Clothes That Work

What Clothes That Work does

Clothes That Work (CTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Kettering, Ohio (relocated from Dayton in August 2025). The organization provides professional clothing, one-on-one career coaching, and workforce training to job seekers across the Miami Valley region, with more than 40,000 individuals served over its 25+ year history. Its core program portfolio includes the Clothing & Coaching Program (providing complete professional outfits plus coaching at no cost through referral partners, or $40 self-pay), the Workforce Education Initiative (delivering 420+ workshops to 7,000+ individuals since 2017 on resume building, interview skills, communication, and professional development), the Mobile Outreach Initiative (a mobile unit that brings services to communities facing transportation barriers), and The Boutique @ Clothes That Work (an upscale resale boutique open to the public offering designer fashion at accessible prices). The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by Executive Director Cindy Garner with a staff of approximately 10.

CTW's go-to-market motion is community-led: clients are primarily acquired through a referral network of 40+ local partner organizations including Montgomery County Job & Family Services, Ohio Means Jobs, and the Montgomery County Office of ReEntry, supplemented by self-referrals. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships (tiered Platinum through Runway levels at the annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon), boutique retail sales, self-pay client fees, and in-kind clothing donations. The annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon, attended by nearly 500 civic and business leaders, provides approximately 20% of operating revenue and raised over $29,000 in 2024 against a $20,000 goal. The technology profile is minimal — no proprietary platform, no AI/ML capabilities, no mobile application — with operations centered on the physical Kettering location, the mobile outreach unit, and standard web/social channels. Recent strategic priorities have centered on expanding physical capacity (new Kettering HQ), broadening the demographic mix of clients (the Men at Work campaign served 407 men in 2024, 58% of clientele), and deepening institutional partnerships with regional banks, healthcare systems, and government workforce agencies.

Name

Clothes That Work

Legal name

Clothes That Work

Website

https://clothesthatwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts monetary donations from individuals to support its mission of providing clothing and career assistance to job seekers in the Dayton and Kettering area.
2. Fashioning Futures Luncheon: Annual fundraising event that provides approximately 20% of CTW's annual operating revenue. The 2024 event raised over $29,000 (exceeding the $20,000 goal) from nearly 500 attendees.
3. The Boutique @ Clothes That Work: Upscale retail boutique open to the public, offering designer fashion at affordable prices. Revenue from boutique sales supports the organization's mission.
4. Self-Pay Client Fees: Self-referring clients can pay $40 for one interview or workplace-appropriate outfit with a one-hour coaching appointment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clothes That Work is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides professional clothing, personalized career coaching, and workforce education to low-income and unemployed job seekers in the Dayton/Kettering, Ohio region. Its services are delivered through four programs: the Clothing & Coaching Program, the Workforce Education Initiative, the Mobile Outreach Initiative, and supported by The Boutique @ Clothes That Work resale store.

Product overview

Clothes That Work is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected workforce development services. The core offerings include the Clothing & Coaching Program (providing professional attire with career guidance), the Workforce Education Initiative (WEI) featuring research-based workshops on job readiness skills, and the Mobile Outreach Initiative (bringing services directly to underserved areas). The organization also operates The Boutique @ Clothes That Work, an upscale resale boutique open to the public that generates revenue to support the mission. The Fashioning Futures Luncheon serves as the primary annual fundraising event, contributing approximately 20% of operating revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Boutique @ Clothes That Work: An upscale boutique open to the public providing designer fashion at fast-fashion prices, supporting the organization's mission.

Products and services

• Clothing & Coaching Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ individuals served since 1998
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, boutique, spotlight, runway, gold and minor.

• Fifth Third BankplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Platinum sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon, contributing to approximately 20% of CTW's annual operating revenue.
• Huntington BancsharesplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Platinum sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon.
• AES OhioboutiqueGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Boutique sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon. Provides support for CTW's annual flagship fundraising event.
• CareSourcespotlightGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Spotlight sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon.
• First Financial BankrunwayGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Runway sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon.
• PNCplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Platinum sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon.
• Premier HealthgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gold sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon. Board member Connor Dowd is employed by Premier Health.
• Montgomery County Job & Family ServicesplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Platinum sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon. Key referral partner for job seekers in need of services.
• Sinclair CollegegoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gold sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon. Hosts annual event venue at Sinclair Conference Center.
• Kettering HealthgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gold sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon.
• Montgomery County CommissionersgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gold sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon.
• Dayton Children's HospitalgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gold sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon.
• Greater Dayton RTAgoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Gold sponsor of the 22nd Annual Fashioning Futures Luncheon. Transportation partner addressing mobility barriers for job seekers.
• Montgomery County Office of ReEntryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Referral partner providing services to individuals returning to the community after incarceration.
• Ohio Means JobsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State workforce development partner; reports on challenges facing job seekers in the Dayton area including worker shortage and skills gaps.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bottomless Closet: New York-based nonprofit providing professional clothing and career development services to women entering the workforce. Direct comparable in service offering and target population.
• Career Gear: Nonprofit providing professional clothing and job-readiness services to men in career transition. Direct peer given CTW's similar men-focused programming (407 men served in 2024 via the Men at Work campaign).
• Dress for Success: National nonprofit providing professional clothing, development tools, and support programs to women seeking employment. Closest direct peer to Clothes That Work in mission and service delivery model, though operating at a far larger national scale.
• Suits for Success: Nonprofit providing professional attire and career development services to job seekers in transition. Closely aligned mission and program structure with CTW's Clothing & Coaching Program.
• Wardrobe for Opportunity: Bay Area nonprofit offering professional clothing and career coaching to low-income job seekers. Comparable in combining clothing provision with workforce readiness programming.
• Career Wardrobe: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing professional clothing and career development services. Operates a resale boutique to fund programming, paralleling CTW's The Boutique model.

Others

• Ohio Means Jobs: State-funded workforce development system and a CTW referral partner. Adjacent ecosystem player providing complementary job placement services, with potential to either deepen partnership or substitute for some CTW offerings.

Emerging players

• Working Wardrobe (Goodwill of the Fashion Industries): Goodwill-affiliated workforce program providing professional attire and job-readiness services. Comparable mission with the institutional backing of a larger parent nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill of Greater Dayton: Regional Goodwill chapter providing workforce development, job training, and clothing programs across the Miami Valley. Competes for overlapping clients, employer partners, and corporate sponsorship in the same geography.

Regional players

• Dress for Success Dayton Affiliate: Local Dress for Success affiliate operating in the same Dayton region as CTW. Direct geographic overlap increases the likelihood of competition for the same donors, referral partners, and corporate sponsors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CTWDayton
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clothesthatwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/clothesthatwork
• Xx.com/CTWDayton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 That Work