What Clothes For Kids does

Clothes For Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington, that provides free school wardrobes to income-eligible students from Head Start through 12th grade in Snohomish County and the Northshore School District. The organization operates a retail-store environment where eligible students select approximately 24 items of clothing per school year, including coats, shirts, pants, shoes, socks, and underwear, with a pickup wardrobe service for families unable to visit in person. The core service is free to qualifying families, with eligibility tied to free/reduced lunch program enrollment, EBT, TANF, DSHS documentation, or hardship forms, and the cost to provide one complete wardrobe is approximately $85 to $120 per student.

The organization is funded entirely through donations, grants, fundraising events, and in-kind clothing contributions, with FY2020-2021 total revenue of $434,526 against expenses of $208,546. Revenue streams include individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, the Coins For Kids school-driven fundraising program, the Transforming Lives Breakfast, the Celebrate the Children Auction, and various shop-to-give platforms. Major sponsors include Wesco Group (Platinum), Mountain Pacific Bank (Gold), and apparel partners such as Bombas, which has donated 40,000+ pairs of socks. The organization is staffed by a small paid team of approximately five employees supported by 60+ regular volunteers contributing 7,500 hours annually.

The technology stack is operationally focused rather than innovative: a bespoke "Harmony" inventory and student management software application was developed ground-up by volunteer Ken Powers, a 34-year IT veteran, to manage in-store and warehouse inventory and student records. Distribution is anchored by the Lynnwood storefront at 16725 52nd Avenue West, Suite B, supplemented by school-based referral partnerships with Edmonds, Everett, Mukilteo, and Northshore school districts. The organization has no app, no public API, and no AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

Name

Clothes For Kids

Legal name

Clothes For Kids

Website

https://clothesforkids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clothes For Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that provides free school wardrobes — approximately 24 clothing items per student annually — to income-eligible youth from Head Start through 12th grade in Snohomish County and the Northshore School District, Washington, operating through a retail-store model funded by donations, grants, and community fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Social Services

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Kids’ & Baby Apparel Retail (CRAAABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

School Uniforms (Children) (CRAAAHAE)

Keywords

• Children's clothing assistance
• Nonprofit social services
• School clothing program
• Low-income family support
• Community clothing distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Lynnwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the school wardrobe program; processed through Network for Good platform and by check
2. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Funding from corporations, foundations, and organizations including major sponsors like Wesco Group and Mountain Pacific Bank
3. Coins For Kids School Program: Annual coin drives in local schools raising funds; 24 schools participated generating nearly $350,000 over 11 years
4. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Transforming Lives Breakfast (largest annual fundraiser raising $29,500+) and Celebrate the Children Auction (raising $47,000+)
5. Clothing Donations (In-Kind): Gently used and new clothing donations from community, apparel partners including Bombas (40,000+ sock pairs), Carters, One Warm Coat, and others
6. Giving Programs: Revenue through iGive (1,500+ retail partners), Fred Meyer Community Rewards, Bartells B Caring Card, Giving Assistant

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clothes For Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, complete school wardrobes to low-income children in Snohomish County and the Northshore School District through a retail-store shopping experience. Eligible students are referred by school personnel and shop with the assistance of volunteer personal shoppers during scheduled appointments. Funding comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and community clothing drives.

Product overview

Clothes For Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a single core service: providing free school wardrobes to low-income students in Snohomish County and the Northshore School District. The organization operates a retail-store environment where eligible students from Head Start through 12th grade select approximately 24 items of clothing per school year. Supporting programs include a pickup wardrobe service for families unable to visit in person, clothing drives coordination, an apparel partner program for corporate donations, and giving programs for donor fundraising. The organization does not operate as a technology platform or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free School Wardrobe Program Free, complete school-appropriate wardrobe for low-income children in Snohomish County and the Northshore School District, delivered through scheduled retail-store-style shopping appointments with volunteer personal shoppers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,411 student wardrobes provided in 2020-2021 alone; 18,000+ wardrobes over past 5 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bombas SockscoreOthersDonated 40,000+ pairs of socks for students. Major in-kind apparel partner.
• CarterscoreOthersNew clothing donations as part of Apparel Partner Program.
• One Warm CoatcoreOthersCoat donations through Apparel Partner Program.
• Pajama ProgramsupportingOthersSleepwear donations through Apparel Partner Program.
• Habitat 360supportingOthersApparel partner supporting Clothes For Kids program.
• Operations WarmsupportingOthersOperations support for warm clothing donations.
• Childish ThingssupportingOthersChildren's clothing donations from local resale shop.
• Sole Perfection (Seattle)supportingOthersShoe donations through Apparel Partner Program.
• Country SavesupportingOthersProvides laundry detergent for cleaning donated clothing.
• Kiwanis Club of LynnwoodsupportingOthersLocal service organization supporting Clothes For Kids.
• Charlie's ProducesupportingOthersSponsored Transforming Lives Breakfast and Celebrate the Children Auction events.
• US AgainsupportingOthersPartnership for recycling clothing that doesn't meet donation standards (stained, ripped items).
• Fred MeyersupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Rewards program allowing shoppers to link their rewards card to benefit Clothes For Kids.
• iGivesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline shopping portal with 1,500+ retail partners; Clothes For Kids earns donations when supporters shop through the platform.
• BartellssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB Caring Card program allowing customers to link their card to support Clothes For Kids.
• Edmonds School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner for over 37 years. Originally hosted program in Scriber Lake High School classrooms. Schools distribute referral forms to eligible families.
• Edmonds CollegesupportingOthersProvides intern support through Edmonds College Intern Program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pajama Program: Nonprofit providing pajamas and books to children in need; one of CFK's apparel partners but operates independently as a similar free-clothing-for-children nonprofit at national scale.
• Baby2Baby: National nonprofit that distributes clothing, shoes, and essentials to children in need across the U.S. Closest direct peer — operates the same mission at much larger scale with corporate apparel partnerships and school-district distribution.
• Operation Warm: National nonprofit providing new coats, shoes, and clothing to children in need through school partnerships. Direct peer on mission, apparel partner relationship (currently a supplier to CFK), and school-distribution GTM.
• St. Anthony Foundation: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing free clothing, meals, and social services to low-income families. Operates a free clothing program with dignity-focused distribution model.
• Kids In Need Foundation: National nonprofit providing clothing and school supplies to children living in poverty through school partnerships. Closely aligned with CFK's school-district-led GTM and free-distribution model.
• Cradles to Crayons: Nonprofit providing children from birth through age 12 with essential clothing and supplies; offers a "shopping" experience where kids are referred by social workers. Directly comparable model combining dignity-focused retail with in-kind apparel pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large established nonprofit selling donated clothing and goods to fund job training programs. Overlaps with CFK's apparel-for-need mission at much larger scale, but focuses on thrift retail rather than direct free distribution to families.
• The Salvation Army: International charitable organization providing clothing assistance, family services, and disaster relief. Broad incumbent serving similar low-income family segments with apparel assistance but as one of many programs.

Regional players

• Seattle's Union Gospel Mission: Pacific Northwest nonprofit providing clothing, shelter, and recovery services to people in need. Comparable regional free-clothing program for low-income populations in the same Pacific Northwest footprint as CFK.

Emerging players

• Dress for Success: Nonprofit providing professional clothing and career support to women. Adjacent apparel-for-need mission with dignity-focused model, but different beneficiary segment (adult women re-entering workforce) and national scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/105741179504736
• Xx.com/clothesforkdswa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clothes-for-kids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clothes For Kids