Each year, Kiwanis International recognizes Districts, Divisions, and Kiwanis Clubs as Distinguished who have achieved certain criteria set out by International and/or their District. These criteria change each year based on the priorities of the Kiwanis International President and the District Governor. Below are the criteria for both 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
2022-2023 Distinguished Criteria
Distinguished Clubs (2022-2023) Criteria set by the District. President and Secretary receive Distinguished recognition. Must complete each of these:
Increase in membership from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023
Completion of a signature project by the club
Sponsorship/support of a Service Leadership Program
Financial support of Kiwanis Children’s Fund or Kiwanis Foundation of New England
Monthly Reports completed by the due date
Participation by club president-elect and officers-elect in club officer training
Club members attend Division Leadership Retreat
Pinnacle Clubs (2022-2023) Criteria set by International. President and Secretary receive Distinguished recognition.
Growth (Must accomplish two of three)
Minimum of 10% net increase in membership over the prior year’s membership, as certified by October 10, 2023.
Sponsorship of a new Kiwanis club during the year.
Participation in the Two For Two program all 12 months of the year, as reported in the club’s official monthly reports.
SERVICE (Must accomplish two of three)
Minimum required increase in overall giving to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund (as determined by the Children’s Fund).
Participation in the Kiwanis Signature Project Contest during the administrative year.
Increase in the number of specific or overall Service Leadership Programs clubs in good standing during the previous administrative year.
Distinguished Divisions (2022-2023) Criteria set by the District. Lieutenant Governor receives Distinguished recognition. Lieutenant Governor must complete each of these:
Visit each club in your division
Hold a Governor’s visit
Complete monthly reports by the 10th of the following month
Organize and hold two Division Council Meetings (one can be the caucus)
Hold the Division caucus no later than April 15
Attend all District Board meetings
Facilitate leadership retreat in Division
Lieutenant Governor must complete four of these:
Net gain in membership in the Division
Publish one article in the Yankiwanian about events in your Division
Support succession planning by filling the Lt. Governor position following your term and have in place a candidate for the term after your replacement
Build or assist in building a new Kiwanis Family Club in your Division
Assist with building a club in another Division
Each club in your Division implements the Two for Two initiative
Assist the clubs that are below 15 members in your Division with building membership to charter strength
Distinguished District (2022-2023) Criteria set by International. Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
The district must be in good standing with Kiwanis International as defined by Procedure 204 – DISTRICT STATUS as of September 30, 2023.
Growth (Must accomplish one of two)
Net gain in membership over the previous Kiwanis administrative year, as certified by October 10, 2023.
Achievement of the new club opening goal, as set by agreement of the president and governor (as president-elect and governor-elect). A district may achieve new club opening credit for a Kiwanis club in another nation under any program approved as such by the Kiwanis International Board.
SERVICE AND EDUCATION (Must accomplish three of five)
Minimum required increase in overall giving to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund over the previous Kiwanis administrative year from all district sources (as determined by the Children’s Fund).
Total of at least three (3) new K-Kids clubs chartered within the district during the administrative year.
Submission of a club signature project in the Kiwanis International annual Signature Project Contest.
Increase in Club Leadership Education (CLE) participation over the previous administrative year.
Achievement of 90% compliance in mandatory background checks among all required leaders.
Pinnacle District (2022-2023) Criteria set by International. Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
GROWTH (Must accomplish all)
Meet the above requirements to become a Distinguished District.
Achieve a net gain in active Kiwanis clubs over the previous Kiwanis administrative year (as certified by October 10, 2023).
Charter a total of five (5) new K-Kids clubs over the previous Kiwanis administrative year.
2023-2024 Distinguished Criteria
Distinguished Clubs (2023-2024) Criteria set by the District. President and Secretary receive Distinguished recognition.
Must complete each of these:
Positive membership increases from the previous year
Completion of a signature project by the club.
Sponsorship/support of a Service Leadership Program.
Financial support of Kiwanis Children’s Fund or Kiwanis Foundation of New England.
Monthly Reports completed by the due date (10th of each month).
Hold Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging Training
Distinguished Divisions (2023-2024) Criteria set by the District. Lieutenant Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
Lieutenant Governor must complete each of these:
Visit each club in your division.
Hold a Governor’s visit.
Complete monthly reports by the 10th of the following month.
Organize and hold two Division Council Meetings (one can be the caucus).
Hold the Division caucus no later than April 15.
Attend all District Board meetings.
Lieutenant Governor must complete four out of six of these:
Positive gain in membership in the Division
Publish one article in the Yankiwanian about events in your Division
Support succession planning by filling the Lt. Governor position following your term and have in place a candidate for the term after your replacement
Build or assist in building a new Kiwanis Family Club in your Division
Assist with building a club in another Division
Assist the clubs that are below 15 members in your Division with positive membership growth towards charter strength
Distinguished District (2023-2024) Criteria set by International. Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
To earn Distinguished District status, a Kiwanis district must meet the following criteria:
GROWTH(1 of 2 required):
Net gain in membership over the Kiwanis administrative year, as certified by October 10, 2024.
Achievement of the new club opening goal: 4 new Kiwanis Clubs (as set by agreement of the international president and governor).
SERVICE AND EDUCATION(3 of 5 required):
Minimum required increase in overall giving to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund over the previous Kiwanis administrative year, from all district sources (as determined by the Children’s Fund).
Total of at least two (2) new Builders Clubs and one (1) new K-Kids club chartered within the district over the previous administrative year.
Submission of a club signature project in the annual Kiwanis International Signature Project Contest.
Increase in Club Leadership Education (CLE) participation over the previous administrative year.
Achievement of 90% compliance in required background checks among all required leaders.
President’s Beacon District (2023-2024) Criteria set by International.
GROWTH(all 3 required):
To earn President’s Beacon District status, a Kiwanis district must meet the following requirements in addition to achieving that of Distinguished status:
Achieve a net gain in active Kiwanis clubs over the previous Kiwanis administrative year (as certified by October 10, 2024).
Charter three (3) additional new Builders Clubs over the previous Kiwanis administrative year.
Charter two (2) additional new K-Kids clubs over the previous Kiwanis administrative year.
Distinguished Criteria
Each year, Kiwanis International recognizes Districts, Divisions, and Kiwanis Clubs as Distinguished who have achieved certain criteria set out by International and/or their District. These criteria change each year based on the priorities of the Kiwanis International President and the District Governor. Below are the criteria for both 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
2022-2023 Distinguished Criteria
Distinguished Clubs (2022-2023)
Criteria set by the District. President and Secretary receive Distinguished recognition.
Must complete each of these:
Pinnacle Clubs (2022-2023)
Criteria set by International. President and Secretary receive Distinguished recognition.
Distinguished Divisions (2022-2023)
Criteria set by the District. Lieutenant Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
Lieutenant Governor must complete each of these:
Lieutenant Governor must complete four of these:
Distinguished District (2022-2023)
Criteria set by International. Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
Pinnacle District (2022-2023)
Criteria set by International. Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
2023-2024 Distinguished Criteria
Distinguished Clubs (2023-2024)
Criteria set by the District. President and Secretary receive Distinguished recognition.
Must complete each of these:
Distinguished Divisions (2023-2024)
Criteria set by the District. Lieutenant Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
Lieutenant Governor must complete each of these:
Lieutenant Governor must complete four out of six of these:
Distinguished District (2023-2024)
Criteria set by International. Governor receives Distinguished recognition.
To earn Distinguished District status, a Kiwanis district must meet the following criteria:
GROWTH (1 of 2 required):
SERVICE AND EDUCATION (3 of 5 required):
President’s Beacon District (2023-2024)
Criteria set by International.
GROWTH (all 3 required):
To earn President’s Beacon District status, a Kiwanis district must meet the following requirements in addition to achieving that of Distinguished status: