Dress for Success Worldwide
Dress for Success Worldwide is a New York-based public charity that supports unemployed and underemployed women seeking economic independence and progress in work and life. It oversees and provides support to a global network of independent local affiliates, and also delivers programming through service hubs in New York City and Chicago.
Key facts about Dress for Success Worldwide
In short: Dress for Success Worldwide gave $1.6M across 48 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), top state Illinois. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 13-4040377
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,565,169
- Grants made (2024)
- 48
- Average grant
- $32,608
- Median grant
- $19,198
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (6 of 48, 2024)
- Total assets
- $11,968,523
- Primary geography
- Illinois (17% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The organization’s website says the current cycle for applications to start an affiliate is closed. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$12.0M
-8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-18.4% YoY
Grant Count
48
-15.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-3.1% YoY
Is Dress for Success Worldwide open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 48 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $60K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $19K 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Dress for Success Worldwide’s stated mission is to support unemployed and underemployed women to achieve economic independence and thrive in work and in life. Its programming addresses career readiness, skill-building, peer support, and access to professional attire. In 2024, the organization also expanded initiatives in entrepreneurship, mental health and well-being, and financial literacy.
The organization’s 2024 grants were reported as support for member organizations. Examples include Dress for Success San Francisco, whose stated mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence through support, professional attire, and development tools; Dress for Success Columbus, which says it provides interview-appropriate clothing and empowers women to enter and remain in the workplace; and Dress for Success Washington DC, which says it provides professional attire for interviews and the first day on the job to low-income women.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Dress for Success Worldwide reported 48 grants totaling $1,565,169. Grant amounts ranged from $5,427 to $269,500, with a median of $19,198. The largest awards included $269,500 to Dress for Success Greater Chicago, $115,681 to Dress for Success Central Virginia, and $91,595 to Dress for Success San Francisco; each was described as support of a member organization.
How to Apply
for outside applicants.
Ready to take the next step with Dress for Success Worldwide?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Dress for Success Worldwide says its affiliate network operates in 130 cities and 15 countries. Its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest state shares were Illinois (17%), Virginia (7%), California (7%), Pennsylvania (6%), and Ohio (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2021) to $1.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 48 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dress for Success Greater Chicago ($270K). Together the top 10 received $883K.
Grant Size Distribution
273 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 244 grants of 273 (89%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dress for Success Greater Chicago Chicago, IL | Support of Member Organization | $269,500 |
| Dress for Success Central Virginia Richmond, VA | Support of Member Organization | $115,681 |
| Dress for Success San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Support of Member Organization | $91,595 |
| Dress for Success Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Support of Member Organization | $71,821 |
| Dress for Success Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Support of Member Organization | $65,290 |
| Dress for Success Denver Denver, CO | Support of Member Organization | $63,939 |
| Dress for Success Washington DC Washington, DC | Support of Member Organization | $56,164 |
| Dress for Success Columbus Columbus, OH | Support of Member Organization | $54,154 |
| Dress for Success Twin Cities Saint Paul, MN | Support of Member Organization | $51,608 |
| Dress for Success Boston Boston, MA | Support of Member Organization | $42,840 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,968,523 | $14,386,211 | $15,167,490 | $1,565,169 |
| 2023 | $13,137,291 | $15,295,821 | $15,608,655 | $1,918,623 |
| 2022 | $8,932,446 | $11,971,957 | $11,505,603 | $1,107,014 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,968,523 | $13,137,291 | $8,932,446 |
| Revenue | $14,386,211 | $15,295,821 | $11,971,957 |
| Expenses | $15,167,490 | $15,608,655 | $11,505,603 |
| Net Investment Income | $218,208 | $183,251 | $98,293 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Erica Frontero as chair, Kelly Cusick Dropchinski as secretary, and Renee LaRoche-Morris as treasurer. It also lists Elena Kiam, Melony Butler, Anu Aiyengar, Janessa Cox-Irvin, Loretta Marcoccia, Frank Aquila, and Dierdre Fitzgerald as board members.
Dress for Success Worldwide is led by Michele Meyer-Shipp, CEO on every filing since 2022; 7 of 28 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michele Meyer-Shipp
CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$350K (2022) → $435K (2024)
Erica Frontero
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Wuerz
Interim Director Nyc
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $120K (2024)
Roberto Schiattino Figueroa
Director of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$111K (2024)
Tonya Peck
Director Program Transformation
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$142K (2024)
Elizabeth Carey
Chief Affiliate & Sustainability Officer
Chief Affiliate Growth & Sust. Officer → Chief Affiliate & Sustain. Officer, 2021
Chief Affiliate & Sustain. Officer → Chief Affiliate & Sustainability Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$196K (2020) → $229K (2024)
Joanne Leighton
Controller
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $123K (2024)
Arlene Lozano
Chief Affiliate Impact Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$228K (2024)
Dale Bornstein
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elena Kiam
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Aquila
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Selden Greene
Board Member
Chair Elect → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Windbeck
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Russell
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Cusick Dropchinski
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renee Laroche-Morris
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anu Aiyengar
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Kern
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janessa Cox-Irvin
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Marcoccia
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ami Palan
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dierdre Fitzgerald
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Felicia Hale
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sachin Nanavati
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bart Shuldman
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marion Menzies
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melony Butler
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Nolan
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (21)
- Former: Brenda Saunderstodd (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Krista Bourne (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Lucy Kaylin (2020–2023) — Board Member - Til
- Former: Wendy Longwood (2020–2023) — COO
- Former: Linda Findley (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Natalie Borneo (2021–2023) — Senior Director Program Operations
- Former: Erica Frontiero Board Member (2023) — - Til & Chair-Elect
- Former: Jan M. Dahms (2023) — Chief Advancement Officer
- Former: Jean Selden Greene Chair-Elect (2023) — - Til & Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Klein (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Nanci Roth (2023) — Product Marketing Director
- Former: Tonya Peck Director Of (2023) — Program Transformation - Til
- Former: Dusty Kirk (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jeanette Duffy (2020–2022) — Chief Program Officer
- Former: Jenny Lai (2020–2022) — Vice President of Development
- Former: Joi Gordon (2020–2022) — CEO
- Former: Patricia Steele (2020–2022) — Vice President of Mkt & Committee
- Former: Frances Thompkins (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Niki Leondakis (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Linda Kozlowski (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Nick Buzzell (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 $435K, to Michele Meyer-Shipp (CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1040 Avenue Of Americas 19Th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 532-1922
Website: https://dressforsuccess.org
Frequently asked questions about Dress for Success Worldwide
How much does Dress for Success Worldwide give each year?
Dress for Success Worldwide gave $1.6M across 48 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 57 grants.
What is Dress for Success Worldwide's typical grant size?
Dress for Success Worldwide's median grant in 2024 was $19,198, and its average grant was $32,608, across 48 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dress for Success Worldwide that year got $60K on average.
Where does Dress for Success Worldwide give grants?
Dress for Success Worldwide's top state is Illinois, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (7%) and California (7%).
Does Dress for Success Worldwide give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 48 grants with a stated purpose on Dress for Success Worldwide's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support of Member Organization" (48 grants).
Who are Dress for Success Worldwide's largest grantees?
Dress for Success Worldwide's largest 2024 grantees include Dress for Success Greater Chicago ($269,500), Dress for Success Central Virginia ($115,681) and Dress for Success San Francisco ($91,595), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Dress for Success Worldwide?
Dress for Success Worldwide reported $12.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.4M.
What does Dress for Success Worldwide fund?
Dress for Success Worldwide’s stated mission is to support unemployed and underemployed women to achieve economic independence and thrive in work and in life. Its programming addresses career readiness, skill-building, peer support, and access to professional attire. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dress for Success Worldwide?
The organization’s website says the current cycle for applications to start an affiliate is closed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dress for Success Worldwide's EIN?
Dress for Success Worldwide's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4040377. 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.
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