Non-profit Dress for Success Boston

We provide interview appropriate suits and accessories free of charge to disadvantaged women who are entering or re-entering the job market. We work with a diverse population of women who come from many different backgrounds. However, they all share one important quality in common: they all are highly motivated to change their lives for the better and we exist to assist them in doing so.

When a woman comes to us for interview clothing, we provide her with a suit and all the accessories necessary to create a professional image. As soon as she has found a job, each woman is encouraged to return for a follow-up appointment designed to assist her in building a professional wardrobe.

A Personal Shopper from our group of volunteers is assigned to work with each woman who comes in for an appointment. Between the nurturing and support that they receive from our volunteers and the knowledge of how good they look in their new outfits, the women invariably leave Dress for Success with a new-found faith and confidence in their ability to succeed in their aspirations.

DFSB is an affiliate of the Worldwide Dress for Success organization, which now has 94 affiliates in 9 countries. Our affiliate was founded in 2001 by Nancy Schneider and Enith Levine.

Since 2001, DFSB has built partnerships with over 100 social service agencies in the Greater Boston area. As a result, we have served 4,000 women (approximately 800+ women each year), of who, 45% are employed. Thanks to the generous donations of goods and services, 100% of our clients leave the boutique dressed and ready for the workplace.

At Dress for Success Boston (DFSB) we strive to empower disadvantaged women as they prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce. Our clients are referred to us from social service agencies that are helping women gain control of their lives. We partner with welfare to work agencies, battered women’s shelters, homeless shelters, drug rehabilitation programs, prison early release programs, GED and literacy programs and agencies that help new immigrants get started in a life of economic independence. With the help of 30 active volunteers, we assist women in attaining a professional, tailored and polished look by providing an interview-appropriate ensemble free of charge. Each woman receives one suit for a job interview and additional clothing once she has landed the job. Once employed, she becomes a member of our Professional Women’s Group. Our Professional Women’s Group (PWG) is a free service that DFSB provides to its clients who have successfully gained employment. Inaugurated in 2003, it is the first and only job-retention model that helps low-income women on their journey to self-sufficiency by addressing their social and economic needs in relation to work, home and community. The PWG provides practical information in a safe environment where women are able to network with their peers as well as learn from professional women in a variety of fields. Monthly “Conversations With an Expert” give members an opportunity to speak with a working professional on topics from understanding corporate culture to handling personal finances.

Another new program at Dress for Success Boston is our Career Corner. With computers and equipment donated from Monster.com, we launched this volunteer-run program in March 2008. The Career Corner is available for clients who may need assistance with resume review, interviewing skills, and career search etiquette. This service is also available for those clients who, after they are hired, are interested in job retention, growth and development, and future career possibilities. Through all our programs, we do our best to make sure every woman who walks into our boutique leaves with confidence so she can regain control of her life and succeed in the workplace and beyond.

The mission of Dress for Success Boston (DFSB) is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

2009 OBJECTIVES AS DEFINED BY THE DRESS FOR SUCCESS BOSTON BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. Increase income overall by 15% with 5% increases in the following areas: foundation funding, individual giving and events.

2. Establish a Y.E.S! group, with the goal of having 50 members by the end of the year. (Y.E.S! stands for Young Executives for Success. It is a volunteer branch of the organization geared towards young professionals. The goal of Y.E.S! is to assist Dress for Success by sponsoring fundraising events and promoting the awareness of the organization’s mission.)

3. Implement a formal effort to secure corporate funding either through grants or cause marketing

4. Establish more regular contact with constituency through email and direct mail

5. Produce an annual report for funders, clients and volunteers

6. Increase interview suiting numbers by 15%

7. Launch a campaign to educate clients and referral agencies about second suitings and increase numbers by 20%

8. Conduct an outreach effort to new and existing member agencies to strengthen relationships, increase referrals and bring five new partners on board

9. Work with the Board to develop and execute a five-year strategic plan

10. Recruit three new board members

11. Develop volunteer Road Show team, to give seminars on dressing professionally to partner agencies.

Name of Organization:Dress for Success Boston
Number of Paid Staff:4
Number of Volunteers:66
Total Organizational Expenses:$161,807
% of Organizational Overhead Expenses:20%

Many organizations in the area provide job training skills to a variety of populations. Dress for Success Boston’s niche is interview clothing, which complements the services of these organizations. Our mission solves the “Catch-22” that confronts disadvantaged women trying to enter the workforce: without a job, how can you afford a suit? But without a suit, how can you go on an interview?

Lorraine” came to us from Kingston House. She is in an early release prison program and had an interview for a part time job. She is not allowed to work full time at the moment and she was interviewing for a job as a telemarketer for a business cleaning company. Her front teeth were missing. She apologized to me for her teeth when I first introduced myself. “I was mugged in prison”, she told me. “I am going to a dentist next week, they said they can help me ---I know that this will not help me get a job”. We found a wonderful black suit and a turquoise blouse that made Lorraine ’s eyes look fabulous. We gave her some black low heeled pumps, pantyhose, a matching handbag and pearl earrings and a necklace that made her look elegant and professional for the interview---but when she put on the Liz Clairborne navy blue trench coat she really smiled. "You know I am an Occupational Therapist", she said. "Someday I am going to regain my license and return to that work." "I think I look like a professional in this outfit, and someday I will be a professional again. "Thank you. I will always remember Dress for Success. This is wonderful." Lorraine will be back. Despite the bad choices and bad luck, she can begin again and we have helped her to do that.

Clothing
Poverty

Help sort clothing on donation day or run drives to collect clothing or accessories for our clients.

Name:Kim Todd
Title:Executive director
Address:989 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 United States
Telephone:617-779-2178
Email:ktodd@dfsboston.org
Website:dressforsuccess.org

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Dress for Success Boston