Recognition

2025-2026 Distinguished Criteria

Membership & Engagement (max points 55)

Develop a 2025-26 membership plan that includes:
- At least one recruitment event.
- Defined goals for each recruitment effort.
- Kiwanis International provides an online form for a membership plan, to be submitted to the lieutenant governor – 15 points
Recruit at least four (4) new members into the club. – 15 points
Achieve a net gain of at least two (2) members. – 10 points
Sponsor or co-sponsor a new Kiwanis club. – 10 points
Appoint a club membership chairperson at the start of the administrative year. Membership chairperson should be submitted on the club election report. – 5 points

Leadership & Education (max points 35)

Club president, secretary, treasurer and membership chairperson participate in Club Leadership Education or similar training coordinated by division, district or international educational leaders – 15 points
Officers are reported on the secretary dashboard. – 10 points
At least one member attends the Kiwanis International convention. – 5 points
At least one members participates in Kiwanis Amplify. – 5 points

Community Impact (max points 30)

Submission of a club signature project in the Kiwanis Signature Project Contest. – 5 points
Sponsorship of one or more Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs: Aktion Club, Builders Club, Circle K International, Key Club, K-Kids – 15 points
Submit at least 10 of the 12 monthly club reports – 10 points

Financial Viability (max points 15)

Donate at least US$10 per member to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund or national Kiwanis Foundation. – 15 points

Branding & Image (max points 15)

Complete Youth Protection Guidelines educations. – 10 points
Appoint a club public relations chairperson at the start of the administrative year. Public relations chair should be submitted on the club election report. – 5 points

At least 80% of the clubs in the division submit a membership plan with identified recruitment efforts and goals by December 31.
At least 66% of the clubs in the division achieve distinguished club status.
Special qualitative assessment by the Kiwanis president and/or district governor.