Club Resources

11 Tips on Starting a Club

  1. Create recruitment materials. Customize your Club materials to your target audience. Publicize at school activity/clubs fairs and in the school newspaper. Include information on when and where your Club meets!
  2. Structure Your Club. Hold elections or assign leadership roles to divide responsibility and promote active involvement. Examples: prez, v.p, secretary, treasurer, webmaster, photographer, project manager, publicity manager.
  3. Create Committees. Divide up Club members into committees(i.e. events, publicity, membership). People will feel more invested if they have a specific responsibility that matches their interests and skills.
  4. Apply for a Do Something grant.Looking for some funding to expand your project? We want to give it to you. You could get $500 for your project.
  5. Involve the greater community. Partner with local businesses or restaurants. The store could offer discounts to volunteers and will love supporting community action, and you'll be able to thank your volunteers.
  6. Get involved with a Do Something campaign! DoSomething.org will send your Club information, posters, flyers, and stickers for upcoming campaigns. We focus on a different cause every month. Find yours!
  7. Have food at your meetings! This is a simple but effective strategy to make sure Club members attend meetings. It might even help with recruitment! Read more meeting tips.
  8. Involve all members in project decisions. Make sure you take a vote and ask for feedback before deciding which projects to take on. It’s important that all of your Club’s members have a say in what you work on.
  9. Set up a communication system. Create a Facebook group, weekly e-mails, or group messaging through dosomething.org’s Clubs system. Keep all of your members in the loop and give them a place to discuss Club business.
  10. Recognize your volunteer’s efforts. Honor a volunteer or member of the month. Thank him or her in newsletters or emails. Maybe give that person a gift certificate for a job well done.
  11. Create a succession plan. Are you a graduating senior? Hold elections for next year's officers and have them shadow you to feel prepared to take over. Make sure your Club stays active.