Year-Over-Year Increase
in SRF Revenue
Signs do more than identify a location. They guide people safely through unfamiliar places, help businesses connect with customers, and shape how people experience communities. When signage is designed, regulated, and placed well, it works invisibly – and when it isn’t, the impact is felt by everyone.
That’s why the Sign Research Foundation’s work matters. SRF uses comprehensive research and education to align everyone who impacts signage programs, resulting in communities that work better. And in 2025, we made meaningful strides towards that goal.
This was a year of building: investing in partnerships, resources, and infrastructure that will allow SRF to serve more people, more effectively, for years to come. We deepened our partnership with the International Sign Association, expanded our network of academic and industry collaborators, and bolstered our Scholars Program – all while advancing three new research-based courses to debut in 2026.
None of this could happen without the people who believe in this mission – our donors, partners, volunteers, and champions who show up year after year. Thank you for your ongoing support.
As you read this report, I hope you’ll see what we see: a foundation that is growing stronger, reaching further, and delivering real-world impact across the sign industry and the broader communities it serves.
Stakeholder needs drive SRF’s education. SRF listened to the pressing issues – about AI use, permitting, sign legibility, new technology in retail, and onboarding new employees – and in 2025, we responded with targeted education built around stakeholders’ pain points and needs.
SRF expanded access to expert knowledge across the signage ecosystem, reaching planners, designers, fabricators, and regulators through new formats, new partnerships, and new tools built for real-world use.
SRF’s collaboration with ISA deepened, with SRF taking a central role in shaping learning strategy, connecting research to curriculum, and reaching new audiences.
At ISA Sign Expo 2025, SRF delivered a holistic educational experience. There were five targeted sessions on the topics practitioners need most – AI in the Sign Industry, Retail Reimagined, Permitting, Visibility & Legibility, 
and Sustainability – and the 12% growth in SRF session attendance reflected the deepening engagement.
Additionally, SRF delivered a different type of education with a tour of the famous Neon Museum which features iconic Las Vegas signs.
ISA webinars, powered by SRF content and subject matter expertise, drew nearly 50% more attendees than in 2024. SRF also supported the launch of a new, more comprehensive learning model, which integrates Expo sessions, webinars, research, online courses, and peer learning into a cohesive professional development experience.
Planners, designers, and community leaders participated in SRF’s premier educational experience – combining research access, industry exposure, and peer connection in a format that participants consistently describe as career-changing. The 2025 cohort, representing seven states, gave the program a 3.7/4 satisfaction rating.
Designers, planners, and regulators need research they can act on. In 2025, SRF delivered – deepening partnerships, building smarter systems, and putting new research-based tools directly into the hands of the field practitioners.
New and Updated Platforms to Connect People with SRF Research
Strong research requires the right framework to reach people. In 2025, SRF launched a redesigned website with audience-specific content pathways – so visitors find what they need based on their role – as well as improved tagging and clearer categories for better user experience.
SRF was a hands-on partner for the launch of ISA’s new Learning Hub – a learning management system – collaborating on beta testing, user education, and onboarding. SRF’s participation ensures that more stakeholders can connect with learning relevant to their work.
SRF sets revenue goals based on the essential research and learning needed by the sign industry. Annually we aim to reach $200,000 in order to effectively serve all of our stakeholders. In 2025, with strong performance across education, donor engagement, and new initiatives, SRF earned nearly $162,000, approximately $30,000 more than in 2024.
With an eye to the future, SRF began preliminary conversations with financial and legal advisors to develop an endowment framework a long-term investment in organizational sustainability.
Contribute one-time or monthly to SRF to support our ongoing work. Help double or triple your donation: ask your employer if they will match your gift.
Show your organization’s support for the sign and graphics industry through SRF contributions.
If you’re interested in any of the options below, please contact Sapna Budev for more information.
Help double or triple your donation: ask your employer if they will match your gift or consider being the one to make a match.
Show your support for the sign and graphics industry through SRF contributions.
Sponsor a matching grant and inspire others to give, or even increase their giving, knowing their donation will make a greater impact.
Contribute monthly to SRF to support our ongoing work.
Remember SRF in your will or as a beneficiary of investments/insurance.
Show your support at SRF events through sponsorships.
