CLIENT
INDUSTRY
Nonprofit
FEATURING
Pro bono engagement
Purpose driven outcomes
130+
affiliates in 17 countries
4
strategic pillars form the base of a 5-year roadmap
8%
revenue increase six months after strategic refresh
Helping a global nonprofit build a clear strategy for growth — and lasting impact
SITUATION
From styling to scaling up
Dress for Success had reached a turning point. It wasn’t just about clothing anymore, but some still saw it that way. The work DFS affiliates do is personal, practical and rooted in dignity — meeting women where they are and walking with them toward what’s next by offering personalized career coaching, upskilling, reskilling, community and education. But without an updated cohesive global strategy and message, the full power of their impact got lost in translation.
With rapid growth came a chance to reimagine support — to offer affiliates greater clarity and connection to scale impact. Without unified performance metrics across the globe, proving impact — and securing funding — was harder than it should be. To stay resilient, DFS needed a more diversified, sustainable funding strategy that reached beyond corporate sponsorships to grow with the organization. Each region had unique challenges and DFS needed a consistent way to connect local teams, share leading practices and offer tailored resources where it could.
Transformation doesn’t happen overnight — especially for an organization with a mission as far-reaching as Dress for Success. Building a future-ready strategy meant starting with a clear path forward, one rooted in purpose and designed to support women’s economic advancement for the long haul.
SOLUTION
A strategy to sustain growth
Together with PwC, DFS got to work. The teams designed a global roadmap with a five-year implementation plan that’s equal parts bold vision and grounded execution. The initial work began by putting strong leadership in place and reinforcing the foundation needed to sustain long-term growth. The strategy features four key priorities: modernizing the brand, strengthening financial sustainability, enhancing global affiliate capabilities and building a foundation for performance measurement.
Through deep engagement with over 200 stakeholders, PwC and DFS refined global messaging to better reflect its purpose — workforce readiness, economic mobility and building the future women deserve. Affiliates are the engine of impact. The strategy is anchored in a new support model, keeping affiliates at the center, that includes a plan to design region-specific resources, better tools and a new leadership model focused on affiliate success over time.
Next came financial sustainability. PwC saw that DFS needed to broaden its funding base — moving beyond corporate sponsors to tap into grants, individual donors and long-term planning. Now, DFS is actively building a fundraising strategy that will last, reducing dependency on any single revenue stream.
PwC and DFS also reimagined performance tracking — turning 100+ data points from affiliates around the globe into five standardized metrics — that will measure meaningful impact. For the first time, the global organization is working toward a consistent scorecard to track global outcomes.
Every piece of the new strategy has a clear purpose — to empower the women DFS serves, strengthen the network behind them and build a future that’s sustainable. The plan will be rolled out over five years, with thoughtful steps to drive progress while staying grounded in mission.
RESULTS
The ripple effect: Stronger network, greater reach
The strategy is still rolling out, but the shift is already real. In the initial phase of its five-year implementation, Dress for Success is already turning heads and changing conversations. Donors, corporate partners and affiliates alike responded to the refreshed clarity and energy. What once felt fragmented has started to feel unified — like a movement gaining focus and speed.
The DFS affiliate impact team has restructured and is poised to close critical gaps — helping meet women where they are with renewed vitality and greater consistency than ever before. Behind the scenes, the network is continuing to help create alignment across regions.
At the same time, the shift toward a unified and consistent global performance scorecard marks a turning point. DFS is now better positioned to track the number of women its affiliates across the globe serve. Meanwhile the affiliates are continuing to help women prepare to land new positions, find community and achieve financial independence — deepening the organization’s impact.
And the trajectory is clear. With a stronger brand, a smarter funding model and a more supported and connected network, Dress for Success is no longer just building programs — it’s building proof. And with that, the entire organization is better equipped to deliver on its bold mission: helping women not just survive but thrive.
“PwC helped us shape a clear strategic path and, with the right team in place, we’ve stepped into the next chapter of our journey with renewed momentum.”
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