What is a Chapter?
A CKF chapter is a branch off of our non-profit that consists of a group of people striving to help cancer patients during the most difficult fight of their lives. Whether it is a group of 6 people or 50, every chapter is significant and crucial to Cancer Kids First’s mission. A chapter can be a school club, a community group, or a state-wide initiative.
Understanding the difference between a chapter and a project is important. While both may aim towards achieving one goal with a group of people, chapters differ in the way that there is a continuous commitment to maintaining a close relationship with your team members, volunteers, stakeholders, and pediatric cancer hospitals. Chapters are expected to maintain positive relationships to bring a localized impact to the Cancer Kids First mission.
All About a CKF Chapter
Benefits of Starting a Chapter:
1. Help ease the difficult childhoods of pediatric cancer patients
2. Gain the opportunity to hold a leadership position and manage a team
3. Improve leadership, organizational, and communication skills
4. Meet new people and work with diverse individuals
5. Earn numerous hours of service
Setting up Your Chapter:
1. For school chapters only: register your chapter with your school / introduce the idea to school leadership BEFORE you submit an application with CKF
2. Apply to register your Cancer Kids First chapter
3. Interview with our executive team
4. Appoint your chapter's officers
5. Organize all forms needed to maintain this chapter (make sure you know when your budget form needs to be sent each year)
6. Plan out goals your chapter will carry out
7. Draft event/fundraiser ideas
8. Recruit members and partners
Promoting Your Chapter:
1. Create flyers to pass out
2. Ask friends to spread the word through socials
3. Advertise in your school newsletter, news show, magazine, or other available forms of communication
4. If your school has a club fair at the beginning of the year introducing all the clubs to the students at your school, have your chapter participate there!
5. Create incentives that encourage people to join