CRAYONS TO CLASSROOMS
Tools for Teachers, Success for Students
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Crayons to Classrooms
For millions of students in this country, basic schools supplies remain a luxury. Crayons to Classrooms serves children who participate in the National School Lunch Program, which is approximately 54,000 children in the Miami Valley (OH). Additionally, there are 3,500 under-funded teachers in 135 schools serving the educational needs of these children. Studies indicate that the average teacher spends between $500 and $1,000 of their own money to buy supplies for their students’ needs each year.
Our goal is to insure no child goes to school without the basic supplies necessary to learn. We believe helping disadvantaged children to succeed is as simple as . . . one pencil, one eraser, and one notebook! When children are given the basic school supplies, their grades go up, their confidence increases, and their attitudes toward learning improve because they’ve been put on a level playing field with other children.
Where we work
Awards
Finalist - Eclipse Integrity Award 2012
Better Business Bureau
Finalist - Eclipse Integrity Award 2011
Better Business Bureau
Top Rated Nonproft - Education 2012
Great Nonprofits
Top Rated Nonproft - Education 2013
Great Nonprofits
Top Rated Nonproft - Education 2014
Great Nonprofits
Top Rated Nonproft - Education 2015
Great Nonprofits
Top Rated Nonproft - Education 2016
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Top Rated Nonproft - Education 2017
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Top Rated Nonproft - Education 2018
Great Nonprofits
Winner - Eclipse Integrity Award 2019
Better Business Bureau
Top Rated Nonprofit - Education 2019
Great Nonprofits
Top Rated Nonprofit - Education 2020
Great Nonprofits
Ohio Success Awards 2021
Ohio Business Magazine
Top Rated Nonprofit - Education 2021
Great Nonprofits
Top Rated Nonprofit - Eduction 2022
Great Nonprofits
Top Rated Nonprofit - Education 2023
Great Nonprofits
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, Children and youth
Related Program
Crayons to Classrooms
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of schools served.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Crayons to Classrooms
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2022 we served 119 PreK-12 schools and 6 childcare centers.
Number of new teachers served.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Crayons to Classrooms
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In 2020 and 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic had significant impact on schools and teachers. As a result, we served less new teachers than in previous year.
Number of students served.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Crayons to Classrooms
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Since the pandemic, reports from the Ohio Department of Education were not updated. We are already seeing an increase in students served for 2023.
Number of teacher shopping visits.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Crayons to Classrooms
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Total dollar value of merchandise distributed.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Crayons to Classrooms
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In 2021, we lost 7,000 sq ft warehouse which negatively affected inventory and distributions. In June 2023, we secured a 9,000 sq ft warehouse increasing our distributions for 2023-24.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our long term goal is to provide basic learning materials to teachers of students in need in the Greater Dayton, Ohio area. Our definition of "need" is based on a school’s enrollment in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). We serve schools where 60% or more of the school’s student body is participating in NSLP. At last count, there were 135 schools in our market area that meet this criterion.
Strategic Goals:
1. Function as a "Kids in Need" hub for the acceptance and distribution of products to serve more teachers and students.
2. Penetrate our current market to serve all eligible schools in our current service area (urban and suburban).
3. Diversity our distribution model to serve rural areas and explore new growth areas potentially with partners.
4. Expand our geographic footprint to the Columbus metropolitan area.
5. Continue to grow our capacity and legacy of leadership through planned giving, and succession and business continuity planning.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The following objectives and initiatives represent major priorities to be accomplished over the next five years, beginning in 2023.
A) Function as a "Kids in Need" Hub
1. Formalize understanding with “Kids in Need” Foundation for becoming a tier 1 hub. (We became a KINF hub on January 1, 2023).
2. Expand warehouse capacity.
3. Monitor & expand our distribution capacity to serve other centers.
4. Determine our long-term scalable infrastructure model for distribution and warehousing.
B) Penetrate our Current Market to Serve all Eligible Schools
1. Expand to serve the additional qualifying schools in our service area.
2. Increase the participation of eligible teachers in our schools served by C2C.
3. Promote “volunteer to shop opportunities” to non-qualifying schools & teachers.
4. Expand shopping software capacity to communicate with teachers by text.
5. Engage school PTO’s & community volunteers in service or fundraising in exchange for shopping model.
6. Build Inventory to pre-2021 levels.
C) Diversity our Distribution Model to Serve Rural Areas and Explore New Growth
1. Review feasibility study and explore & implement mobile product distribution opportunities.
2. Explore joint projects with partners which expand fundraising & volunteer opportunities.
3. Work with partners on possible common mobile distribution models.
4. Develop & implement an alternative metric to serve rural schools.
5. Develop an analysis of alternate service methods to serve more schools, teachers, & students.
6. Explore possible box or kit package programs to eligible schools.
D) Expand our Geographic Footprint to Columbus
1. Formulate need and conduct feasibility for Columbus metropolitan area schools.
2. Develop a partnership with Columbus City Schools
3. Identify donor & sponsor base for Columbus C2C services to fund our evaluation of need.
4. Engage Goodwill / Easter Seals and Children’s Hospital networks in promoting & evaluating Columbus metropolitan schools market.
5. Identify key partners & partner networks for Columbus based services.
6. Establish Columbus based presence if feasible.
7. Evaluate & refine our corporate structure & charter to serve Columbus & other service expansions.
E) Continue to Grow our Capacity and Legacy of Leadership
1. Complete capacity building of the development team.
2. Develop & implement succession plan for key staff positions.
3. Complete planned giving training and implement a planned giving program.
4. Fully operationalize major gifts, capital campaign, and annual campaign programs.
5. Examine staffing requirements of program expansions (mobiles, Columbus market).
6. Develop a business continuity plan.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our ultimate goal is to enhance the readiness to learn of over 50,000 Dayton-area students whose families cannot afford to buy the basic supplies every student needs to succeed. We do this in partnership with local foundations and businesses, individual donors, and community volunteers.
1. Crayons to Classrooms (C2C) secured a 9,000 sq. ft. warehouse space that has allowed us to fully function as a hub.
2. Each spring, C2C's Program Manager and School Advisory Committee, decide on what schools to add to the eligible schools list for the following school year. In spring 2022, five PreK-12 schools and three childcare centers were added to the list. With continued funding and space for product, C2C is able to add new schools to the eligible schools list each year, expanding services to more schools in the counties served.
3. As C2C looks to serve rural counties through a delivery program in 2024, they have started surveying rural schools in Preble county to get feedback about delivery and have begun searching for funding for the program.
4. C2C is in the beginning stages of gauging Columbus schools' interest in the program. C2C is currently engaging with schools in Columbus by delivering educational kits for their students.
5. C2C has more capacity to reach this goal since the development team has grown in 2023. The former Fund Development Manager was promoted to Development Director in spring 2023, and a new Fund Development Manager was hired in September 2023.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The purpose of Crayons to Classrooms (C2C) is to enhance the readiness to learn of all students in Greater Dayton, Ohio, by providing them the basic school supplies that are essential to academic success--at no cost to the students, teachers, families, or schools. We began by opening our doors to teachers from eight schools in January of 2009. As of October 2022, our services had grown to provide free learning materials valued over $30 million to 125 schools serving children in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and 6 childcare centers.
As of January 1, 2023, C2C has formalized understanding with the Kids in Need Foundation as a tier 1 hub and has already begun fulfilling that role by distributing product to other resource centers. C2C secured a 9,000 sq. ft. warehouse space on June 1, 2023.
C2C hosted teacher volunteering events during June 2023 that to encourage "volunteer to shop" amongst teachers at non-qualifying schools.
C2C is in the beginning stages of creating a planned giving process. Development and marketing staff have created documents and an unpublished website page devoted to the planned giving campaign.
C2C serves students living in poverty (identified as those eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program). Recent statistics indicate that there are over 54,000 students receiving free or reduced-priced school meals in the greater Dayton area. Over 3,500 teachers serve these students at 129 chronically under-funded schools and childcare centers. We know that, on average, each teacher spends between $500 and $1,000 of his or her own money each year to buy basic learning supplies that the students' families and schools cannot afford.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CRAYONS TO CLASSROOMS
Board of directorsas of 10/31/2023
Amy Wiedeman
Tracy Szarzi-Fors
Wright Patt Credit Union
LaVar Glover
Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley
Lynda Hoffman
Community Volunteer
Amy Wiedeman
Montgomery County
Kim Duncan
Community Volunteer
David Baller
Wells Fargo Advisors
Pam Rath
LexisNexis
David Bowman
The Ohlmann Group
Patty Sorrell
ACCO Brands
Tracy Szarzi-Fors
Wright-Patt Credit Union
Chelsea Cordonnier
CareSource
Trisha Duff
Bieser, Greer & Landis LLP
Matt Huelsman
Shook Construction
Kitty Lensman
CET/Think TV
Chad Wyen
Mad River School District
Amy Anyanwu
Montgomery County Education Service Center
Elliot Boyd
Northwestern Mutual
Heather Massey
LexisNexis
Justin Wiedle
McGohan Brabender
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/24/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.