Dress for Success Worldwide
Dress for Success Worldwide is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York, NY at 1040 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor. Founded in 1997, the organization began as a single program in a Manhattan church basement providing professional attire to unemployed women preparing for job interviews. It has evolved into a global nonprofit operating through a network of 144 independent affiliates across 22 countries.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · 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
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
The organization operates through three core pillars:
- Professional Styling: Providing women with professional clothing and accessories to present themselves with confidence during interviews and new employment
- Career Preparation: Offering comprehensive support including career coaching, resume reviews, and interview preparation to help women navigate the job market and secure meaningful employment
- Women's Communities and Networking: Fostering professional women's groups and communities that allow women to stay connected, share experiences, and build valuable networks for ongoing support
Programming has expanded over two decades to encompass career advancement, leadership development, financial education, and scholarships. Services are offered both in-person and digitally, at the affiliate level and through a centrally administered online community.
Grantmaking
Dress for Success Worldwide functions as both a grant recipient and a grantmaker supporting its affiliate network.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Dress for Success operates through affiliates in 22 countries including:
International presence: Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, and United Kingdom
United States: The organization maintains affiliates across all regions, with locations in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023 (Most Recent Complete Year):
- Total Revenue: $15.3 million
- Total Expenses: $15.6 million
- Total Assets: $13.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.39 million
As of 2024 (Latest Filing):
- Total Assets: $11,968,523
- Total Giving: $1,934,953
The organization has maintained tax-exempt status since July 1999 (EIN: 13-4040377). It employs 42-44 staff members and maintains an entirely independent board with transparent financial practices.
| 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 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $218,208 | $183,251 | $98,293 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michele Meyer-Shipp: Chief Executive Officer
- Joanie Bily: Named as CEO to advance global strategy and expand impact (announcement from recent news)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELENA KIAM | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KELLY CUSICK DROPCHINSKI | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ERICA FRONTERO | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| RENEE LAROCHE-MORRIS | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MELONY BUTLER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ANU AIYENGAR | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JANESSA COX-IRVIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| LORETTA MARCOCCIA | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| FRANK AQUILA | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| DIERDRE FITZGERALD | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| SACHIN NANAVATI | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| TRACY NOLAN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| DALE BORNSTEIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| FELICIA HALE | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| AMI PALAN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MARION MENZIES | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| CHERYL KERN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JOYCE RUSSELL | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JEAN SELDEN GREENE | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| BART SHULDMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JENNIFER WINDBECK | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MICHELE MEYER-SHIPP | CEO | 40 | $435,000 |
| ARLENE LOZANO | CHIEF AFFILIATE IMPACT OFFICER | 40 | $227,901 |
| ELIZABETH CAREY | CHIEF AFFILIATE & SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER | 40 | $228,685 |
| TONYA PECK | DIRECTOR PROGRAM TRANSFORMATION | 40 | $141,843 |
| JOANNE LEIGHTON | CONTROLLER | 40 | $122,880 |
| JENNIFER WUERZ | INTERIM DIRECTOR NYC | 40 | $120,291 |
| ROBERTO SCHIATTINO FIGUEROA | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $111,043 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Brand Refresh Campaign:** Dress for Success Worldwide launched a global brand refresh and campaign to transform women's futures
Dress for Success\xAE Worldwide Names Joanie Bily as CEO to Advance Global\**Leadership Transition:** Joanie Bily was named CEO to advance the organization's global strategy and expand impact
Dress for Success\xAE Worldwide Names Joanie Bily as CEO to Advance Global\**Walmart Foundation Partnership:** Received a $2.5 million grant to expand career development services for unemployed and underemployed women
New $2.5 Million Grant from the Walmart Foundation Allows Dress ...**Federal Funding:** Dress for Success Phoenix secured a $4 million federal Pathway Home 6 grant supporting women reentering the workforce after incarceration
New $2.5 Million Grant from the Walmart Foundation Allows Dress ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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