Dress for Success Des Moines
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
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.
- Income
- $258,798
- Spending
- $200,369
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- 10.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 180
- Highest pay
- $42,692, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $47,919 spent. WOMEN OBTAIN WHAT THEY NEED FOR AN INTERVIEW - FROM CLOTHING TO CONFIDENCE - AND CAN RETURN ONCE THEY FIND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES NEEDED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. THE STYLING EXPERIENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES EACH CLIENT WITH A COMPLETE INTERVIEW ENSEMBLE, INCLUDING A SUIT, BLOUSE, HOSIERY, SHOES, PURSE, JEWELRY, AND PORTFOLIO, FOR HER INTERVIEW AND WORKFORCE APPAREL WHEN SHE FINDS A POSITION. DRESS FOR SUCCESS DES MOINES ALSO SUPPORTS WOMEN THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AND HAS SCRUBS AVAILABLE IN LIMITED SIZES TO ANY WOMAN WHO NEEDS THEM FOR HER JOB.
- $23,960 spent. OUR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S GROUP EMPOWERS WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE TO RETAIN AND ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS. CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN A YEAR-ROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ADVANCE THEIR SKILLS, DEVELOP CONNECTIONS, FOSTER RESILIENCE, AND EMPOWER THEM BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
- $37,029 spent. OUR CAREER SERVICE CENTER IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU THROUGH RESUMES, MOCK INTERVIEWING, AND OUR WORKSHOPS. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT WOMEN AS THEY ADDRESS ANY POSSIBLE OBSTACLES TO SECURING EMPLOYMENT. THROUGH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES, THEY RECEIVE, PARTICIPANTS ARE EMPOWERED TO CONTINUE AND SUCCEED IN THEIR JOB SEARCHES. OUR KEYS TO SUCCESS WORKSHOPS PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH CONCRETE SKILLS ON A VARIETY OF RELEVANT TOPICS INCLUDING COMPUTER SKILLS, PERSONAL BRANDING, RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEWING SUCCESSFULLY, AND ENERGIZING THE JOB SEARCH. OUR EXPERTS ARE BOTH KNOWLEDGEABLE AND INSPIRATIONAL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 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.