Creatives Want Change
Creatives Want Change is a New York-based nonprofit that develops Black creative talent for the fashion industry through fully-funded pre-college programs at top design schools, mentorship, paid internships, community events, and college scholarships for high school and college students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Creatives Want Change does
Creatives Want Change (CWC) is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 by Randy Cousin (SVP Product Concept at Tommy Hilfiger) and Matthew Kane (Design Director at Club Monaco). The organization runs a five-pillar talent development pipeline for underrepresented Black creative talent, beginning at the high school level and extending through early professional development. Its core offerings include fully-funded Pre-College Summer Programs at seven partner design schools (Parsons, FIT, RISD, SCAD, OTIS, CCA, Academy of Art, with Pratt added in 2026), a Mentorship Program matching Fellows with industry professionals from brands such as SKIMS, Patagonia, Calvin Klein and Converse, an Internship Program placing college-aged Fellows at companies including SKIMS, Urban Outfitters, Louis Vuitton Americas and The Children's Place, Community Events such as career panels and industry experiences, and College Scholarships of at least $10,000 introduced in 2025. The 2026 cohort is the sixth annual class; applicant reach grew from 25 states and 5 countries to over 40 states and 3 countries by 2024.
Creatives Want Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creatives Want Change
- Legal name
- Creatives Want Change
- Website
- https://creativeswantchange.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Creatives Want Change is a New York-based nonprofit that develops Black creative talent for the fashion industry through fully-funded pre-college programs at top design schools, mentorship, paid internships, community events, and college scholarships for high school and college students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creatives Want Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education and talent development services (fashion industry pipeline)
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Creativity & Innovation Mindset (EDABAMAH)
Keywords
Where Creatives Want Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Creatives Want Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorships: Fashion brands sponsor CWC programs, career panels, events, and provide internship opportunities for Fellows. Brands include Urban Outfitters, SKIMS, Tommy Hilfiger, The Children's Place, Calvin Klein, and others.
- Foundation Grants: CWC receives multi-year grants from foundations. VF Foundation awarded three consecutive $50,000 grants over three years. PVH Foundation committed $10 million over four years to support underserved communities through fashion industry programs.
- Public Donations: Individual donations through email and social media campaigns. First online fundraiser in 2022 raised over $8,000. Round-up campaigns at partner retail stores generate additional donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free programs for accepted Black creative talent |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Creatives Want Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creatives Want Change is a nonprofit educational organization that operates a five-pillar talent pipeline for underrepresented Black high school and college students aspiring to fashion careers. Its offerings comprise fully-funded Pre-College Summer Programs at partner design schools (covering tuition, fees, room, board, travel, and supplies), industry-professional mentorship matching, internship and apprenticeship placement at fashion brands, community events with industry leaders, and college scholarships starting at $10,000.
Product overview
Creatives Want Change is a nonprofit educational organization that operates as a unified program rather than a modular platform. The organization provides a five-pillar pipeline for underrepresented Black creative talent: Pre-College Summer Programs (at partner schools including FIT, Parsons, SCAD, RISD, Otis, CCA, and Academy of Art), Mentorships (with industry professionals from fashion brands), Internships (at companies like SKIMS, Centric Brands, and Urban Outfitters), Community Events (career panels and industry experiences), and College Scholarships (starting at $10,000). Additional offerings include the CAMP SKIMS X CWC virtual training program and the URBN X Drexel Apprenticeship Program. These programs work together to create a continuous support system from high school through early professional development in the fashion industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-College Summer Programs Full scholarships that send Black high school students to attend pre-college fashion design programs at partner institutions including the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Parsons School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Otis College of Art and Design, California College of the Arts (CCA), and Academy of Art University. Covers tuition, fees, room and board, travel, and all supplies.
- Mentorship Program Matches accepted Fellows with fashion industry leaders and professionals from brands including Gap, J.Crew, Patagonia, URBN, Calvin Klein, and SKIMS to provide guidance on portfolios, careers, and professional development.
- Internship Program Connects college-aged Fellows with internships and apprenticeships at fashion companies including SKIMS, Centric Brands, Urban Outfitters, Louis Vuitton Americas, The Children's Place, Nuuly, Avery Dennison, and R&CPMK.
- Community Events Provides accepted Fellows access to career panels featuring fashion industry executives, networking events, reunion gatherings, and industry experiences such as Formula One Miami Grand Prix events hosted by partner brands.
- College Scholarships Scholarships starting at $10,000 for current and upcoming Fellows to eliminate financial barriers to college education in fashion, awarded through partnerships with sponsor companies including The Children's Place and Urban Outfitters alongside internship opportunities.
- CAMP SKIMS X CWC A virtual training and engagement program featuring four private virtual sessions led by industry leaders from SKIMS and CWC, covering resume and cover letters, HR and recruiting in fashion, designing for a brand, and merchandising. Includes the opportunity for top-engaging Fellows to receive a paid internship at SKIMS.
Companies that use Creatives Want Change
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Creatives Want Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Creatives Want Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- The Children's PlacecoreThe Children's Place partnered with CWC for scholarship program. Three Fellows mentor with their design team, with one selected for a summer internship and awarded a college scholarship to support their fashion education.
- Tommy HilfigerflagshipTommy Hilfiger sponsored CWC Fellows to attend Formula One Miami Grand Prix weekend in May 2023. Fellows met Awake NY founder Angelo Baque and Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton. Event provided insight into fashion-sports brand collaborations from concept to creation to amplification.
- URBN x Drexel Apprenticeship ProgramflagshipURBN partnered with Drexel University for groundbreaking apprenticeship program. Six students were selected, including CWC Fellow Donald Whorley. Program based at URBN headquarters in Philadelphia, offering students the chance to work while pursuing free courses at the university.
- Urban OutfitterscoreUrban Outfitters partnered with CWC for Round-up Campaign during Black History Month. Shoppers rounded up purchases at checkout, raising $102,802.60 for CWC. Urban Outfitters also invited CWC staff and Fellows to Black History Month Roller Skating event in Brooklyn. Partnership continues to address lack of diversity in fashion leadership roles.
- SKIMSflagshipSKIMS partnered with CWC for CAMP SKIMS X CWC, a virtual training program with four private sessions led by SKIMS and CWC industry leaders. Topics included Resume/Cover Letters, HR and Recruiting in Fashion, Designing for a Brand, and Merchandising. One Fellow received a paid internship at SKIMS headquarters in Los Angeles based on engagement during the program.
- Academy of Art UniversitycorePartner design school for CWC pre-college programs. CWC Fellows attend pre-college programs at Academy of Art in San Francisco, receiving college credit, hands-on instruction, and chance to grow as artists among peers.
- Parsons School of DesigncorePartner design school for CWC pre-college programs. CWC Fellows attend Parsons Academy summer intensive studies in New York City through the Pre-College Summer Intensive Studies program.
- Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)corePartner design school for CWC pre-college programs. FIT pre-college program High School Summer Live offers 10-day classes in Accessories Design, Fashion Design (sewing and art-based), Fashion Business, and Portfolio Development.
- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)corePartner design school for CWC pre-college programs. CWC Fellows attend SCAD Rising Star program in Georgia, taking courses like Fashion Aesthetics and Style and Introduction to Textiles.
- California College of the Arts (CCA)corePartner design school for CWC pre-college programs. Four-week fashion design program in San Francisco includes three intensive design projects, guest speakers, and field trips.
- Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)corePartner design school for CWC pre-college programs. RISD Pre-College offers rising high school juniors and seniors five weeks of college-level curriculum with day-long studio classes, critiques, and projects.
- OTIS College of Art and DesigncorePartner design school for CWC pre-college programs. OTIS Summer of Art is a four-week program in Los Angeles providing intensive training for high school students at one of the top art and design colleges.
- Decor GlobalminorDecor Global hosted a denim workshop at their New Jersey warehouse during CWC's reunion. Fellows learned techniques to craft garments for celebrities and created designs using laser machines. Partner provided invaluable industry insights.
- BPD Wash HouseminorBPD Wash House welcomed CWC Fellows during reunion, providing industry insights into garment finishing and treatment techniques.
- Centric BrandsminorCWC Year 2 Fellow DaNae interned at Centric Brands in New York City as a Product Development Intern, participating in meetings with designers for fit, construction, trims and color approval.
- R&CPMKminorCWC Year 2 Fellow Nandi interned at R&CPMK, a leading entertainment and lifestyle marketing agency, as an Influencer Marketing/Talent Gifting Intern.
- Avery DennisonminorCWC Year 1 Fellow Aissata interned at Avery Dennison, a materials manufacturing company, as a Digital Product Creation intern working with CAD design software and exploring sustainability technologies.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Creatives Want Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fashion Group International (FGI): Global nonprofit industry organization providing education, professional development, and networking for fashion and related creative professionals. Comparable on talent development and industry pipeline dimensions.
- Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA): Major fashion industry trade association offering education, scholarships (CFDA Scholars Program), and emerging designer support. Comparable as the broader fashion-industry education/scholarship umbrella in which CWC operates.
Direct peers
- INROADS: Nonprofit operating paid internship and leadership development pipelines for underrepresented college students across industries. Comparable model of preparing underrepresented talent through brand-placed internships and mentorship.
- Black in Fashion Council: Industry coalition advancing the inclusion and advancement of Black talent in the fashion and beauty ecosystem through partnerships, accountability, and programming. Highly comparable to CWC's mandate.
- Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG): Member-driven collective that promotes Black creativity across art and design disciplines through exhibitions, mentorship, and community programming. Comparable as a Black creative talent development nonprofit.
- Harlem's Fashion Row: Nonprofit platform dedicated to amplifying Black designers and increasing their representation in fashion, with industry events, mentorship, and designer showcases. Directly comparable to CWC's mission of elevating Black creative talent in fashion.
Others
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF): Large-scale nonprofit providing scholarships and educational support to Black students. Comparable as a Black-focused education funding entity, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope than CWC.
- Parsons Academy (The New School): CWC partner institution running its own Pre-College Summer Intensive Studies program that hosts CWC Fellows. Comparable as a pre-college fashion design educational program that overlaps with CWC's pipeline.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Creatives Want Change social profiles
Digital presenceCreatives Want Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creatives Want Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Creatives Want Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creatives Want Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creatives Want Change
What does Creatives Want Change do?
Creatives Want Change is a nonprofit educational organization that operates a five-pillar talent pipeline for underrepresented Black high school and college students aspiring to fashion careers. Its offerings comprise fully-funded Pre-College Summer Programs at partner design schools (covering tuition, fees, room, board, travel, and supplies), industry-professional mentorship matching, internship and apprenticeship placement at fashion brands, community events with industry leaders, and college scholarships starting at $10,000.
Is Creatives Want Change a public or private company?
Creatives Want Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Creatives Want Change founded?
Creatives Want Change was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Creatives Want Change based?
Creatives Want Change is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Creatives Want Change make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and public Donations.
Who are Creatives Want Change's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fashion Group International (FGI) and Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Direct peers are INROADS, Black in Fashion Council, Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) and Harlem's Fashion Row. Others are United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Parsons Academy (The New School).
Does Creatives Want Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creatives Want Change.
What industry is Creatives Want Change in?
Creatives Want Change's product category is Education and talent development services (fashion industry pipeline). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAD, Innovation & Design Thinking Programs, with a secondary code of EDABAMAH, Creativity & Innovation Mindset. Its NAICS code is 61161.