Kiwanis Club of Washington D.C. Large Scale Service Project Proposal

The Kiwanis International mission is dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. Since the founding of the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. in 1917, we have created a variety of programs targeted primarily towards children in under-resourced communities within the District of Columbia to fulfill this mission. Our club has particularly been invested in projects that foster the emotional and behavioral growth of young children, support the development of leadership skills of teenagers and young adults through our sponsorship of high school and collegiate service-leadership clubs, and improve the overall health and wellness of our city’s youth. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about the projects and initiatives that the Kiwanis Club itself sponsors, as well as those of other local non-profits that it supports with volunteer and financial support.

The club is seeking to select our next large-scale service project (LSSP) partner via a competitive bid process open to D.C.-based organizations that serve children and families. 

• Base Funding: $100,000

• Duration: 1 year, renewable up to three years ($300,000 total) at the discretion of the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. Board of Directors

• Additional Extensions: annually, with a maximum of two additional year-long extensions ($200,000 total) beyond the original commitment at the discretion of the Kiwanis Club of Washington D.C. and the Kiwanis Foundation of the District of Columbia

• Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 at 11:59pm Eastern

Each year, the Kiwanis Club supports what we refer to as an LSSP. From the 1920s until 2013, the Kiwanis Club operated The Kiwanis Orthopedic Clinic, staffed by a part-time physical therapist, a part-time assistant, and two orthopedic surgeons who provided their services at no cost to the Clinic or its patients. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital provided support to the Clinic by donating surgical services. Funded in partnership with The Kiwanis Foundation of the District of Columbia, the Kiwanis Club made a contribution of approximately $150,000 each year to the operations of this Clinic. When the Kiwanis Orthopedic Clinic closed its doors in 2013 due to decreased need for its services, the Kiwanis Club developed a request for proposal to identify a new LSSP partnership.

In 2016, a new chapter began as we engaged in a five-year partnership with Bright Beginnings, Inc., an organization that provides preschool education to children experiencing homelessness and wrap-around support services for the families of the children it serves. Through this collaboration, the Kiwanis Foundation of the District of Columbia provided funding for Bright Beginnings’ “home-based” preschool education program, which was matched by financial support through the federal Head Start program. The “home-based” program brought educators and materials to parents experiencing homelessness where they live to provide them with the resources to be their children’s first teacher. These visits encompassed health screenings, family support services, and connections to vital resources, ensuring a holistic approach to growth and development. The Kiwanis Club’s initial commitment to Bright Beginnings, Inc. was for $100,000 per year, renewable annually for a total of five years and $500,000 in support. In 2020, the Kiwanis Club agreed to extend the project for one additional year.

In 2021, the Kiwanis club opened a request to identify a new LSSP partnership. We opted to partner with SMYAL to address mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in the District of Columbia. Through this collaboration, we currently help provide free, affirming mental health services, acknowledging the importance of holistic support during challenging times. This initiative recognizes the unique needs of queer and trans youth and provides them with a safe and inclusive space to explore their emotions and experiences. Our work with SMYAL reinforces our dedication to fostering the well-being of every individual. The Kiwanis Club’s initial commitment to SMYAL was for $100,000 per year, renewable annually for a total of three years and $300,000 in support. In 2024, the Kiwanis Club agreed to extend the project for one additional year.

Now, we are seeking input from the community to select our next LSSP. We have chosen to open this to a competitive bid process for D.C.-based organizations that serve children and families in an effort to survey the District and to determine the most pressing needs our community faces. The expected scope and duration of the project will be $100,000 per year, renewable for a total of up to three years of funding. Annual renewal will be at the discretion of the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. Board of Directors. Any annual extension beyond the original three-year commitment will be at the discretion of the Kiwanis Club of Washington D.C. and the Kiwanis Foundation of the District of Columbia, with a maximum of two additional year-long extensions.

Applications must be submitted online via Kaleidoscope by 11:59pm on March 31, 2025. Questions can be emailed to Committee Chair Zach Lowe, Ph.D. at [email protected]. Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances. The Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. LSSP Committee will review each application for merit and select finalists by May 1, 2025. Finalists will be offered an opportunity to make a presentation to club members at the club’s annual meeting, tentatively scheduled for May 13, 2025 @ 6:30pm. After a vote of its members, the club plans to select its partner organization by June 2025 and have the partnership operational beginning October 1, 2025.

A Google Doc version of this introduction page and all required application elements is available here.