Kiwanis History

Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 by a group of businessmen in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The organization was originally called the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order of Brothers, but changed its name to Kiwanis a year later.

In 1919, at the national convention in Birmingham, Alabama, attendees raised $17,500 in one-half hour to buy Kiwanis from founder Allen Browne thus creating an independent Kiwanis. 

Historically a men's-only organization, while meeting in Washington, DC, in 1987, the House of Delegates voted to eliminate gender as a qualification for membership in all Kiwanis clubs. The first female International President was elected in 2015.

The name "Kiwanis" was coined from an American Indian expression, "Nunc Kee-wanis," which means, "We trade." In 1920, the motto of Kiwanis became “We Build.” It remained the motto until 2005, when members voted to change it to “Serving the children of the world.” In the early years, members focused on business networking but in 1919, the organization changed its focus to service — specifically service to children.

The oldest club in the Alabama District is Birmingham founded on February 28, 1917. Birmingham is also the largest Kiwanis Club in the world with more than 550 members.

For more information about the history of Kiwanis International, visit https://www.kiwanis.org/about/history.