING ORGANIZATION IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND A LARGE PORTION OF THAT DEVELOPMENT IS THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS. BC AND KK PROVIDES A MEMBER HANDBOOK AND GUIDE FOR ALL OFFICERS OF EACH OF THEIR CLUBS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT HELP WITH PRODUCING SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL SERVICE PROJECTS. ALL MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS HAVE THE PURPOSE TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND PERFORMING CHARITABLE SERVICES TO THE LOCAL, SCHOOL, AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES. TWO PROGRAMS THAT K-KIDS HAS DEVELOPED THAT ARE COMMUNICATED TO MEMBERS AND IMPLEMENTED IN THE K-KIDS CLUBS ARE "BRING UP GRADES" (BUG) AND "TERRIFIC KIDS" (TK).
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. 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)(3) charitable 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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, 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 May 2009.
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 October 21, 2026.
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