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Dress for Success Austin

EIN 13-4220559 · Austin, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE BY PROVIDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE AND THE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO THRIVE IN WORK AND IN LIFE.

Income
$761,696
Spending
$954,676
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
11
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$96,408, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (13)
  1. $84,820 spent. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES FEMALE VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL AS BY OFFERING SPECIALIZED VETERAN SERVICE DAYS FOR THOSE TRANSITIONING TO THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE.
  2. $390,207 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES CLOTHING FOR THE WOMEN IT SUPPORTS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM FIND AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
  3. $67,856 spent. THE PATH TO EMPLOYMENT MENTORING PROGRAM IS A SIX-WEEK, ONE-ON-ONE PROGRAM IN WHICH PROFESSIONAL FEMALE MENTORS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL WISDOM THROUGH PERSONALIZED ATTENTION AND FEEDBACK TO HELP THEM MAKE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CAREERS.
  4. $101,782 spent. OUR CAREER CONSULTING AND IMAGE CONSULTING PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT VIA PHONE, EMAIL, OR VIDEO CALL TO ASSIST WITH FINDING EMPLOYMENT AND FINDING BETTER EMPLOYMENT. WE HAVE EXPERTS AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS WHO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR CLIENTS TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR SEEKING SKILLS AND HONE IN ON THE VERY SPECIFIC AREAS THEY NEED HELP WITH.
  5. $84,820 spent. THE PROFESSIONAL WOMENS GROUP (PWG) IS A MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORT GROUP FOR EMPLOYED WOMEN. THIS GROUP FOCUSES MAINLY ON JOB RETENTION BY HELPING THE CLIENTS TACKLE THE DAY TO DAY CHALLENGES THEY ENCOUNTER AT THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS. APPROXIMATELY 30 WOMEN ATTEND THESE MONTHLY GROUPS THAT ARE VITAL TO THEIR CONTINUED CONFIDENCE AND SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE.
  6. $51,434 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIEDS VARIOUS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH CORPORATE WEBINARS, VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS TO HELP ATTENDEES SECURE STABLE EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS OTHER JOB-RELATED SKILLS.
  7. $50,892 spent. DRESS FOR SUCCESS AUSTIN WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION THIS YEAR WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE KAUFMAN FOUNDATION. THIS 8 WEEK COURSE BROUGHT IN FINANCIAL EXPERTS FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY INCLUDING ACCOUNTANTS, FINANCIAL ADVISORS, BANK PERSONNEL, TAX CONSULTANTS, SCHOOL LOAN OFFICERS AND MORE.
  8. $28,620 spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ULTA BEAUTY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS WORKSHOPS DESIGNED BY SUBJECT- MATTER EXPERTS THAT FOCUS ON TOPICS RELATED TO MIND, BODY, AND COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO UPLIFT, EQUIP, AND SUPPORT WOMEN IN PRIORITIZING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELL-BEING.
  9. OUR CAREER CONSULTING AND IMAGE CONSULTING PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE 101782. 0. 0.
  10. THE PROFESSIONAL WOMENS GROUP (PWG) IS A MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORT 84820. 0. 0.
  11. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIEDS VARIOUS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 51434. 0. 0.
  12. DRESS FOR SUCCESS AUSTIN WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING FOR 50892. 0. 0.
  13. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ULTA BEAUTY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, 28620. 0. 0.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.