Kids In Need Foundation

Kids In Need Foundation

Formation	1995
Type	501(c)(3) charity
Focus	Children's education
Location	Roseville, Minnesota, U.S.
Area served	National
Method	School supplies, and grants for teachers
Key people	Executive Director Corey Gordon [1]
Website	www.kinf.org

The Kids In Need Foundation is an American national 501(c)(3) charity that believes every child in America should have equal opportunity and access to a quality education. By partnering with teachers and students in under-resourced schools, Kids In Need Foundation provides the supplies and resources needed for teachers to teach and learners to learn. ^{[2] [3]}

Programs

Second Responder

The Second Responder program operates during the recovery period following the devastation, once the critical necessities of food, shelter, and medical aid are in place. KINF delivers hope in a tangible way for teachers and students to return to the important work of learning as they start the path to rebuilding.

School Ready Supplies

KINF partners with corporations and philanthropic organizations throughout the country to provide completely assembled school supply backpacks to students who otherwise would have to do without the basic tools for learning. ^[2]

Supply A Teacher

KINF's Supply A Teacher program seeks to remove the burden of having to provide necessary resources from teachers in underserved schools. Every teacher supported through the program receives two boxes of items they need to fuel a full semester of active learning. ^[4] Donors can fund a teacher, school, or entire school district they'd like to support.

Teacher Resource Center

The nonprofit has a teacher resource center, which as of 2025, serves 15,000 educators in Minnesota. The center has resources and supplies for teachers to use in their classrooms and is sponsored in part by the Minnesota Vikings and Pepsi. ^[5] Teachers at schools where more than 50% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch are able to come to the center quarterly to get free supplies. ^[6] The center was previously located in Roseville, Minnesota, ^{[4] [6]} however, in July 2025, the organization expanded to a 74,000-square-foot facility in Little Canada, Minnesota. ^[6]

National Network of Resource Centers (2020)

KINF partners with 42 organizations across the country to help distribute much-needed school supplies to students who would otherwise go without. ^[7]

These organizations focus on schools with high percentages of students enrolled in the federal free and reduced lunch program. ^[8] With the generous support of donors, sponsors, and national product partners, KINF supplys them with the basic tools needed to learn and succeed in school.

• A Gift For Teaching – Orlando, Fla.
• Atlanta Kids In Need Resource Center/Empty Stocking Fund – Atlanta, Ga.
• Back To School Teachers' Store – Muncie, Ind.
• Classroom Central – Charlotte, N.C.
• Cleveland Kids In Need Resource Center – Cleveland, Ohio
• Crayons to Classrooms – Dayton, Ohio
• Crayons to Computers – Cincinnati, Ohio
• Equipped 2 Teach – Utica, N.Y.
• Kids In Need Foundation Resource Center – Minneapolis, Minn.
• Kids In Need Teacher Resource Center- Roseville, Minneapolis ^[9]
• KidSmart - Tools For Learning – St. Louis, Mo.
• LP Pencil Box – Nashville, Tenn.
• North Texas Teacher Resource Center – Dallas, Texas
• Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials – Miami, Fla.
• Pencils and Paper – Rochester, N.Y.
• Project Teacher – Wichita, Kan.
• Red Apple Supplies – West Palm Beach, Fla.
• Ruth's Reusable Resources – Portland, Maine
• School Tools – A Project of the Food Bank RGV – McAllen, Texas
• Schoolhouse Supplies – Portland, Ore.
• Schools Tools Inland Empire United Way – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• Schools Tools- SE Texas Food Bank – Beaumont, Texas
• Supply Zone for Teachers – Brevard County, Fla.
• Teacher EXCHANGE – Las Vegas, Nev.
• Teacher Resource Center – Appalachia, W.V.
• Teacher Resource Center – Bronx, N.Y.
• Teacher Resource Center – Fife, Wash.
• Teacher Resource Center Chicago – Chicago, Ill.
• Teacher Resource Center Hartford – Hartford, Conn.
• Teacher Resource Center of the North Bay – Napa, Calif.
• Teachers Aid – Houston Food Bank – Houston, Texas
• Teacher's Harvest – Valdosta, Ga.
• Teachers' Supply Closet – Charleston, S.C.
• Teachers' Treasures – Indianapolis, Ind.
• Teaching Tools Resource Center – Tampa, Fla.
• The CORE Store - Plano, Texas
• The Education Partnership – Pittsburgh, Pa
• The Pencil Box – Tulsa, Okla.
• The Teacher's Desk – Buffalo, N.Y.
• Tools 4 Teaching – Ocala, Fla.
• Tools for Schools Broward – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Tools for Schools St. Lucie – Fort Pierce, Fla.
• Treasures 4 Teachers – Phoenix, Ariz.

References

1. Fadel, Leila; Martin, Michel (August 17, 2023). "National Retail Federation finds cost of school supplies is at an all-time high". National Public Radio. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
2. "IC Bus gives $10,000 to Kids in Need". Trucks, Parts, Service. September 11, 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
3. Yates, Melanie (July 31, 2023). "When Is the Best Time to Start Back-to-School Shopping?". Yahoo. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
4. Lyons, Sierra (August 13, 2023). "As Back-to-School Costs Soar, More Parents & Teachers Turn to Charities for Help". The74. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
5. "Vikings, Pepsi & Kids in Need Foundation Create Unforgettable Memories for Teachers". www.vikings.com. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
6. Knudsen, Cory (2025-07-31). "Nonprofit supplying teachers for the school year". KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
7. Powel, James. "Back to school support: Where to find free school supplies for 2023/2024 academic year". USA Today. pp. July 26, 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
8. Sandberg, Diane (September 2, 2021). "Roseville nonprofit helps teachers stock their classrooms with needed supplies". Kare. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
9. "How you can help: The Inspired volunteer calendar offers many opportunities to make a difference". Star Tribune. November 3, 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.

External links

• Official website