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Fashion Law Institute

EIN 27-3839336 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Fashion Law Institute is the world's first academic center dedicated to the legal issues arising throughout the life of a garment. The Institute carries out its purposes as an educational organization by advancing the field of fashion law through formal instruction, experiential education, and scholarly research.

Income
$143,791
Spending
$132,621
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    1 of 1 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
  1. $3,779 spent. Teaching and research in fashion law remained central to the Institute's mission. The foundational course continued to be the original Fashion Law course, which defined the field and was created and taught by the Institute's founder, Professor Susan Scafidi. Other courses included Fashion and International Trade, covering cutting-edge issues in customs and other matters affecting the global supply chain; Fashion and Commercial Real Estate Law, covering the legal framework for leasing, owning, and managing real property in the fashion economy; Fashion Law and Social Justice, examining the role of fashion in constructive social change; the Fashion Law and Finance course, exploring the role of law and lawyers in developing a global fashion brand; Fashion Ethics, Sustainability and Development, exploring the intersection of fashion law and social values, including such topics as green fashion, fair trade and fashion-related social enterprise; Fashion Licensing, examining the law and business of fashion licensing, the anatomy of a license agreement, and current trends in the industry in the US and worldwide; Cosmetics Regulation, examining legal and ethical issues pertaining to cosmetics and personal care products; Fashion Law Drafting and the Fashion Law Practicum, providing practical experience with legal aspects of the fashion industry; Fashion Retail Law, examining the legal framework for the shopping environment, including retail stores, websites, and privacy and security issues raised by new technology; and the Capstone course for graduating students in the Fordham School of Law Master's degree programs in Fashion Law.
  2. $122,714 spent. In conjunction with the Institute's classroom instruction, a related aspect of the Institute's educational mission is the advancement of understanding in fashion law through seminars, symposia, continuing legal education, Fashion Law Bootcamp, and other programs open to both students and the general public. Topics covered in the 2024-25 academic year included women designers and fashion law; cutting-edge legal issues facing lawyers in the fashion industry; crisis management; current developments in antitrust and intellectual property law; and the future of sustainability and fashion ethics in the wake of recent legal developments. The Fashion Law Institute also continued to conduct its pro bono Fashion Law Pop-Up Clinic program, both in person and online via Zoom, with eight Pop-Up Clinics held during the 2024-2025 academic year. At each Pop-Up Clinic, students met with lawyers and designers for attorney-supervised legal training by assisting fashion clients. Besides gaining educational experience through being involved in pro-bono consultations, students also learned about fashion law and the fashion business by serving in Institute-supervised internships as well as by assisting with various Institute events.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 February 2012.

    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.