Thanks to Builders Club advisors and members who completed their respective end-of-year surveys last spring, we’ve learned some important things about the Builders Club experience. Here are some of the results:

  1. What members learned:
    • 87% of members gained an understanding about the needs of their community.
    • 64% learned how to help plan service projects.
    • 62% learned how to set goals and work to achieve them.
  1. Skills members gained:
    • The #1 skill members gained was collaboration or teamwork, at 88%.
    • Second was communication and listening, at 81%.
    • Third was problem solving, at 67%.
  2. Community needs or issues members care most about:
    • 71% selected kindness.
    • 69% chose bullying and safety.
    • 67% reported hunger and homelessness.
  3. Main challenges faced by clubs:
    • The most members (70%) reported time – kids are busy with many activities – as the biggest challenge to students joining!
    • 27% of members selected that Builders Club needs better marketing to explain to students what the club is about.
    • 22% chose transportation for students to get to club meetings.
  4. How to improve clubs:
    • 46% of members selected doing more service projects that focus on issues that students care about.
    • 35% said their club needs more money for service projects and club activities.
    • 33% want more time to meet as a club.
  5. Members were also asked what effect Builders Club has had on their school/organization and here are some responses they shared.
    • Builds better leaders.
    • More people volunteer and join the club.
    • We made people feel happier and more included.
    • It made our school a more caring and inclusive environment.
    • Our club has helped out our school in small ways that still make a big difference.
    • It helps build friendships and comfort and support in the community.
    • I think the club has improved our community by showing how you can give back and providing a safe environment to have fun in while doing good for the community.
    • The club helped me become a better student and better person for my community.
    • Our school is a much better place because of this club.
    • Leadership and respect towards other people – very positive effect and impact.

 Advisors also provided important insights into club life and resources and support available to clubs. Here is what we learned from Builders Club advisors.

  1. Club size:
    • 39% of advisors reported their clubs had 11-20 members.
    • 26% had 21-35 members.
    • 14% had 5-10 members.
  2. Meeting frequency:
    • 38% shared their clubs meeting twice a month.
    • 32% reported they met monthly.
    • 24% of their clubs meet every week.
  3. Number of service projects:
    • 41% reported their club completed five or more projects.
    • 34% carried out 3-4 projects.
    • 21% completed 1-2 projects.
  4. What members learned: Advisor answers to this question were almost identical to members’ responses.
    • 86% reported members gained an understanding of the needs of their community.
    • 72% chose that members learned how to help plan service projects.
    • Tying for third, 58% of advisors said members learned how to set and achieve goals and that they learned more about themselves (interests and talents).
  5. Leadership opportunities:

Advisors reported the following officer positions in their clubs:

    • presidents (84%).
    • vice presidents (82%).
    • secretaries (77%).
    • treasurers (69%).
    • sergeants-at-arms (7%).
    • historians (5%).
    • Other interesting officer positions that clubs reported were social media director, arts and crafts director, bulletins director, and grade level representatives.
    • Seven (7) percent of responding advisors reported they did not have officers in their clubs.

Seventy-one (71) percent of advisors reported having committees in their club. The top three types of committees Builders Clubs had were:

    • Service Projects Committee (67%).
    • Fundraising Committee (24%).
    • Recruitment Committee (17%).