Office of Student Engagement

The Big Picture

Introduction:

About WIU & Royal Neighbors of America Partnership

Collegiate chapters are student-led groups that align with the core mission of Royal Neighbors of America. Their primary purpose is to:

  • Foster Volunteerism: Engage students in localized, grassroots volunteer work and philanthropic projects within their college campus and the surrounding community.
  • Support the Mission: Promote the values of Faith, Courage, Unselfishness, Endurance, and Humility, and support the organization's focus on women's empowerment and community service.
  • Develop Leaders: Provide students with opportunities to take on leadership roles, plan projects, and manage an organizational structure.

Benefits and Activities

Members of Royal Neighbors collegiate chapters enjoy several benefits and participate in various activities, often mirroring the resources available to general community chapters:

  • Volunteer Projects: Chapters organize service projects like stocking food pantries, cleaning neighborhoods, assembling care packages, or hosting fundraisers.
  • Funding Opportunities:
    • Chapter Funding: The national organization provides funding to chapters to help make their projects a reality, with more active chapters being eligible for increased support.
    • Difference Maker Fund: Each chapter member can apply for a grant of up to $200 once a year to offset the costs of an individual volunteer project.
  • Membership Perks: Collegiate members are typically offered a complimentary initial General Membership, which provides access to:
    • The Scholarship Program (available to beneficial members who are insured by or own an annuity with Royal Neighbors).
    • Member savings and discounts.
    • Opportunities to engage with national programs like the Nation of Neighbors women's empowerment initiative.
  • Networking: Chapters provide a chance to connect with peers.

Starting a Chapter

The process to start a Royal Neighbors collegiate chapter involves several straightforward steps:

  1. Recruit Members: Gather at least 10 new Royal Neighbors members (not listed on another Royal Neighbors chapter roster) to join the chapter. Faculty and staff who support your student group can also be members, as well as alumni who continue to volunteer with your group. 
  2. Complete Paperwork: Submit necessary documents, such as a Chapter Roster and a Petition for Charter. Per Royal Neighbors requirements, the President of the Royal Neighbors chapter must be female. 
  3. Receive Start-up Funds: Once approved, the chapter receives initial funding to begin its work.
  4. Plan and Execute: Define and carry out the chapter's first volunteer project. Chapters are required to meet at least once per quarter. Chapter meetings count towards volunteer hours on quarterly reports. 
  5. Report Activity: To receive continued funding, the chapter must track and report its volunteer hours quarterly.
  6. Submit  the annual Chapter Leader Roster each Fall to Royal Neighbors. 

Royal Neighbors New Chapter Presentation can be found here . 

The Process:

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive Royal Neighbors funding, the following criteria must be met prior to requesting funding.

  • The organization must first be registered and approved through the OSE.
    Registration to become a Royal Neighbors chapter is coordinated through the Volunteer Prorgams area of the OSE in collaboration with Royal Neighbors. More information can be found here . 
  • By submitting a request for funding, the organization agrees to the policies outlined in this manual and will follow them.

Goals

  • Royal Neighbors Foundation funds provide students who are a part of Royal Neighbors chapters at Western Illinois University,  a means for sponsoring activities through funds that they may not obtain individually or normally from the University. 
  • Royal Neighbors' funds aim to provide educational and entertaining programming for students and opportunities for growth and development through leadership and service activities. Funding can be used for costs associated with running a Royal Neighbors chapter and planning additional volunteer activities in the community.

Resources