Extending The Kids In Need Foundation’s Mission Throughout Their New National Headquarters

In August 2025, the Kids in Need Foundation celebrated a landmark moment alongside its 30th anniversary: the grand opening of its new national headquarters and expanded Teacher Resource Center in Little Canada, Minnesota. A national nonprofit dedicated to creating equitable learning environments, Kids in Need Foundation supports under-resourced students and teachers by providing essential classroom supplies at no cost.

To make the new space reflect the organization’s mission and energize all who walk through its doors, 3M partnered with Brand ink to design, print, and install architectural graphics throughout the facility. The result was a transformation that turned a once-blank warehouse into a vibrant, welcoming, mission-driven space.

FROM WAREHOUSE TO MISSION-FUELED POWERHOUSE

When Kids in Need Foundation moved into its new facility, the space was functional but plain. “It was very warehouse,” said Roberta Fultz, Kids in Need Foundation’s VP of Marketing and Development. “It was very white. It was very bright.” The organization wanted the new space to be more than a headquarters. It needed to feel like a celebration of their mission, a reflection of their values, and a welcoming place for teachers, volunteers, staff, and partners.

3M, a Kids in Need partner of over 20 years, enlisted Brand ink to print and install a series of architectural graphics that would tell the story of Kids in Need’s mission and impact. They wanted everyone who entered to feel connected to the cause.

BOLD VISION PRESENCE AND PRACTICAL UTILITY

3M and Brand ink worked collaboratively to turn the clean, utilitarian space into one that felt warm, inspiring, and aligned with Kids in Need Foundation’s educational mission. Through careful design and vibrant, precisely installed graphics, the team struck a balance between bold visual presence and practical utility with:

• A bold and colorful “Backpack Wall” installation
• Branded entryway graphics for both the public and staff entrances
• Wrapped garage doors with large-scale graphics
• Interior wayfinding signage for volunteers and guests
• Custom privacy window decals
• Mission-forward wall graphics that highlight the organization’s vision, values, and purpose

A SPACE THAT WELCOMES, INSPIRES, AND CELEBRATES

Every corner of Kids in Need Foundation’s new headquarters reflects their mission to support teachers and students in under-resourced schools by providing free access to essential supplies.

The newly branded facility immediately elevated the experience for everyone walking through its doors. Volunteers and staff are greeted with color, energy, and purpose, and visiting teachers feel that this space was made for them.

In collaboration with 3M and the Kids in Need Foundation team, this project became more than a set of graphics. It became a visual celebration of impact, community, and access to education.

Nick Lowry, CEO of Brand ink, shares his pride in being part of this project:

“It was really an honor for Brand Ink to be selected by 3M to work on the Kids in Need Foundation’s new facility. The work they do for the community is amazing. I hope that teachers feel that same level of love when they come here and experience this space.”