PLATINUM2023

Soles4Souls

Turning shoes and clothing into opportunity

aka Soles4Souls   |   Old Hickory, TN   |  https://soles4souls.org

Mission

At Soles4Souls, we turn unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use - providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the organization repurposes product to supply its micro-enterprise, disaster relief, and direct assistance programs. With locations and warehouses across three continents, Soles4Souls has been able to distribute more than 73 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing in 129 countries since 2006. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.

Ruling year info

2006

President and CEO

Buddy Teaster

Main address

319 Martingale Drive

Old Hickory, TN 37138 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

20-4023482

NTEE code info

International Economic Development (Q32)

Emergency Assistance (Food, Clothing, Cash) (P60)

Recycling (C27)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

When people lack the resources to get through today, it’s difficult for them to focus on tomorrow. Soles4Souls turns shoes and clothing into opportunities for education and employment so they can have a more hopeful future.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Direct short-term relief (shoe and clothing distributions)

Soles4Souls works with over 1,700 non-profit partners to distribute new shoes and clothing, donated by retailers and manufacturers, to people in need and in times of disaster.
1. Soles4Souls procures new product donations from retailers and manufacturers.
2. Product is sent to Soles4Souls for processing then sorted and made ready for distribution.
3. We work with nonprofit partners, such as shelters, churches and relief organizations to distribute shoes and clothing.
4. Donated product is distributed to those who need it most, helping people live healthier, happier lives.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Victims of disaster
Homeless people

Repurposed shoes and clothes are donated to Soles4Souls by individuals, shoe drives and footwear companies.
1. Once sorted, we transport the shoes to vetted nonprofit organizations on the ground in developing nations, who purchase them for an average of $1 per pair.
2. Our nonprofit partners provide training and support where job opportunities don’t currently exist. People start small businesses selling shoes within their local communities.
3. Selling shoes generates the income business owners need to lift themselves and their families out of poverty, and an entire community has access to affordable shoes.

Population(s) Served
Unemployed people

Soles4Souls acts as second-wave responders in times of disaster, providing much needed shoe and clothing assistance to those affected by tragedy. The very beginnings of our organization are rooted in the response to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina the following year. Since then, we have provided disaster relief from as far as the Philippines to as close as our home base of Nashville, Tennessee.

Population(s) Served
Victims of disaster

4EveryKid is dedicated to providing a new pair of athletic shoes to the over 1.5 million children experiencing homelessness across the United States.

Population(s) Served
Victims and oppressed people
Victims and oppressed people
Homeless people
Out-of-home youth

Where we work

Awards

E-Chievement Award 2007

ETown

Titans Community All-Star Partner 2008

Tennessee Titians

Establishment of Soles4Souls Relief Endowment 2008

Two Ten Foundation

Business Partner of the Year 2013

Village Northwest Unlimited

Leadership Award 2014

The Memorial Foundation

Innovation in Action Award Finalist 2015

Frist Foundation

Four Star Rating 2016

Charity Navigator

Silver Halo Award (with Macy's) for "Buy 1 Coat and We'll Give 1 Coat" campaign 2016

Cause Marketing Forum

Spirit Award 2016

Causely

Top Rated Nonprofit 2017

GreatNonprofits

Platinum Participant 2017

GuideStar

Sustainable Practices Award Finalist 2017

Piedmont Natural Gas

Team Building Award Finalist 2017

Frist Foundation

Four-star charity 2017

Charity Navigator

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of shoes (pairs) distributed for 4Relief

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Direct short-term relief (shoe and clothing distributions)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Listed by fiscal year, which runs July 1-June 30. For example, 2021 reflects FY21, which ended June 30, 2021.

Number of shoes (pairs) distributed for 4Opportunity

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Long-term job creation (micro-enterprise)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Listed by fiscal year, which runs July 1-June 30. For example, 2021 reflects FY21, which ended June 30, 2021.

Total amount of economic impact (USD$)

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Listed by fiscal year, which runs July 1-June 30. For example, 2021 reflects FY21, which ended June 30, 2021.

Pieces of clothing distributed for 4Relief

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Direct short-term relief (shoe and clothing distributions)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Listed by fiscal year, which runs July 1-June 30. For example, 2021 reflects FY21, which ended June 30, 2021.

Pieces of clothing distributed for 4Opportunity

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Long-term job creation (micro-enterprise)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Listed by fiscal year, which runs July 1-June 30. For example, 2021 reflects FY21, which ended June 30, 2021.

Pounds of textiles (shoes and clothing) kept out of landfills

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

4EveryKid

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Listed by fiscal year, which runs July 1-June 30. For example, 2021 reflects FY21, which ended June 30, 2021.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

At Soles4Souls, we turn unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use - providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Our goal is to create $1 Billion in economic impact by 2030.

Soles4Souls turns shoes and clothing into educational and economic opportunities. Our programs, 4Opportunity, 4Relief, and 4EveryKid, aim to make a positive difference on the planet and in people's economic, educational, physical, and psychosocial well-being.

We do this through our three program areas:
-4Opportunity (formerly Micro-Enterprise): Soles4Souls sells and distributes shoes and clothing through our international partners to help people build small businesses.
-4Relief (formerly Relief and Free Distribution): Soles4Souls helps get new shoes and clothing to people in crisis situations, freeing up financial resources they can use toward other needs.
-4EveryKid: Soles4Souls partners with schools across the U.S. to get new athletic shoes to children who are experiencing homelessness, eliminating a barrier to educational and extracurricular opportunities.

Soles4Souls' organizational capacity includes: 1) Strong human capital, including effective and methodical executive leadership; a diversified and engaged Board of Directors representing key industries and areas of expertise; and a committed team unified under a common vision and positive organizational culture. 2) Extended network of support, including individuals and groups who collect millions of pairs of shoes and hundreds of thousands of pounds of clothes; corporations that utilize our strong platform to meet their philanthropic goals; a faithful and widespread donor base; hundreds of reputable national and international partners; and strategic relationships with academic and business experts. 3) Proven micro-enterprise model that is scalable, financially viable and impact-based. 4) Comprehensive development plan emphasizing on earned revenue and diversified revenue streams.

Soles4Souls has made progress towards its strategic priorities and metrics, including:
-Launched new 4Opportunity partnerships in Guatemala and the Philippines
-Continued executing a plan to increase our supply of product including expanding our infrastructure to facilitate product collection
-pursuing new collection approaches through partnerships, engagement programs and local/domestic revenue-generating opportunities; and expansion into product streams where we have no presence

Financials

Soles4Souls
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Soles4Souls

Board of directors
as of 06/08/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Milledge Hart

Drake Star Partners

Randy Dunn

Hunt Brothers Pizza

Clay Jenkins

Caleres

Brian Ehrig

Kearney

Matt Priest

Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA)

Bill Strathmann

Network for Good

George Bellino

Retail advisor

Sara Irvani

Okabashi Brands

Aaron Belville

Dollar General

Lisa Collier

Under Armour

Michele Love

Footwear Executive

Michele Love

DSW

Nicholas Birren

Alliance Bernstein

William Butler

Operations Executive

Ashley Davis

Cole Haan

Tauna Dean

Adidas

Angela Harrell

Voya

Michelle Lane

Bridgestone Americas

Andy Lew

Brooks Brothers Group, Inc.

Parker McCrary

Transflo

Jeff Simpson

CoreCivic

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/27/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/27/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.