What Suited for Success does

Suited for Success is a Miami-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 that delivers free career development, employment training, and professional image services to residents of Miami-Dade County. Operating under the dual branding of Suited for Success/Dress for Success Miami, the organization functions as an independent affiliate of the global Dress for Success network. Its service portfolio spans six interconnected offerings: Employment Skills (resume writing and interview preparation), Career Consulting (individualized resume assistance), the Vets for Success veteran transition program, Professional Attire provision for interviews and employment, expert-led Training Workshops, and a Youth workforce readiness program. Three beneficiary segments are served: unemployed individuals seeking employment, military veterans and spouses transitioning to civilian careers, and youth preparing for first jobs.

The organization's funding model is entirely donation- and grant-based; all services are provided to clients at no charge. Revenue streams include individual contributions, clothing donations (professional attire accepted weekly), foundation grants (including the James & Dorothy Bear Foundation, William & Tina Rosenberg Foundation, and Adecco Group US Foundation), and corporate sponsorships from brands such as ULTA Beauty, Miami Heat, Bacardi, Capital One, Florida Blue, and Kaufman Rossin. Operations are run by a lean staff of fewer than 10 employees under Founder & Executive Director Sonia Jacobson, with governance provided by a Board of Directors that includes executives from corporate partner organizations.

Service delivery is concentrated at a single Miami headquarters (1600 NW 3rd Ave, Suite 111) through in-person appointments three days per week, supplemented by workshops delivered in-person and via Zoom. Strategic corporate partnerships are embedded in program design, including presenting partnerships with Danone/Light + Fit and T.J.Maxx (Maxx You Project) for women's career workshops, Grow with Google for digital skills training, and PA Consulting for self-advocacy programming. Over its 30-year operating history, the organization reports having served more than 7,000 individuals, and in 2024 it commemorated its 30th anniversary with a 'Success Under the Stars' luncheon. The organization holds no external investment capital, has no parent entity, and operates exclusively within a single regional market with no documented geographic expansion plans.

Name

Suited for Success

Legal name

Suited for Success

Website

https://suitedforsuccess.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Suited for Success is a Miami-based nonprofit founded in 1994 that provides free career development, professional attire, and employment training services to unemployed individuals, veterans, and youth in Miami-Dade County as an affiliate of Dress for Success.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Career Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Career Services & Career Readiness (EDALABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Resume & Professional Branding (CV, LinkedIn, Portfolio) (EDAAAKAB), Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Networking) (EDAMAKAG)

Keywords

• Career development services
• Workforce readiness training
• Professional attire provision
• Veteran transition support
• Nonprofit employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Suited for Success operates as a nonprofit organization funded through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The organization accepts clothing donations (professional attire) and monetary contributions. Major funding comes from corporate partners and foundation grants including the James & Dorothy Bear Foundation, William & Tina Rosenberg Foundation, and various corporate sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Suited for Success is a nonprofit social services organization that provides free career development and professional image services to individuals in Miami-Dade County. Its core offerings include resume writing and interview preparation, career consulting, provision of professional business attire, training workshops, and specialized programs for veterans and youth. All services are delivered free of charge to clients through in-person appointments and group workshops at the Miami headquarters.

Product overview

Suited for Success is a non-profit social services organization (affiliated with Dress for Success Miami) offering a unified suite of career development and employment support services. The organization provides six interconnected service offerings: Employment Skills (resume writing and interview preparation), Career Consulting (individualized resume assistance), Veteran Support/Vets for Success (transition assistance for veterans), Professional Attire (clothing provision for interviews and employment), Training Workshops (expert-led career skill sessions), and Youth Program (workforce preparation for young people). These services work together to empower individuals at various stages of employment—from unemployment and job searching to recently employed and adjusting to gainful employment and succeeding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employment Skills Resume writing or rewriting and interview preparation services to help job seekers present themselves effectively to potential employers.
• Career Consulting Individualized assistance for those needing to update or generate a new resume to support their job search.
• Veteran Support (Vets for Success) Specialized program helping veterans and military spouses transition into civilian life through life skills training, employment preparation, resume support, and interview preparation.
• Professional Attire Provision of professional business attire for job interviews and employment to help individuals present a professional image.
• Training Workshops Expert-led workshops helping individuals acquire skills and confidence for career advancement, including personal narrative development and interview preparation topics, delivered in-person and via Zoom.
• Youth Program Program for youth and teens ready to enter the workforce and learn the skills necessary for employment, enrolled via the S.T.A.R.T Now form.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ULTA BeautycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with representation on the Board of Directors. Chrissie Mollicone, President of ULTA Beauty, serves as Board President.
• Miami HeatcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate community partner. Sonia Harty from Miami Heat serves on the Board of Directors.
• BacardicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting programs and events. Jessica Merz from Bacardi serves on the Board of Directors. Partner in Father's Day Giveaway.
• Capital OneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed among supporters.
• Florida BlueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed among supporters. Solange Campuzano from Florida Blue serves on the Board.
• Danone/Light + FitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for multiple career development workshops including panel discussions, career navigation events, and return-to-work programs. Dedicated to empowering women and achieving economic equity.
• T.J.Maxx/Maxx You ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for women's empowerment workshops including confidence building, self-advocacy, and professional development workshops. T.J.Maxx's ongoing commitment to empowering women with tools, resources, and community.
• PA ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented the 'Being Your Own Champion' virtual workshop focusing on self-advocacy for women in the workplace. Provided volunteers for breakout room activities.
• Grow with GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for digital skills training and career development workshops. Focused on training Black women in their communities.
• InHerSightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented workshop on finding equitable and fair-paying employers using company reviews and employee feedback data.
• Kaufman RossinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with representation on the Board of Directors. Jessica de la Cruz from Kaufman Rossin serves on the Board.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Large umbrella nonprofit supporting community-based workforce and education programs including many Dress for Success affiliates. A potential funder/convener for SFS.
• Goodwill Industries International: Large established nonprofit providing job training, career placement, and workforce services across the U.S. Operates in the same workforce development space at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Merraine Group: National nonprofit providing veterans with career coaching, resume help, and civilian transition support. Comparable veteran-specific program (Vets for Success).

Direct peers

• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit providing job training, mentorship, and career placement to young adults from underserved communities. Comparable mission of bridging the employment gap for disadvantaged populations.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing free technology and professional skills training to individuals from underserved communities, with career placement support. Closely comparable nonprofit workforce development operator.
• America Works: Workforce development company providing job readiness training and placement to unemployed and welfare recipients. Comparable service model across unemployed and re-entry populations.
• Dress for Success Worldwide: Global parent/affiliate network of Suited for Success, providing career development and professional attire services to women in 140+ cities. Directly comparable mission, services, and operating model.
• Junior Achievement USA: Youth workforce readiness and career education nonprofit serving K-12 students with work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs. Directly comparable youth programming.
• NPower: Nonprofit providing free tech and professional skills training plus career placement to underserved young adults and veterans. Directly comparable mission, especially on veteran transitions.

Regional players

• CareerSource South Florida: Local workforce development board serving Miami-Dade and Monroe counties with career training, job placement, and employer matching. Operates in the same geography with overlapping services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dfsmiami
• Facebookfacebook.com/dressforsuccessmiami

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Suited for Success