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Dress for Success Twin Cities

EIN 80-0480295 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
10
Volunteers
784
Highest pay
$106,403, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
  1. $228,777 spent. EMPOWERU IS OUR EMPLOYMENT READINESS AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED. IN 2024, EMPOWERU CLASSES SUPPORTED 714 PARTICIPANTS IN DEVELOPING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS, LEARNING ABOUT THEIR STRENGTHS, BUILDING PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS, AND ACCESSING MEANINGFUL JOBS. WOMEN ALSO DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET AND A POSITIVE NETWORK OF SUPPORT, TO HELP THEM OVERCOME WORKPLACE CHALLENGES. OUR GOAL IS FOR EMPOWERU PARTICIPANTS TO GAIN LONG-TERM, FAMILY-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT IN A QUALITY CAREER PATHWAY.
  2. $423,116 spent. THE BUSINESS ATTIRE PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW-INCOME WOMEN WITH CONFIDENCE KITS TO PREPARE THEM FOR JOB INTERVIEWS AND NEW EMPLOYMENT. EACH WOMAN'S KIT IS CUSTOMIZED FOR HER SIZING AND PERSONAL PREFERENCES, AND INCLUDES CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES, AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS. WE DELIVER KITS TO OUR PARTICIPANTS TO OVERCOME THE BARRIER OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS YEAR, 449 WOMEN RECEIVED CONFIDENCE KITS.
  3. $146,707 spent. OUR CAREER CENTER OFFERS COACHING, MENTORING, AND OTHER 1:1 SUPPORT FOR WOMEN SEEKING TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE OR ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS. WE PROVIDE RESUME REVIEWS, MOCK INTERVIEWS, AND ONLINE JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES. THESE INDIVIDUALIZED CONNECTIONS ARE PART OF THE POSITIVE NETWORK OF SUPPORT THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT.
  4. DFSTC EMPOWERS WOMEN TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE BY PROVIDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE AND THE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO HELP THEM THRIVE IN WORK AND LIFE. OUR JOB READINESS AND CAREER GROWTH PROGRAMS SUPPORT 1,000 WOMEN EACH YEAR, THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE MODEL. ALL CLASSES AND COACHING ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE IN CONVENIENT LIVE AND ON-DEMAND FORMATS, AND WOMEN ALSO CONNECT VIRTUALLY WITH STAFF, CAREER COACHES, AND PEERS. THESE FLEXIBLE OPTIONS MAXIMIZE ACCESS FOR OUR LOW-INCOME PARTICIPANTS, AND REDUCE BARRIERS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION OR CHILDCARE. IN ADDITION, OUR SUCCESS EXPRESS MOBILE CAREER CENTER TRAVELS TO LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES METRO AND INTO GREATER MINNESOTA. WE CO-HOST SUCCESS EXPRESS EVENTS WITH NONPROFIT PARTNERS, TO HELP US BRING TRANSFORMATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO NEW WOMEN. ULEAD IS OUR ADVANCED PROGRAM FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE GAINED EMPLOYMENT, TO GAIN RESUME-BOOSTING LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE BY FACILITATING CLASSES AND SUPPORTING NEW PARTICIPANTS. ULEADERS ALSO ENSURE THAT OUR PROGRAMMING MEETS THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF LOW-INCOME WOMEN.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.