CFDA Foundation Inc
CFDA Foundation Inc is a public charity based in New York, New York, formed in 1973. It is a separate not-for-profit organization that raises funds for charitable and industry activities, using partnerships with fashion brands, retailers, and designers to support charitable causes.
CFDA Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: CFDA Foundation Inc gave $2.3M across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $51K), mostly in New York. 41% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,310,328
- +14.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- +4.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $51,341
- +9.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $33,139
- Total assets
- $37,861,415
- +7.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (17 of 41, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to CFDA Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 161 Water St 2404, New York, NY 10038
Phone: (212) 302-1821
Website: https://cfda.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who CFDA Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was L'enchanteur ($310K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
334 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 259 grants of 334 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in New York, New York. In 2024, 87% of its grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 6% to California, 3% to Georgia, 2% to Pennsylvania, and 1% to Illinois. Its 2024 grants also included recipients in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is CFDA Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 41 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $63K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $31K first-time, $41K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $993K (2021) to $5.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| L'enchanteur Brooklyn, NY | Business Development- Fashion Fund | $310,000 |
| Glory Apparel New York, NY | Business Development - Fashion Manufacturing Initiative | $179,315 |
| Trimworld Inc New York, NY | Business Development - Fashion Manufacturing Initiative | $177,006 |
| Embroidery House & Sons II New York, NY | Business Development - Fashion Manufactuirng Initiative | $137,826 |
| Emmelle Design New York, NY | Business Development - Fashion Manufacturing Initiative | $118,861 |
| Wiederhoeft LLC New York, NY | Business Development- Fashion Fund | $110,000 |
| Phipps International LLC Los Angeles, CA | Business Development- Fashion Fund | $110,000 |
| Sunrise Studio Inc New York, NY | Business Development - Fashion Manufacturing Initiative | $82,954 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA | Professional Development - Scholarship | $75,000 |
| Rainbow Leather Inc College Point, NY | Business Development - Fashion Manufacturing Initiative | $71,011 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,861,415 | $8,646,652 | $6,453,722 | $2,310,328 | 45 | $2,169,348 |
| 2023 | $35,159,608 | $6,530,714 | $5,492,152 | $2,012,406 | 43 | $1,424,374 |
| 2022 | $32,613,470 | $6,833,295 | $5,371,451 | $1,533,337 | 53 | $1,262,825 |
| 2021 | $36,230,784 | $3,600,839 | $4,792,468 | $992,510 | 41 | $1,724,291 |
| 2020 | $36,981,695 | $8,249,251 | $9,262,600 | $5,945,358 | 152 | $1,024,418 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is “to promote and encourage fashion design talent and ability through exhibitions, awards, grants, scholarships, or otherwise for needy students and needy fashion designers.” Its educational and professional development initiatives provide grants, scholarships, and awards for design-industry students, designers, and local New York fashion manufacturers.
Its 2024 grants included support for fashion businesses and educational institutions. Among the educational grantees, Savannah College of Art and Design received $75,000; the college says it prepares students for creative professions. The New School received $50,000; its stated mission is to prepare students to contribute to a rapidly changing society. Drexel University received $50,000, and Columbia College Chicago received $25,000. The Foundation’s filing describes Fashion Targets Breast Cancer as an initiative supporting breast cancer screening, treatment, and survival; the CFDA website says the initiative has raised $55 million globally.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 45 grants totaling $2,310,328. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $310,000, with a median of $33,139. Many of the largest awards supported fashion business development and manufacturing. Examples include $310,000 to L’Enchanteur for the Fashion Fund; $179,315 to Glory Apparel and $177,006 to Trimworld Inc for the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative; and $75,000 to Savannah College of Art and Design for a scholarship.
The CFDA x NY Forward Grant Fund provides partial matching support of up to two-thirds of eligible costs for machinery and related expenses, including machinery-tied capital improvements, associated software, and training. Applicants must own or lease production space in the specified Garment District area, have at least three years remaining on the lease at award, be a registered revenue-generating business for at least two years, and have under $10 million in annual net revenue. Eligible applicants include fashion contract manufacturers, manufacturers of innovative fabrics or materials, and brands with small-batch in-house production. The 2026 application round closed in April 2026; a second round is tentatively scheduled to open in Q1 2027.
The U.S. Fashion Manufacturing Fund is expected to launch its first application round in Q1–Q2 2027. It is intended for U.S.-based apparel contract manufacturers, not fashion brands, and may cover up to 80% of approved project costs. Eligible uses may include machinery, technology, capital improvements, sustainability-related investments, and domestic relocation; final criteria are to be set in the application guidelines.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Diane von Furstenberg, Norma Kamali, Tommy Hilfiger, Bethann Hardison, Dao-Yi Chow, Carly Cushnie, Tracy Reese, and Stan Herman as board members.
CFDA Foundation Inc is led by Steven Kolb, CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Steven Kolb
CEO
President & CEO → CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$272K (2020) → $281K (2024)
Thom Browne
Board Chairman
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley M. Sandall
Director Business Development
Director of Strategic Part → Director of Strategic Partnerships, 2023
Director of Strategic Partnerships → Director Business Development, 2024
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$97K (2020) → $122K (2024)
Marc Karimzadeh
Editorial & Communications Director
Director of Communications → Editorial & Communications Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$99K (2020) → $118K (2024)
Sacha Elyse Brown
Director of Professional Development
Director of Professional Development → Director of Professional D, 2023
Director of Professional D → Director of Professional Development, 2024
On filings since 2022
26 hrs/week
$86K (2022) → $96K (2024)
John Doyle Monkhouse
Finance Manager
Senior Accounting Manager → Finance Manager, 2024
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$68K (2020) → $93K (2024)
Lisa Anne Smilor
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$187K (2020) → $183K (2024)
Sara Kozlowski
Vice President of Program Strategies
Director of Education → Vice President of Program Strategies, 2024
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $123K (2024)
Carly Cushnie
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dao-Yi Chow
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diane Von Furstenberg
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Cornejo
General Secretary
Board Member → General Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kors
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Norma Kamali
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Prabal Gurung
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ralph Lauren
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stan Herman
Board Member
Board Treasurer → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tommy Hilfiger
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Reese
Board Member
Board Vice Presdient → Board Vice President, 2021
Board Vice President → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vera Wang
Board Member
Board Secretary → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bethann Hardison
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aurora James
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Bendet Eisner
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tory Burch
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Casandra Diggs (2020–2024) — President · Filing note: Term ended 124
- Former: Reed Krakoff (2020–2023) — Board Member · Filing note: Term ended 2023
- Former: Charles McNeil (2023) — Director of Programs
- Former: Kerby Jean Raymond (2020–2022) — Board Member · Filing note: Term ended 2022
- Former: Stacey Bendet (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Ford (2020–2022) — Immediate Past Chairman · Filing note: Term ended 2022
- Former: Leigh King (2022) — Director of Special Events
- Former: Mark Francis Beckham (2020–2021) — Vice President of Marketing
- Former: Virgil Abloh (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Ashley Olsen - Rotated Off In (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Italo Zuccheli - Rotated Off In (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Ashley Olsen (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Italo Zuccheli (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $281K, to Steven Kolb (CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about CFDA Foundation Inc
How much does CFDA Foundation Inc give each year?
CFDA Foundation Inc gave $2.3M across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 43 grants.
What is CFDA Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
CFDA Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $33,139, and its average grant was $51,341, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from CFDA Foundation Inc that year got $63K on average.
Where does CFDA Foundation Inc give grants?
CFDA Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (22 grants), Brooklyn, NY (9 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and Dallas, TX (2 grants).
Does CFDA Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 45 grants with a stated purpose on CFDA Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Business Development -- Fashion Manufacturing Initiative" (13 grants), "Business Development - Fashion Fund" (10 grants) and "Business Development - Fashion Awards" (8 grants).
Who are CFDA Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
CFDA Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include L'enchanteur ($310,000), Glory Apparel ($179,315) and Trimworld Inc ($177,006), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is CFDA Foundation Inc?
CFDA Foundation Inc reported $37.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.6M.
What does CFDA Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is “to promote and encourage fashion design talent and ability through exhibitions, awards, grants, scholarships, or otherwise for needy students and needy fashion designers.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from CFDA Foundation Inc?
CFDA Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cfda.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is CFDA Foundation Inc's EIN?
CFDA Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7371666. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in CFDA Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). CFDA Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cfda-foundation-inc-morg_bea184e8316244a5b2ed06f4b7ab6b8d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237371666_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{CFDA Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cfda-foundation-inc-morg_bea184e8316244a5b2ed06f4b7ab6b8d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from CFDA Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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