Art to Remember: Turning Kids' Art into Lasting Memories (and Successful Fundraisers)

Lisa Cron is a teaching veteran, student inspiration, and twenty-five-year patron of the Art to Remember program. Art to Remember provides a unique fundraising solution that transforms children’s artwork into cherished keepsakes while simultaneously raising funds for schools and organizations. Lisa has no trouble calling to mind the myriad of Art to Remember projects her students have created over the years–from Picasso to Rizzi, students draw inspiration from great artists and imitate bold style and contrasting colors. Young artists are then able to see their creations transformed into a variety of high-quality mementos, such as keychains, magnets, mugs, and framed prints.

This case study examines Art to Remember’s business model, its impact on schools and families, and the factors contributing to its long-term success, drawing insights from a long time supporter, Lisa Cron. Examining through the lens of an esteemed art teacher and school corporation that has found years of success through Art to Remember breathes real life experience and the same love of art education that founded the program to begin with.

The Challenge:

Traditional school fundraisers often rely on selling products that offer little lasting value. Many parents feel fatigued by constant fundraising requests, and students may not be enthusiastic about participating. Parents, extended family, and community members are bombarded with requests to buy wrapping paper, frozen goods, candy bars, trash bags, and the list goes on. Many parents lament that they would rather just write a check to the school than participate in the more traditional fundraising programs. Schools need a fundraising solution that engages students, excites parents, and generates significant revenue without relying on high-pressure sales tactics.

The Solution:

Art to Remember offers a homegrown Indiana program where students can turn their classroom art projects into family keepsakes. Students can transform their art into mementos, and parents can purchase these personalized items, preserving their child’s artwork while contributing to their school’s fundraising goals. Lisa notes with a wry smile that magnet replicas of student art remain on the fridge for a lifetime. Many parents comment that siblings’ takes on the same art projects through the years have become family tradition.

Key Features of Art to Remember:

Lisa attributes the success of Art to Remember into four key components as discussed below.

Simplicity: The program is easy for schools to implement, with comprehensive support and resources provided by Art to Remember. Lisa stresses that Art to Remember’s primary key to success is its simplicity, and she notes with deference that it “has only become easier over the years and is a convenient fundraising tool.” Lisa has used Art to Remember throughout her educational career in multiple schools and remarks that the transition to an online platform has streamlined the process, and received positive praise from parent cohorts.
Engagement: Art projects become staples of the annual curriculum. Students are arriving to Lisa’s class with enthusiasm and prior knowledge about artists and corresponding projects because of older siblings, friends, and the legacy that Lisa has built. Students know that their artwork will be celebrated and treasured. As the voice of experience, Ms. Cron highlights the importance of structured art projects in driving student engagement, i.e. giving students an artistic style to try, using contrasting and bold colors, etc. When the assignment is structured, she reports a 95% success rate with projects.
Emotional Value: Lisa reports consistent positive feedback from parents, families, and students themselves who cherish the personalized keepsakes and long-lasting memories. Grandparents and relatives appreciate seeing their children’s artwork and it creates a lasting connection. Artwork can be displayed and enjoyed on refrigerators and walls for years.
Profitability: Schools earn a base percentage of 25% sales, generating substantial funds for various needs. However, as schools hit ordering milestones, the percentage profit can increase up to 37%. Numbers aside, Lisa tells of the extra supplies she is able to buy her art club students with the profits and the excitement that young artists bring to her afternoon extracurricular. She even notes that a former teacher accrued over $5,000 that was put toward a new kiln for the school. The monetary gains from the projects are tangible to the kids whose very creations make it all possible. The transparency and simplicity of this transaction is both unique and empowering for students to witness.

When pushed to find areas of improvement for Art to Remember, Lisa notes the successes of a competitor, Artsonia. Artsonia appears to offer greater flexibility in terms of project types and paper choices, and it allows for year-round ordering. While parents seem to engage more with the Artsonia platform, Lisa notes that it generates considerably less revenue than Art to Remember. She did however note that when Art to Remember projects are publicized or projects that are traditionally done year after year, the parent engagement is high.

Opportunities:

Year-Round Ordering: A key area for improvement identified is the potential for year-round ordering, mirroring Artsonia’s model. This could significantly increase fundraising potential. Lisa was excited to learn more about the use of QR codes for her spring art show. Because the interviewee retains students’ artwork throughout the entire year to display at her spring show, she thought the use of QR codes could enable parents to order any artwork rather than just the one specific Art to Remember project. A QR code could enable parents to order artwork directly, unquestionably enhancing engagement and sales.

Conclusion:

Lisa has no plans to change her loyalty to the Art to Remember program, she states again and again that it serves her and her community well. This Indiana-based company has effectively addressed the challenges of traditional school fundraising by offering a creative and engaging solution that benefits everyone involved. By turning children’s artwork into lasting memories, the company has created a successful business model that supports schools, strengthens family bonds, and celebrates the creativity of young artists. Lisa only anticipates Art to Remember becoming more simple to use, noting again with excitement the addition of QR codes and direct ordering at her spring art show. Continuously adapting to feedback and exploring new technologies, like QR code integration, will only further serve to strengthen Art to Remember’s position as a leader and legacy in school fundraising.