Revamping Service Organizations: How One Kiwanis Club Approach is Making a Difference.

 As a high school freshman, Katie Escajeda's passion for community service was ignited when she joined Kiwanis. Katie, Divison leader and President of the Citrus Heights Kiwanis, along with fellow guest and board member, Louise Brown, joins me to explore the shifting landscape of service organizations like Kiwanis, Rotary, and Elks clubs. As time constraints and outdated traditions challenge these clubs, Katie and Louise share stories of their personal journeys in service and highlight innovative strategies to attract younger members and businesses. Hear how Citrus Heights Kiwanis is creating a vibrant, engaging space for community involvement, sparking a potential resurgence in club memberships.

Discover the powerful role of Kiwanis in addressing the ever-evolving needs of children through Service Leadership Programs, flexible meeting times, and a greater online presence. Our guests shine a light on the strength of partnerships with local organizations such as local recreation and parks and Habitat for Humanity, and how these collaborations lead to impactful community initiatives. Through inspiring stories of volunteerism and financial support, we reveal the collective strength that emerges when organizations unite to address communal needs.

Finally, we explore the heartwarming transformations brought about by service initiatives through involvement at local high schools and the Kiwanis Family House. Hear stories of personal fulfillment and community camaraderie from projects big and small, from crafting garden boxes to supporting families during hospital stays. This episode is a testament to the enduring bonds and lasting impacts forged through community service.

To learn more about Kiwanis organization in Citrus Heights visit the website link HERE

Thank you so much for listening! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

Transcript

Louise Brown: [00:00:00] Same old people can't be doing the same old thing. Mm-hmm. Because things around us change, and we have to answer it in different ways as well. They take social media and you just have to get on board or get lost in the shuffle. Right. And still reach out to people. The need is always there. It's a matter of who, how, and what you're gonna do about it.

Katie Escajeda: We're 

Louise Brown: not gonna 

Katie Escajeda: have a weekly 7:00 AM breakfast meeting, you know, we're gonna go to the evenings now when all clubs need to be. Just accept the growth, accept the change, and mm-hmm let it happen.

Jeff Holden: Hi. I'm Jeff Holden. Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Our purpose and passion is to highlight a nonprofit organization in each weekly episode, giving that organization an opportunity to tell their story in their words, to better inform and [00:01:00] educate the respective communities they serve, as well as provide one more tool for them to share their message to constituents and donors.

Our goal is to help build stronger communities through shared voices, and to both encourage and support the growth of local nonprofit organizations through podcasting, thanks to our founding partners for their foresight in helping us transform the way conversations start. CAPTRUST fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations.

Runion Saltzman Incorporated RSE Marketing, advertising and Public Relations, creating integrated communications committed to improving lives and Western Health Advantage, a full service healthcare plan for individuals, employer groups, and families. Service organizations like Kiwanis, rotary, Elks, and Moose Clubs face growing challenges in today's communities declining membership.

Particularly among younger generations has led to shrinking volunteer bases and reduced program [00:02:00] capacity. Many chapters struggle to stay relevant in a digital first fast-paced world where civic engagement often looks different than it did decades ago. Additionally, increased competition for charitable dollars and volunteer time along with aging leadership and limited visibility, make it harder to sustain long-term impact and attract new supporters.

Despite these hurdles, these organizations remain pillars of community service striving to adapt while preserving their core missions. We're going to hear from one of those organizations today as I speak, with a divisional leader and president of her local chapter of Kiwanis, Katie Escada. She's joined by one of her tenured board members, Louise Brown, and their chapter is bucking the trend that many service organizations are challenged with.

How is a textbook example of listening and understanding this is what we want to see for our communities and proof that it not only can, but actually is happening. [00:03:00] Katie Escada. Louise Brown. Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Thank you. We're excited to hear about service organizations because you will be the first one that I've had in the studio over the course of the last year.

Louise Brown: Nice. 

Jeff Holden: So something a little bit different. Kiwanis Club, rotary Club, Elks Club. Many of the traditional service organizations are seeing challenges in membership and sustainability. And Katie not only is the president of the Citrus Heights Group, but also division representative for Kiwanis. Why do you think this may be?

And, and I'm looking at somebody who is maybe in their thirties. 

Katie Escajeda: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Which is unusual. 

Katie Escajeda: I think there's a lot of different factors that, uh, go into it. A lot of people don't think they have the time for service clubs. I think a lot of people don't think they have the money for service clubs. And then I think a lot of people don't have, see the purpose behind service clubs, which I think they're all there.

They're all very reasonable. Most clubs only meet now maybe [00:04:00] once, twice a month. So, you know, it's not a weekly commitment at 7:00 AM like they used to be. Mm-hmm. A lot of 'em have scholarships. You know, if something's a little bit financially wise, but you wanna give back your time, there's lots of people there to support.

And then, you know, purpose. What, why should I join these clubs? Why, what's, what's, what am I getting out of it? You know? Mm-hmm. Which, I mean, I got so much out of it. I still do every day. But I think those are kind of the main factors. As well as there's a lot of old traditions in place with all of these service clubs, and if we're not willing to change and to update these and get rid of some of those outdated traditions, it's hard to recruit younger people.

Jeff Holden: And to your point, you said a past tense word in there. Got. You have been involved in Kiwanis for a long time? 

Katie Escajeda: 18 years I've been in this family, yes. 

Jeff Holden: So you started in, was it grammar school or high school? 

Katie Escajeda: I was a freshman in high school at Mesa Verde High School in Citrus Heights, and I joined the key [00:05:00] club to get community service hours.

And then I just fell in love and they've never let me leave. I don't wanna leave, but 

Jeff Holden: nor will you ever leave at this point, right? No, 

Katie Escajeda: no. Brought my husband into it and no, we're, we're committed. 

Jeff Holden: That's wonderful. And, and Louise on the other side of things, from your perspective, you've been involved in service clubs for some time Yes.

And are currently involved in two? I have. So Sir Optimists as well as Kawai. Right. 

Louise Brown: I've been sir optimist for almost, or at least 30 years. We can't remember when it all began, and that's when my love of, uh, helping others without expecting anything in return and just having the. The reward of making a difference, however big or small.

And then my husband was always a keanan. And as the time goes by each club, Ana's, rotary, sist, all, you can name them all. Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: We all 

Louise Brown: have a [00:06:00] different mission. And as part of my goal, and with Katie's help as well, try and blend the two together because a lot of us mists husbands were Citrus Heights Kans, so we were supporting each other anyhow, coming to the events and what have you.

So my husband made me a member and now I'm on the board of directors. And I'm also director for Soroptimist of Citrus Heights. 

Jeff Holden: You dove right in. You didn't waste any time. Right? Uh, 

Louise Brown: well, you know, there's some great people, well, there's some great people involved that I wouldn't have other, would not have otherwise met or gotten to know and making the difference, especially in, what would the word be?

I don't wanna say needy, but in, in situations that. You know we're out there, but you don't know how to find them. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Louise Brown: And then that too is part of our struggle is they don't know how to find us, but we're constantly trying to be out in the public and say, we're here for you. What can we do? 

Jeff Holden: Before we get into the service and the [00:07:00] mission specific, there's something unique about the Citrus Highs Club because it's growing, which is really anomalous to what's happening with a lot of the service organizations.

Why is that? Why do you think that's happening? I 

Katie Escajeda: know my focus as the president for the past couple years has really been trying to recruit businesses and corporates in joining us because you know, it's also, you get to give back as a business. You get to put your name on things and you get to give back to a club.

And we get to know people and we get to build those connections within, within our community. And honestly speaking for a division level, I know a lot of people have grown, a lot of the local clubs have grown and there's a club out in Lincoln and they have like. I think they just recruited like 10 more members and stuff like that.

So I think we're seeing a change where people wanna help. It's just finding, finding those clubs to help out and that fit with them. 

Jeff Holden: So maybe we're seeing a cyclical trend as everything is to where it [00:08:00] was in the WA and now it's starting to trend back upwards as people maybe see and recognize the needs.

Of their community and, and where they can support and give back in some way, shape, or form. 

Louise Brown: It's part of the transition, I think when you're a Kwan, and as long as Katie's been, as long as I've been a so optimist, the same old people can't be doing the same old thing. Mm-hmm. Because things around us change and we have to answer it in different ways as well.

It takes social media and you just have to get on board or get lost in the shuffle. Right. And still reach out to people. The need is always there. It's a matter of who, how, and what you're gonna do about it. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. I think adjusting your, your needs too, you know, one thing that's been a prominent factor for 10 years may not be that prominent factor anymore.

So as long as, as a club you're changing and you're growing exactly, and you're seeing the, like, the continuing needs of the community, then you know you're gonna keep growing with 'em. 

Jeff Holden: You know, that's so true because sometimes you gravitate toward the needs of the board [00:09:00] mm-hmm. Versus the needs of the community, right?

Mm-hmm. And the board, depending on its tenure mm-hmm. Could be stuck in something historical where it's already changed and it's mm-hmm. It's, it's far past. And, and to your point, Louise, in terms of social media, many boards just aren't that savvy at this point because they're starting to age. 

Katie Escajeda: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: And they need that new blood to come in.

Katie Escajeda: Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: In a contemporary way. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah, and I think the Citrus Heights Club has really, we're one of the younger clubs in the division just for, you know. Lack of say and, but they've really embraced me coming in and changing things and saying, okay, this is how we need to do. And I'm not, we're not gonna have a weekly 7:00 AM breakfast meeting.

You know, we're gonna go to the evenings now when the working people can come and you know, it's a little bit easier. But they've been very accepting to it. And I think that just shows how all clubs need to be, just accept the growth, accept the change, and 

Jeff Holden: mm-hmm. 

Katie Escajeda: Let it happen. 

Louise Brown: Mm-hmm. It takes a strong leader.

And [00:10:00] Katie having her. Her education, she's top-notch period. And then she brings it to us and makes sure these things get done in a new, efficient way. And she takes a lot of teasing. Oh, I'm sure. Yeah. But she stands tall, she's strong. 

Jeff Holden: Let's get to the particular service mission of Kiwanis because every club does have, its its focus and its specificity in terms of who IT services.

Tell us a little bit about Kiwanis. 

Katie Escajeda: So Kiwanis is the motto is serving the children of the world, one community and one child at at a time. And I think each, each club kind of takes that on their, in their own way. So with us, we really focus on our SLPs, which are service leadership programs, and. We have three right now and we, they're all key clubs.

So it's the high school version of Kiwanis and we're teaching these young people how to be leaders from the beginning and how to get back to the community and things like that. So. That's really [00:11:00] my focus is, you know, working with those youth people, but then also giving back to the community and doing whatever they need.

I'm, I'm here to listen. Mm-hmm. I'm here to listen and do what we need and to support everybody. I don't if it's another nonprofit, if it's another business, like how do I help you give back to my community that I grew up in? 

Jeff Holden: Right. And that's leading right to the next question of collaboration. Because you are a service organization, it's not necessarily your program per se.

You're supporting programs in the community. 

Katie Escajeda: Absolutely. So you're 

Jeff Holden: the go-between, you know, almost from from the donor giver into the community, the conduit, so to speak. Who is it that you find that you collaborate with in the service side of things? I think you've already mentioned the high schools. As part of the mm-hmm.

Involvement in the organization, who also will work with you on those collaborative efforts, but who do you find that you end up supporting? 

Katie Escajeda: I mean, we support everyone. We have a [00:12:00] great community partnership with Sunrise Recreation and Parks, where, um, we've helped 'em throw events and given some money to do some events.

They had a May, the fifth event last year that we were at, that we helped sponsor. We did pancakes for breakfast with Santa. We handed out hot cocoa at their. Tree lighting ceremony. So they're a great partnership, but I mean, we'll partner with whoever may need us. We've partnered with Citrus Heights heart at their spaghetti feed, and you know, serving dinners and collecting tickets and checking in to.

Um, habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, where we're gonna go get our hands dirty and we're gonna go build some houses on Cy Center. Mm-hmm. So, I mean, the possibilities are just endless with what we do, and I can go all day with naming different partners. 

Jeff Holden: Well, and and that's what's important.

That's really part of the purpose of this podcast, is for people to recognize that the collaborative effort is so much stronger than the individual effort. When organizations support organizations, a [00:13:00] lot more gets done. And I'm smiling when you said on Ciara with Habitat for Humanity, because we've got Liam Miller coming in, she'll record in July.

The episode will probably come out sometime in September, and they mentioned as part of the big project that they're working on right here in Citrus Heights. Mm-hmm. Which is where the studio happens to be as well. You are the Citrus Heights Kiwanis, although representing Division 44, you know? Mm-hmm. The group of Greater Sacramento.

Mm-hmm. Here they are talking about a program that's just down the street as well. Yeah. And I think that's the beautiful part of collaboration. Mm-hmm. And I'm sure we've had many other organizations that service youth that you have in some way, shape, or form been involved with. Let me ask you something, because I'm hearing you say we're helping them with the pancake breakfast in the Santa Claus and the Christmas deal.

So you're not only helping with funding in cases, but you're actually volunteer. You're, 

Louise Brown: oh, we got our hands dirty. Your bodies, yeah. Your bodies to help. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Man hours. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Yeah. Which is a big deal for some of these organizations. They need the support, you [00:14:00] know, from the community, from anywhere, because they don't have enough people themselves.

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. It's a great, I think one of the things I love about Kiwanis is, yeah, we can help fundraise and we can help give money, and that's a great part of it. But we're also ready to go get in there and give our hours and, you know, we've done the coat closet at the Sunrise Mall and mm-hmm. You know, worked those hours and.

Just, again, there's so many things we've done, but I think it's unique 'cause we're not just throwing the money. Okay, here you go. Now go figure it out. We're like, okay, how do we help too? Not here's, here's what we can do sponsorship wise, but how do we help? How do we get in there and be a part of the event and show us, show the community like we're here.

I'm like, ask us to help. 

Jeff Holden: Yes. Yeah. Ask you, because I bet you there's organizations that could use you. You would be happy to participate. You just don't know. 

Louise Brown: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Absolutely. To the point we were talking about earlier. Absolutely. Yep. 

Jeff Holden: Well, hopefully this will inundate you with options to say Yes, we can.

Louise Brown: That would be great. And 

Jeff Holden: Oh yeah, you'll have more to do. 

Louise Brown: We're always looking for more to do, [00:15:00] more to give back. We like working with other clubs as well. Within other Kiwanis clubs, we also help man a fireworks booth for another Kiwanis club just to give them the man hours and help them make, raise their funds for their, their projects.

Jeff Holden: Sure. 

Katie Escajeda: We partner with the Kiwanis Club as Carmichael at their Cobes Nature Center. Every year we do the, the holiday at Cobes event, and we're a part of that. So, I mean, we're just, I think Kiwanis is all about partnership and we're not just like, okay, well I'm just in my city and I'm just doing what's in my club.

It's like, no, like, how do we expand this more? 

Jeff Holden: And we're gonna have the opportunity to talk about that. Yes. In just a second too. How do you gauge the impact of what you do? How do you know it's going well? That the donations that are made through the organization have accomplished what the expectation is?

Katie Escajeda: I think it's just seeing what it's going towards and stuff like that. Like we have our big, our big sponsorships like Habitat for Humanity. We just donated [00:16:00] $25,000 to 'em and we're gonna go build houses and stuff, which is a great feature. 

Jeff Holden: Shoot. That's a lot of money. It's a lot of money. And B, the man hours, the time value of those man hours mm-hmm.

Is significant. Mm-hmm. 

Katie Escajeda: Absolutely. Yeah, to, and you know, the Kiwanis family house, which I know we'll talk about in a little bit, you know, but every year we give $10,000 there and we have members who will go and do cleanup days there and. Things like that. So we get to see the little improvements as well.

But then, you know, going to our smaller things, just giving a high school scholarship and seeing the smile on a, a high schooler's face where it's like, oh man, this money's gonna help me. 

Louise Brown: And we occasionally get a letter from them. Oh yeah. Or they come back and tell us about their adventures and.

Sometimes some of our members, when the youngsters come and, and say, well, we have a trip and we're trying to raise funds for this educational trip, or some, some of 'em actually pull their wallets out right then and there and donate. See that's, and this one girl in particular, incredible. I'm not name her, I don't have [00:17:00] her permission, but she's come back and we're just so proud of her.

We're gonna make her another Katie maybe. But she's, she's got all the tools to be a great leader in the community. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. We had a high schooler come and talk about wanting to go, um, to a legislative, a high school legislative thing downtown, and. She came back and we, we gave her the funds to go and it was wonderful.

Mm-hmm. And she came back and she goes, yeah, we wrote this legislation. And it's actually, you know, being told it might actually go through and stuff. And she's so happy. Just big smile on her face. And then we got an update from her a few weeks ago that I haven't told anyone yet, but she's actually been, so this is breaking news.

Breaking news, yeah. Breaking news. She's been promoted, not, not promoted, but she's been selected as the head of that conference. So she's gonna be in charge of it next year. And it all, it all came from us just talking to her and you know, she was a Bella Vista High School student, but like going, Hey, like we wanna support you and what you wanna do, and there you go.

And now it's just like, 

Jeff Holden: that's impact. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: That's impact. 

Katie Escajeda: Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Those are the neat [00:18:00] stories that I think people really enjoy hearing to say. You saw the result, that dollar went here, it was received there, and it was returned this way. So it's a full 360 to where in, in the case of the young lady that you're speaking about, maybe even comes back to Kiwanis.

Louise Brown: Oh, yeah. So, yeah, 

Katie Escajeda: absolutely. I mean, that's was my story. I, they 

Louise Brown: gave me a, I'm sorry, 

Katie Escajeda: did I 

Louise Brown: step 

Katie Escajeda: on 

Louise Brown: your toes there? Oh, no, no. 

Katie Escajeda: We're just so proud of her. Yeah. You know, they gave me a thousand dollars scholarship when I was a high school senior, and I was just. I was already hooked by then, but you know, I was like, how do I, every time I went to Sonoma State, so I wasn't even in town, but every time I was back in town, I was at the meeting saying hi to everyone.

Sure. Giving 'em the updates and stuff like that. So I was hooked from the beginning. But I think the other way we gauge impact is, you know, I think of our Easter icon that we just had 41st annual Easter icon at Rush Park here in Citrus Heights and. I went to that as a little kid. Mm-hmm. I was not great at hunting Easter eggs, [00:19:00] but, you know, seeing all those kids just happy to get eggs to see the Easter Bunny, to, to have fun, to play tug or things like that.

It's like, kid, that's what I'm fundraising for. That's, 

Jeff Holden: yeah, 

Katie Escajeda: that's what I'm doing to get back to my community and provide this free event for those who, who want it and need it. Boy, and even as 

Jeff Holden: you're saying that, I'm thinking of organizations we've had here some in this Orange Vale, citrus Heights, fair Oaks area.

I don't know if they know about that. Yeah. And could the children, they serve benefit if they were aware to come to that Easter egg hunt? Yeah. Just small little things like that that change the dynamic of the organization's involvement in the community. Mm-hmm. And it costs nobody anything. 

Katie Escajeda: Right? Yeah.

And that's why we, part of our stuff, it's always been a free Easter account. I have people always ask, how do I sign up? How much do I pay? You know, I'm like, no, it's free. It's all free. I mean, there might be a food vendor one year and I can't control what they charge or a jewelry vendor, but mm-hmm. The Easter can and the fun part is all free.

Jeff Holden: Yep. And [00:20:00] rain Easter money's just showing up no matter what. 

Louise Brown: Absolutely. Was it rain or COVID where we stood in the rain and it was last year in the rain and the drive through. Mm-hmm. So, and we're handing out balloons and Easter goodies to the kids in the cars, 

Jeff Holden: Uhhuh, and we were 

Louise Brown: there. Rain or shine were there.

We wanted 

Jeff Holden: to be there. Perfect. Yeah. Perfect. We'll be back with more from Katie and Louise on growing our service organizations right after a few messages from those who make our program possible. I'm thrilled to have Western Health Advantage partnering with us as they do so much to support so many nonprofit agencies in our community.

As a truly local health plan, you'll find individual and family options, employer options plans for CalPERS and Medicare Advantage. From medical services to pharmacy health and wellness support, as well as behavioral healthcare, Western Health Advantage has a plan that fits what you need as an employer for profit or nonprofit business, individual or family.

You can find [00:21:00] more@westernhealth.com. 

Scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CAPTRUST in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations. Annually, we survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we heard concerns about proper board governance, mission aligned investment, and how to implement alternative investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, look me up, scottThomas@captrust.com. 

Jeff Holden: If your organization is looking for non volunteer positions at any level, consider using our platform for your recruitment, whether in podcast content or in the newsletter the audience we're speaking to.

Has your next teammate simply reach out to me through the website, non-profit pod.com, for a customized solution to your open positions. Let's talk about a success story or two on [00:22:00] how. Qis Club members made a difference in the community, and I know we're gonna go to a very visible and and large situation down at uc Davis.

Katie Escajeda: Yeah, so I think one of the biggest ones is the Qis Family House, which opened in 1984, and it provides temporary low cost housing to families who are staying at uc, Davis Medical Center or ens Shriners. So it's either or. I got some stats here to go into it, but I think it's a big success story because a lot of our clubs here in the area, we're all a part of it.

We all know it. We all love the family house. It's the only one in the world. Mm-hmm. You know, so we're very lucky to have and to be able to support it. And Citrus Heights specifically, we had a lot of our members were founding on that board. Mm-hmm. Who helped create that, which is. Something we hold near and dear and why we give $10,000 every year to them.

'cause we want them to keep succeeding and keep doing what they're doing. Would this be the 

Louise Brown: opportunity to [00:23:00] explain who, what Kawana's family house actually is? Mm-hmm. It's built, it's fashioned after what the old Ronald McDonald House where families and sometimes patients that can have to have long-term treatment at uc, Davis can actually be housed at no cost to them.

And it's all supported by outside funds and fundraisers, and they have their own board and board of directors and sometimes clubs and or family individuals. Something that I. The public might wanna think about is sponsoring a room where you can actually go in and decorate it. We actually, my husband and I did a room and you can, you stay within their color palette 'cause they want everything to be somewhat, of course Seing, 

Katie Escajeda: you don't want a bright orange room.

Louise Brown: No, no. There, there's some very creative people out here, Uhhuh, but you wanna kind of keep it, you know, simple. So they di they help direct color-wise, but you know, you put new linens on new [00:24:00] mattresses. They're so, so appreciative. Fresh towels and. And then it's, it's very much appreciated. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Louise Brown: There's, I can think of a lot of our members that have done that actually.

Yeah. And they do clean up babies. There's many ways the, the public can get involved and help support Kawanas at the same time. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Both ways. Yes. Mm-hmm. So it can come through the organization almost as a. I'm gonna call it semi restricted. This one's gonna go to the house. Mm-hmm. The Kiwanis house.

Mm-hmm. 

Louise Brown: The 

Jeff Holden: rest of the stuff just goes into the community. 

Louise Brown: But see, we have to let the community know that that opportunity is available. 

Jeff Holden: Right. Through all of the organizations, I would imagine all the Kiwanis throughout the entire region. Yes. Yes. And you bear one of the greater weights in terms of the contribution.

Is that just because of the membership, their involvement and interest in it? It's not a responsibility or an an expectation, is it? 

Louise Brown: No. No. Okay. I think it, it's a choice. Yeah. Is that what you're asking? 

Katie Escajeda: Yes. Yeah. It's, it's a choice. I think we hold it near and dear to us, and it's something that I. [00:25:00] 18 years I've been involved.

We've always tried to give the most we can to them, and we're lucky enough to be one of the only diamond sponsor clubs. Um, a lot of clubs, you know, give back in other ways, but we're lucky enough to do that through our fundraising. But, you know, we do that more. We donate paper towels and toilet paper and things for their food closet, you know?

Mm-hmm. So just we can give back in so many different ways to the family house for those, for those families who, you know, need the help. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. Right. Let's talk about funding a little bit because we're heading down that path. Okay. Just, just logically, how is the organization funded? 

Katie Escajeda: I. So it's a lot of fundraising.

Um, we have two, two annual events every year, except one's getting canceled this year, but Oh no, I know. Yeah. Golf courses. Um, so every year we do an annual Crap fe, that's our biggest fundraiser where we have anywhere from 400 to 500 guests. Come and have a fun time. Eat some good crab. [00:26:00] Auction, things like that.

And then we have an annual golf tournament. Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Which 

Katie Escajeda: I think we're trying to find a alternative to that right now, but that's just a fun day to come out and golf and hang out with us and get to meet people. So those are our two biggest fundraisers. And then that sets our service budget for the year, which is then where we decide, okay, how do we wanna get back to our community?

Mm-hmm. And how much can we get back to the community? 

Jeff Holden: And you are one of the larger. Kiwanis in the region, correct? Mm-hmm. So what is a budget that you would work with? 

Louise Brown: Oh, 

Katie Escajeda: like a number? 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Katie Escajeda: It 

Louise Brown: varies every year. 

Katie Escajeda: Every year? It varies. I know this year we were working off of I think $41,000. 

Jeff Holden: Okay.

Katie Escajeda: Somewhere around that. Which 10? 

Jeff Holden: 10 of that goes to the Kiwanis house? 

Katie Escajeda: Yes. Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Katie Escajeda: Yes. And then the other way we get money is through like private donors. Mm-hmm. And sometimes we have generous members who are like, I have some extra money. Like, you know, here you go. And then sometimes it's in [00:27:00] those not a will.

How, how'd you call it? Last night when we were talking 

Louise Brown: Oh, in memoriam. 

Jeff Holden: Thank you. Yes. Yes. 

Katie Escajeda: So, 

Jeff Holden: so in, in memoriam donations, right? Yeah, 

Katie Escajeda: absolutely. So, but that's how we get our money when that's. All we do. Really. Sure. Yeah. I could give all everything I could, but, 

Jeff Holden: well, and you have does that's that, that's such a great value.

The manpower, again, back to the time. Mm-hmm. You know, as opposed to just the tithe. The time is so much that's worth five times the dollar when you have somebody who comes out, comes out and actually works for that. Nonprofit are the benefit of that nonprofit, 

Katie Escajeda: I think. I think that's why some people get service clubs a little confused sometimes 'cause mm-hmm.

I think so many are like, okay, well I have to give X amount of money every year to these things and well, I'm like, just come give your, come give your service hours. Like come just, yeah, work an event. I don't like, money's nice, don't get me wrong. Right. It's how [00:28:00] everyone can live and breathe. But I just want you to come have fun and come give back to your community.

Right. 

Jeff Holden: We see that with some organizations, and it always shocks me because they're funded differently. Mm-hmm. And they're not reliant on fundraising per se. And we'll say, what's your greatest need? And they'll say, yeah, we just need people. And I. That's hard. Some people don't want to give their time, rather give you some money as opposed to my time, my time's more valuable.

We'll take it. I'll take both. Yeah. Right. I said the same thing. 

Katie Escajeda: We'll 

Jeff Holden: take it. Yeah. It's what we, yeah. Either or. Or both. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. Yeah. Either or both. Whatever you can do. And 

Jeff Holden: to be clear, this is an organization that's all volunteered. Mm-hmm. The service organizations can want this club, whatever they may be.

Those are volunteer. There's not a staff, there's no expense to run. It's just operating and giving back. Right. All the way through all of 

Katie Escajeda: us. Just giving time and to the, to this club that we all believe in and But we're all volunteers. 

Jeff Holden: Exactly. On the national side, because there's a Kiwanis [00:29:00] National, how does that interface with the affiliate groups?

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. So, uh, Wanis Center, I mean, I guess there's different levels to it. You know, if you think about it, there's the California, Nevada, Hawaii side to it, and then there's the international side to it. Mm-hmm. But both are just here to help our clubs. A lot of 'em have different type of children's funds, is what they call 'em, and that's a way where they give grant money out.

You write a thing, you're saying, Hey, I have this event, you know, I want X amount of money. Like, and then they're able to do that. They also provide leadership workshops. Mm-hmm. We have conferences. We're able to go, you know, to, I think it's Las Vegas this year, you know, and we could go meet other Ians and throughout all of California, Nevada, Hawaii and get to know them and see what they're doing for the community and how do I bring that back?

And lots of networking. Networking. Yes. 

Jeff Holden: Then of course they give you a stipend to gamble on premise that you'll bring back 10 x. Right. I don't go to Vegas. That you'll win that 10 meg and bring it back, Neil. Yeah. No. Much larger than you started with. [00:30:00] 

Katie Escajeda: Never admit to that Katie. Yeah, 

Jeff Holden: right. 

Katie Escajeda: No, but is 

Jeff Holden: there a stipend?

Do you have to provide to national from. 

Katie Escajeda: So a, a little bit of our dues, go to an international and go to California, Nevada, Hawaii, obviously to get Those are organizations mm-hmm. Where they have paid staff. 'cause they're, yes. They support, they're running the support business. You know, so I, it's a very small amount.

I can't, I. I should have pulled the numbers. 

Jeff Holden: That's okay. That's okay. 

Katie Escajeda: But yeah, it's a very small amount and the, the good news is most clubs will break it up. It's not like you owe it all at once and stuff, and it's per member, and that's how they keep funded and are able to keep our organizations going as well.

Jeff Holden: And on the dues, is the dues the same for every region? For Citrus Heights as it is for Folsome is Okay. No. So everyone different. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah, everyone's different. Everyone gets to determine their own dues and how they're paid. I know for a fact we have a Wanis Star Club, which is a single focus club that we have dedicated to sex trafficking [00:31:00] awareness and resources, and they have a, it's a one-time payment in October when our QAs year starts, and I think it's $200 right now.

And then you have clubs like ours where, you know, we're a little bit bigger, we're a little bit doing a little bit more, and we're doing, we break it up in quarters though. We're like, okay, let's ease the financial burden. Right. It's $75 a quarter and those are the only two I can really speak, speak to. And we're 

Jeff Holden: not talking large sums of money.

No. We're talking, you know, hundreds over the course of a year. 

Katie Escajeda: Absolutely. So 

Jeff Holden: it's, it's a minimal, it's, it's a Starbucks a week, you know, over the course of True a year. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: To, to say, okay, I don't need that this week. I wanna belong to the organization. 

Katie Escajeda: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And, and you know, again, if. You reach out to the club and it doesn't, their way doesn't necessarily work.

There's ways to work it out. Every club is wanting the help, you know? Right. And stuff. So just because it, it might seem scary when they talk to you about it. It's like we, we'll talk to somebody. 'cause I guarantee you they'll work something out [00:32:00] with you. Yeah. I've never met a Ian who's been like, no. Right, 

Jeff Holden: right.

We want your membership. We'd you on board. Yeah. We want to be a part. We 

Katie Escajeda: want you to have the service. We want you to fill the need in your community. 

Jeff Holden: Let's talk a little bit about a vision. If money weren't an object, if you had somebody says, I really wanna fund, well, those are 

Louise Brown: dangerous words. Fund you.

Yeah. If I wanna fund you 

Jeff Holden: holistically, I've got a bunch of money, I'm gonna give it to a handful of organizations, just give me a good vision. What would you do with a blank check? Mm-hmm. 

Katie Escajeda: Oh my gosh. First I'd go out to the community and be like, what do you want? What do you need? What can I do for you? Can I give you some fun events?

You know, can we do. Something similar to the Easter Con that's free and fun and or, you know, can I give you, can I go to a school and give you some books or help you rebuild the library or, oh gosh, school supplies, backpack drive, all those things. Like, I, I think the big thing, if, if I had an open checkbook, what does my community want?

Right. [00:33:00] I can't, I can't make that decision. I'm so 

Jeff Holden: happy to hear you say that because I think that's the, the truth of it. It's. The need. Yeah. Mm-hmm. You know, it's the need in the community. And you said my community, because you serve this community. Mm-hmm. As you know, downtown serves downtown or greater Sacramento.

Suburban, yeah. Serves their area as opposed to just, we would do, I love that it's going out to the community, asking the questions of what it is. They want, I have a million ideas 

Katie Escajeda: of what I could do to improve the community, but what I may want might not be what my community wants. And if I'm not doing, again, if I'm not doing something, you're gonna be like, why?

Why? Kiwanis like, you don't care about us. You're just doing what you wanna do and, 

Jeff Holden: right. 

Katie Escajeda: That's so far from the opposite. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. That's, that's wonderful. 

Louise Brown: Those unlimited funds are. The unlimited word also applies to the opportunities that those unlimited funds can go to. Katie and I were kicking around last night and she goes, oh my [00:34:00] God, what would we do?

After we got through teasing about what we would or wouldn't do? It just became obvious that if things were unlimited, maybe there wouldn't be the need also. 

Jeff Holden: Right? 

Louise Brown: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Right, and, and we look at that in some organizations, the best thing they could do is to work themselves out of a job. 'cause it would mean that the issue they're addressing is gone.

Louise Brown: Gone. Yep. 

Jeff Holden: You know, unfortunately, I don't think we're gonna see that anytime soon. We'll have plenty of things to deal with in some way, shape, or form. 

Louise Brown: Oh yeah. 

Jeff Holden: But the beauty is we've got people like Kiwanis to help us. Yeah. You know, who are doing the things. Not for the organization itself, but for the organization to give it back to its community, its own backyard.

And that's, that's so significant. What is the greatest need you've got today as Ians, what do you look at and say, boy, this is, this is where we would like to see some things change as people are listening to this episode going, well, maybe I'm, I'm thinking of this. What, what can I do for a Kian? I. [00:35:00] I, I'm 

Katie Escajeda: looking for, you know, people to come and just give your time and come be a part of us.

Um, I think we really lack finding the next generation of Kiwanis members and just any service organization. I. So it's like, I just want you to come, come see what I'm about. Come meet me, come talk to me. You know, come talk to us. Come see how fun we are. Yeah. And just really see what we're all about and see if I can help you find something that you feel there's a need in the community that I can help you out with.

I did that with, we had a member who I said, what are you interested in? What do you wanna do with this club? Like, how do I support you as the president? He saw a need at Mesa Verde High School for the garden. It was in shambles. Shambles. And I said, okay, let's, we're gonna, we're gonna rebuild that garden.

We're gonna do this. Mm-hmm. We've rebuilt eight garden boxes there, raised garden boxes. He has a whole watering system now, wheelchairs, all the gardening supplies, and the [00:36:00] kids love it. All the 

Louise Brown: kids involved, things are blooming and growing and doing well. And another service club was brought in also.

Mm-hmm. Just for funds, you know, just they heard about it and, and said, what do you need? And nicely wrote a check and helped get that project over the hump and on its way. So, 

Jeff Holden: so it's just people being aware and being able to share what that need in the community might be. Absolutely. And getting involved, obviously, you know, that's, that's.

The human side of it is we need your body 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah. To, to help us. If you want me to do something in your community, I'd like your help. 'cause if you tell me what you want, but then don't guide me. Right. I'm gonna do it how I think best, which might not be what you really wanted it to be. So 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Katie Escajeda: Come to me, tell me what you need and then our, our community let's out, let's work it out and then let's get you on board on it as well, so that way we're all, all profiting from it.

Right, right. Come with us with 

Louise Brown: an idea. Give us if you have [00:37:00] a game plan, even. If you have a, a way to accomplish it, but there's something that we can add to it to get you over the hump or what. Mm-hmm. You know, even something that well designed at that point, you know, sometimes there's, it can be that easy and it scares me is a little bit of social media that we're here doing, but the old fashioned shaking hands and looking each other in the eye and.

Feeling like we had a great time together. You know, we wouldn't feel that same over FaceTime perhaps, or mm-hmm. Or something else. I think we're striving to keep that a little bit more alive, a little bit longer. Yes. Because I think that's a key component to success when you're working in the community.

Jeff Holden: Well, even what we do here, we strongly urge and suggest come to the studio. It's different mm-hmm. Than doing something remotely. Right. You just don't get that, that. There's a visceral feeling in a [00:38:00] room. There's energy that comes off of people, and we all thrive on that energy. 

Louise Brown: Well, you can see it at our crab feeds and our other fundraisers, and.

People like each other for those few hours, you know, they're all having a good time and spending money. It's, 

Jeff Holden: it's hard to be mean when you're actually looking at somebody, right. Eating and eating with them. Yeah. Or drinking with them, or laughing with them and you realize, oh wait, they laugh too. They laugh like me.

Yeah. There's something similar. We do have something in common. 

Katie Escajeda: There you go. 

Jeff Holden: What's the best way to learn more about Kiwanis? 

Katie Escajeda: So if you're looking for a local club, it's the Kiwanis International website. You can submit a form and they'll connect you with the different clubs there. If you don't wanna go that route, you can always just do Kiwanis Club of in whatever city you're in and see if something pops up or see if they serve it, you know?

Um, we used to serve Fair Oaks in Orangeville as well, even though we were Citrus Heights. Mm-hmm. You know, we used to be the Fair Oaks in Orangeville. Serving areas. And then another club came in and you know, is now the Fair [00:39:00] Oaks Orangeville Club. So just qis of whatever it is. Check it out that way. And it's 

Jeff Holden: it.org, correct?

We are.org. Org, yes. Okay. 

Katie Escajeda: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: So, so not.com Kiwanis Club of Citrus Heights. You name it in the region.org 

Katie Escajeda: or Google it social media, 

Jeff Holden: right? Did it'll come up in some way, shape, or form? It should 

Katie Escajeda: come up in some way, shape, or form. But the easiest way is just to go to the international website and just say, Hey, this is where I'm at, and they'll connect you and send your information over.

Jeff Holden: And it's nice because they do have a big overview of what the organizations are about. But if you're in a community, it's nicer to see what your community group does. Because you might have been involved, your kids might have been involved through school. Somebody in your purview, in your circle of friends might have been involved with one of those organizations.

Oh my gosh. That's a great organization. Oh look, they did something there. They did something with that group or this group, or whatever it may be. [00:40:00] Social need, community need, whatever it might be, school need. 'cause I know you get involved with the schools as you've been sharing. Mm-hmm. Health need. Yeah.

Yeah. So you're in all these different places. Which is different from the specific organizations that feed that particular niche. Yeah. You're supporting all of them. And again, that's the, the value I think of these service organizations that people maybe just don't recognize. Oh, that's, ah, I kind of know that name.

Or it was my dad was involved or my grandfather was involved. Mm-hmm. But it's equally as easy today to bring that back because we're seeing more and more young people get involved in the organizations. Katie, perfect case in point. 

Katie Escajeda: Yeah, I think a lot of people, you know, we joke in Kiwanis QAs is the best kept secret, which we don't want it to be a secret anymore.

We don't. No, we don't. Not at all. But you know, it's, it's. We hear it all the time at our Easter egg. The other weekend it was, oh, I've heard of Key Club, my, my kids in that. Oh, you guys support them? Like, [00:41:00] yeah, we're the parent club. We're the ones who support them. We're the ones who, you know, help 'em and stuff like that.

So I think, I think everyone's been touched by Kiwanis, even if you don't really know it. I mean, when I joined Key Club and I told grandma about it, my grandma about it who raced me, and she's like, oh yeah, you went to the Easter icons and stuff. And so, you know, it was, it's, it's all these full circles where it's like.

Oh yeah, that's, that's what they're doing. That's who it is. 

Jeff Holden: And, and before we close, we wanna say, soon to be congratulations as a mother. Thank you. 'cause you are expecting Yes. In September. Yes. And this is being recorded in April of 2025. So at some, some point when that happens, we will push that out.

Through the newsletter and let everybody know that Baby Lando. 

Katie Escajeda: Oh yeah. Right. Is 

Jeff Holden: uh, you know, he has arrived. The new Kian. He 

Katie Escajeda: is. He I, oh yeah, he is. He's, I joke with the club. He's gonna be the honorary Kian. He's coming to the meetings. Y'all ain't getting rid of me though. But he'll be [00:42:00] right there in the meetings.

I'm sure he'll take all the attention, 

Louise Brown: but he'll be in the waiting room waiting for him to arrive. 

Jeff Holden: I say he's in the waiting room now. No, that's, he's true. He's experiencing everything. Right. That's 

Katie Escajeda: good. That's a good one. Yeah. No, it's, it's exciting and I, it's one thing I, all of the quant quants, not just with him, my Citrus Heights Club, but with the ones I've connected with, they're all very excited.

'cause I've known most of 'em for. Gosh, over 10 years now probably. So it's fun to bring in the next generation of Kiwanis and have everyone see them and yeah, to give back in that way as well. 

Jeff Holden: Well, congratulations on what you're doing with the Citrus Heights Group. That's amazing. You know, congratulations.

On the upcoming, you know, birth of a child and, and what you guys are doing is so significant. The value of what you do really can't be understated. And you, you bring something different. You know, it's the comradery, it's the fun of giving back in one's own community where you get to see it every day and the engagement of that work.

Is a good feeling. [00:43:00] Mm-hmm. As you drive by it and you say, I, I was responsible for those gardens at the high school. Mm-hmm. I mean, look what's happening. The kids are, are either picking that fruit or cutting the flowers, whatever it happens to be. That's growing at the time. Exactly. So, you know, from us to the Kiwanis service organizations around the community, you as the representative for group and Louise for your board service over so many years on multiple service organizations.

Thank you. Mm-hmm. Thank you both. You 

Katie Escajeda: our pleasure. I had a fun time. Getting to brag about Kiwanis finally. Yeah. Well, and 

Jeff Holden: we want you to. So yes, thanks again guys. Thanks for having 

Katie Escajeda: us. Thank you. 

Louise Brown: Thank you.

Jeff Holden: Thank you for listening to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. I hope you enjoyed the episode. If what you heard moved you, please reach out to that organization and do what you can to help if you like and appreciate what we're doing to support local nonprofits. Please give us a positive review, subscribe [00:44:00] and share.

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