Pass Down The Gown
Pass Down The Gown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free formal dress rental service for teens and young adults attending proms and weddings, funded by donations and supported by school partnerships and a volunteer network across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pass Down The Gown does
Pass Down The Gown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that provides free formal dress rentals to individuals attending events such as proms and weddings. The organization maintains an inventory of donated designer and contemporary-brand formal dresses — including labels such as Studio Soleil, ASOS, Significant Other, JJ's House, Adrianna Papell, and Mac Duggal — and lends them to customers at no charge. Listed prices on the website ($10–$60) function as fully refundable deposits that are returned to the customer upon dress return, making the rental effectively free.
The underlying technology is a Squarespace-hosted e-commerce storefront used for catalog browsing, sizing/measurement display, inventory presentation, and order capture. There is no proprietary technology layer; the platform serves as a self-service order mechanism rather than a differentiated product surface. Operational capacity is delivered through a lean team of approximately five employees supplemented by a network of community volunteers known as 'prom moms' and an active board member recruitment pipeline.
The business model is donation-funded rather than transaction-revenue. Dresses are acquired through public donations (with tax-deductible receipts and a donor thank-you pin incentive) and distributed free of charge, with deposits held only as a return-compliance mechanism. Customer acquisition runs through organic social (Instagram), word-of-mouth, and direct school partnerships via the 'Bring Pass Down The Gown to Your School' program. The primary customer segment is teens and young adults facing financial barriers to purchasing formal wear, with the value proposition combining affordability and circular-fashion sustainability.
Pass Down The Gown firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pass Down The Gown
- Legal name
- Pass Down The Gown
- Website
- https://passdownthegown.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pass Down The Gown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free formal dress rental service for teens and young adults attending proms and weddings, funded by donations and supported by school partnerships and a volunteer network across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pass Down The Gown industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Formal Wear Rental Services
- NAICS
- Formal Wear and Costume Rental (532281)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bridal & Wedding Party Styling (Attire, Hair/Makeup Coordination) (HSACABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Formalwear Alterations (Bridal, Bridesmaid, Prom, Tuxedo) (HSAJAFAJ), Luxury Bridal & Occasionwear (CRAAAFAI)
Keywords
Pass Down The Gown business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Free Dress Rentals: Dresses are rented at no cost to the customer. The listed prices represent refundable deposits that are returned when the dress is brought back, making the rental effectively free.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free dress rental with deposit system |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Pass Down The Gown product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pass Down The Gown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free formal dress rentals for special occasions such as proms, weddings, and other formal events. Customers pay only a refundable deposit (ranging from $10 to $60) that is returned when the dress is brought back, making the rental effectively free. The organization sustains its inventory through a public dress donation program and operates as a charity supported by community contributions.
Product overview
Pass Down The Gown is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating a free dress rental platform for formal occasions. The core offering consists of a dress rental service where users can borrow formal dresses for events like proms and weddings at no cost, paying only a refundable deposit. The organization maintains an inventory of dresses from various designer brands including Studio Soleil, ASOS, Significant Other, JJ's House, Adrianna Papell, and many others. The product portfolio includes individual dress rentals (such as the Vintage Noir Mesh Overlay Flutter Gown, Significant Other Butter Dress, and ASOS Bright Red Midi Wrap Dress), supported by donation programs where the public can contribute dresses. The service model emphasizes sustainability by promoting circular fashion and making formal events affordable across the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Formal Dress Rental Service A free formal dress rental service allowing individuals, primarily teens and young adults, to borrow formal dresses for special occasions such as proms and weddings at no cost. A refundable deposit is collected and returned when the dress is sent back.
- Dress Donation Program A program that accepts donated formal dresses from the public to expand the organization's inventory available for free rentals, supporting the nonprofit's circular fashion mission.
- Tax-Deductible Dress Donation A tax-deductible dress donation service that allows supporters to contribute formal wear to the organization's inventory, with donors receiving a special thank-you pin as acknowledgment.
- Vintage Noir Mesh Overlay Flutter Gown Black mesh overlay flutter gown made of polyester, available in sizes XS and 7, offered for free rental with a $22.50 refundable deposit.
- Significant Other Butter Dress Pale yellow dress made of 62% viscose and 38% polyester, size 6, originally priced at $248, available for free rental with a refundable deposit.
- ASOS Bright Red Midi Wrap Dress Red midi wrap dress with stretch material, size 8, available for free rental with a $15 refundable deposit.
- Studio Soleil Black Embroidered Mesh Midi Dress Black embroidered mesh midi dress in nylon and polyester blend, size Large, with 52 inch length, available for free rental with a refundable deposit.
- JJ's House Green Gown Green formal gown, size 14, with original retail price of $140 and model fit reference information, available for free rental with a refundable deposit.
Companies that use Pass Down The Gown
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pass Down The Gown technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pass Down The Gown partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Schools and Educational InstitutionscorePass Down The Gown partners with schools to bring their free dress rental program to students. The 'Bring Pass Down The Gown to Your School' initiative allows educational institutions to partner with the organization for student access.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Pass Down The Gown competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Becca's Closet: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free prom dresses to high school students nationwide through a network of local chapters. Closely comparable mission, customer base, and volunteer-driven distribution model to Pass Down The Gown.
- Operation Prom: Prom-focused nonprofit that collects and distributes donated formal dresses to students in need. Overlapping donor-driven supply model and customer base.
- The Cinderella Project: Network of local nonprofit chapters that provide free prom dresses to high school students from donated inventory. Direct peer in mission, supply model, and customer segment.
- The Glass Slipper Project: Nonprofit that collects donated prom dresses and distributes them free to high school students. Directly comparable nonprofit formalwear model serving the same customer segment and use case.
Broad incumbents
- Rent the Runway: For-profit formalwear and designer dress rental platform. Overlapping rental model and customer intent (special-occasion dresses), but commercial rather than nonprofit and at vastly greater scale and breadth.
- Nuuly: Subscription clothing rental service from URBN offering formal and casual wear. Overlaps on rental-based access to apparel, but operates as a commercial subscription rather than a free nonprofit model.
Others
- Dress for Success: Global nonprofit providing professional attire to women in need. Not a direct competitor (professional vs. formal/event wear) but operates a comparable donation-driven nonprofit apparel distribution model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pass Down The Gown social profiles
Digital presencePass Down The Gown financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pass Down The Gown leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pass Down The Gown funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pass Down The Gown 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 Pass Down The Gown
What does Pass Down The Gown do?
Pass Down The Gown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free formal dress rentals for special occasions such as proms, weddings, and other formal events. Customers pay only a refundable deposit (ranging from $10 to $60) that is returned when the dress is brought back, making the rental effectively free. The organization sustains its inventory through a public dress donation program and operates as a charity supported by community contributions.
Is Pass Down The Gown a public or private company?
Pass Down The Gown is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pass Down The Gown founded?
Pass Down The Gown was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Pass Down The Gown make money?
One revenue line is on record: free Dress Rentals.
Who are Pass Down The Gown's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Becca's Closet, Operation Prom, The Cinderella Project and The Glass Slipper Project. Broad incumbents are Rent the Runway and Nuuly. Dress for Success is listed as an others.
Does Pass Down The Gown have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pass Down The Gown.
What industry is Pass Down The Gown in?
Pass Down The Gown's product category is Nonprofit Formal Wear Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACABAF, Bridal & Wedding Party Styling (Attire, Hair/Makeup Coordination), with a secondary code of HSAJAFAJ, Formalwear Alterations (Bridal, Bridesmaid, Prom, Tuxedo). Its NAICS code is 532281 and its SIC code is 5600.