1 Find a host organization to partner with, maybe somewhere men are already spending time, like a health services organization. Partnering with an organization can be helpful in getting funding and the work we do at DCS is easily understood as preventive work. An established health organization can also potentially provide space for gatherings, food, facilitators, elders, and other resources.
2 Look around for funding opportunities! There are lots of small grants and funding opportunities available through government, health authorities, grants from pharmaceutical companies, private donors, etc. Host organizations will likely be happy to assist with grant applications and writing short proposals. More than 32 on reserve communities have secured funding grants worth $7500 from the First Nations Health Authority
3 The DUDES can be entrepreneurs, providing services or selling handmade products, and hosting fundraisers. At the end of this document are resources that can help with this, including a sample donation and thank you letter. The program is affordable, with many sites running on less than $5,000 per year. Most of the money goes towards food, Elders, and outings.
Dudes Club Setup Checklist
Establishing Connection with DUDES (Peers, Local Groups, Community)
The work we do at dudes Club Society is easily understood as preventive work. We recommend that you find an organization to partner with, maybe somewhere men are already spending time, like a health services organization. Partnering with an organization can be helpful in getting funding and other support. An established health organization can also potentially provide space for gatherings, food, facilitators, elders and other resources. This Checklist is intended to help you cover all the bases. These milestones are elements to consider when planning your Dudes Club as they help increase your chances of success. There is not requirement to do things in any particular order but we view a successful Club as one that can check off all the boxes below.
Key Considerations
- Location: convenience, capacity
- Consistency: same meeting, place, day and time
- Persistence: attendance may be sporadic at first
- Scheduling: meetings spaced to avoid overload/saturation
Resources | Supports | Assistance | Space
Host / Sponsor organization
- Funding flow-through
- Meeting space
- Cooking space
- Facilitators (x2)
- Elders (x2)
- Health and Wellness resources (therapist, counselors, health providers…)
Partners
- Funding
- Health and Wellness resources (therapists, counselors, health providers…)
Dudes Club Society
- Knowledge Bundle (Tool Kit)
- Information and resource sharing
- Training (Dudes Club 101, Trainer-the-Trainer)
- Initial administrative support as required
- Ongoing support as required
- Monthly Facilitator check-in
- Fly-in (in-person) and virtual (online) training and support
- Assistance meeting arising needs
- Ongoing program design and refinement
- Input through think tanks, talking circles, annua retreats, workshops and focus groups
- Networking and Mutual Support (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, info@ dudesclub.ca,