Model Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THROUGH STRATEGIC RESEARCH, POLICY INITIATIVES, AND CAMPAIGNS, THE MODEL ALLIANCE AIMS TO PROMOTE FAIR TREATMENT, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE FACTORY FLOOR.
- Income
- $417,077
- Spending
- $371,457
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 41
- Highest pay
- $143,500, executive director
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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
Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $179,648 spent. THROUGH OUR SECURE SUPPORT LINE, THE MODEL ALLIANCE ASSISTED 272 PEOPLE WHO WORK OR ASPIRE TO WORK IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY WITH A RANGE OF CONCERNS, INCLUDING EXPLOITATIVE CONTRACTS, WAGE THEFT, AND SEXUAL ABUSE. WHEN APPROPRIATE, WE CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS WITH TRUSTED JOURNALISTS TO HELP THEM TELL THEIR STORIES AND MADE REFERRALS TO ATTORNEYS TO EXPLORE THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS. WE CHAMPIONED AND IMPLEMENTED THE NEW YORK STATE FASHION WORKERS ACT, OUR SIGNATURE LEGISLATION, HELD AWARENESS-RAISING EVENTS AND PUBLISHED AN IN-DEPTH EXPLAINER TO HELP MODELS UNDERSTAND THEIR NEWFOUND RIGHTS AND HOW TO EXERCISE THEM. AT EIGHT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, FROM A CONVENING AT THE UNITED NATIONS TO A PANEL CONVERSATION AT THE FORD FOUNDATION, WE EDUCATED OUR COMMUNITY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE A FAIRER AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE FASHION INDUSTRY. WE CONDUCTED RESEARCH EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON FASHION WORKERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORKER INSTITUTE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY AND DATA & SOCIETY, AND RAISED AWARENESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE GROWING USE OF AI-GENERATED MODELS IN MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK TIMES, BUSINESS OF FASHION, AND THE GUARDIAN. WE DEVELOPED LEADERSHIP IN MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR WORKER COUNCIL TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, PEN ESSAYS AND OP-EDS, UNDERGO MEDIA TRAINING, ORGANIZE THEIR PEERS FOR A RALLY OR EVENT, AND MORE. WE PROVIDED WORKER LEADERS WITH HONORARIA AND TRAVEL STIPENDS TO MAKE PARTICIPATION IN OUR EFFORTS ACCESSIBLE.
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
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 June 2025.
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 July 2018.
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.