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Dress for Success Worldwide
Dress for Success Worldwide reported $15.4 million in revenue and $16.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $75.38 went to program services, $15.46 to management and general costs and $9.16 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 96.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $658,082 (CEO, (UNTIL 7/9/2025)). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.4% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.5% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.2% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 96.4% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $658,082 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.12% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.6 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAffiliate impact program:in 2025, programs included implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, strengthening affiliate governance policies, and providing technical assistance for program implementation and compliance. Dsw facilitates affiliate engagement through leadership conferences, regional roundtables, and digital platforms for resource sharing and collaboration. The organization also manages centralized disbursement of designated funding and in-kind contributions from donors, while overseeing global brand management, impact measurement, and affiliate standards.dsw centrally…
Local workforce development program:through service hub in new york city, dsw provides direct programming to unemployed and under employed women seeking career advancement and financial stability. Offerings include professional attire, career coaching, employment retention, digital literacy, and financial education. Services are delivered both in-person and online using individual and cohort-based models tailored to the needs of each community. Programs emphasize trauma-informed practices and support participants through job search, placement, and career growth
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO, (UNTIL 7/9/2025) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $651,904 | $0 | $6,178 | $658,082 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $232,403 | $0 | $32,352 | $264,755 |
| CHIEF AFFILIATE IMPACT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $232,716 | $0 | $25,348 | $258,064 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,707 | $0 | $3,438 | $234,145 |
| VP OF COMMUNICATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,447 | $0 | $42 | $169,489 |
| DIRECTOR NYC Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $124,221 | $0 | $20,113 | $144,334 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $122,914 | $0 | $16,216 | $139,130 |
| PEOPLE AND CULTURE LEAD Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $117,131 | $0 | $20,113 | $137,244 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Dress for Success Worldwide (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 534
- Volunteers Part I, line 6131
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ACCENTURE LLP Rebranding and marketing | $452,000 |
| TACK PARTNERS Interim CEO and strategic planning | $121,841 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Dress for Success Worldwide totaling $484K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Dress for Success Worldwide's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Dress for Success Worldwide, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Dress for Success Worldwide spent in 2025, $75.38 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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- Maranatha Volunteers InternationalRoseville, CA · revenue $15M · programs 86.3% · 2025
- International Student ExchangeBay Shore, NY · revenue $16M · programs 95.8% · FY2025
- Belgian American Educational FoundationNew Haven, CT · revenue $15M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Dress for Success Worldwide's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Dress for Success Worldwide reported that 75.4% of its $16.0 million in expenses went to program services, 15.5% to management and general and 9.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Dress for Success Worldwide pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Dress for Success Worldwide reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $658,082, for the role of CEO, (UNTIL 7/9/2025) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Dress for Success Worldwide get its money?
Of $15.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 96.4% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Dress for Success Worldwide a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-4040377 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202632439349300048 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502889349301110 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202422699349300327 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302359349300815 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233119349300938 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142659349300434 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013169349304606 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-4040377: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.