Description
Dress for Success is a global non-profit organization that provides professional clothing for low-income women to help them find work and conduct interviews. The organization was founded in 1997 by Nancy Lublin and has since spread from Harlem, New York, to nearly 145 U.S. cities and twenty other countries. In 2006, the organization served about 45,000 customers annually, and as of 2017, more than 925,000 women were helped. The parent company's current CEO is Joy Gordon.
The organization's approach is based on social studies suggesting that suitable clothing is important for "impression-making," which in turn affects job prospects. But his approach was also criticized by researchers, who found that "the goodwill of wealthy volunteers serves to reinforce class and racial superiority, creating moments of genuine care and connection."
Dress for Success Worldwide is now a global organization that supports its programs through grants, government funding, fundraising and campaigns. In 2013, the parent organization received more than $17 million in funding, more than 99% of which came from direct contributions from individuals, corporations and non-governmental organizations. The dress for success received $7 million in permanent funding in a partnership with the Walmart Foundation, which funded the Going Places Network by Walmart.
