WOMEN GIVING BACK INC
Helping Women and Children in Crisis
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Women Giving Back’s mission and core services support women and children in crisis and build their confidence and self-esteem by providing quality clothing, school supplies, and career and other support services to foster their return to self-sufficiency. Our Bag to Go program, further supports those in need of immediate clothing and shoes due to severe crisis . By providing free clothing, school supplies, and other support, we directly serve County human service agencies and schools who request our services. Finally, our Community Distributor Partner (CDP) program is a service offered to our smaller community organization partners as an opportunity to make a larger impact on the people that they directly serve. By being WGB CDP partners, these dedicated agencies and organizations can offer their communities an improved quality, quantity, and variety of clothing donations.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Free Clothing for Women and Children
WGB’s mission is more than clothes – our committed volunteers provide personal service and uplifting interaction in a unique boutique atmosphere with onsite childcare, focused on helping increase the self-esteem of the women and children we serve. WGB partners with over 300 Referral Agency Partners who share a common mission of serving their communities by providing services that are connected through client referrals. WGB is proud to be recognized as a valuable resource partner to these Referral Agency Partners which are shelters, transitional and permanent supportive housing programs, medical facilities, group homes, schools, government agencies and faith-based organizations.
Group shopping days and transportation is available, as well as emergency private appointments.
Bag-to-Go Program
Our Bag to Go Program fills the emergency need and demand for clients that cannot wait to attend the next store day. Bag to Go request forms are submitted by case managers or social workers who gather information on the women and children’s clothing, shoe sizes and other information to help a volunteer shop and pack the bag with appropriate clothing for the client and their children. Bag to Go is utilized by domestic violence and human trafficking programs as they are fleeing their abusers with nothing but the clothes on their back.
Children & Youth Programs
WGB’s focus on youth is apparent through our seasonal services such as our Back to School Supply Program which this year served 450 low-income students with school clothes, shoes and school supplies. WGB’s Kids Breakfast & Snack Pack Initiative has helped supply kids with nutritional breakfasts while their mothers shop as well as snack packs to go filled with two-day meals for the children during the summer and other school breaks. WGB’s Holiday Gifts for Kids served over 400 children with brand new toys and bikes last holiday season. WGB also provides Halloween costumes for the kids in October and a full-service Prom Boutique which many of our shelter client’s teens take advantage of private appointments to shop for their prom dresses, accessories and brand-new makeup.
Community Distribution Partner Program
The Community Distributor Partner Program (CDP) is an opportunity to make a bigger impact on the people that our partners directly serve. WGB serves as a “hub” for quality clothing donations for the Greater Washington Metro area.
CDPs are “redistributors” who have staff or volunteers pick up clothing from WGB or a volunteer delivers it (within a 30-mile radius) and the CDP gives it to their clients free of charge at their own locations.
Our CDP network includes Title 1 schools, low-income job training programs, places of worship, disaster relief aid, overseas missions and other organizations who have identified a need for clothing in their communities or among their clients and constituents. Through this innovative collaboration WGB and the CDP can address micro-pockets of poverty currently not being served and we can collectively leverage fundraising dollars and reduce costs.
Where we work
Awards
Distinguished Partner Award 2018
Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services
Best of Reston Civic & Community Engagement Award 2017
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce
Stronger Together Award 2021
Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Helping Hand Award 2021
ABC7 News
Project Innovation Award 2022
NBCU
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of women who received clothing
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Free Clothing for Women and Children
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2021: We limited in-person shopping shift for social distancing.
Number of children who received clothing
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Free Clothing for Women and Children
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of children who received school supplies
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
2020 Distance learning packs were distributed in place of backpacks and a full school supply list.
Number of Holiday gifts distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Children & Youth Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of snacks served for students participating in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Children & Youth Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of students who received prom attire
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Children & Youth Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Free Clothing for Women and Children
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Estimated dollar value of clothing and household goods donations
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Free Clothing for Women and Children
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of pieces of clothing distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Free Clothing for Women and Children
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of infants/toddlers who received diapers.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Children & Youth Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
WGB will strengthen the immediate and long-term supports required to put women and children in crisis in the DC metro region on a
path toward stability. Our goal is to be the most impactful provider of free clothing and emergency support services to women and children who are homeless, living in local shelters, transitional housing facilities, or safe houses, or living at or below the poverty line.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
- Meet clients immediate clothing needs in an efficient, timely, and compassionate manner
- Leverage our network of referral agency case managers to help build connections among them, inform WGB’s work, and ultimately build the capacity of these front line workers to meet the needs of their clients. Strengthening the network of supports for women and children
- Invest in staffing, governance, and infrastructure that will allow us to achieve our intended impact sustainably and effectively.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With our network of 2,500 volunteers, over 900 case manager and social workers, a strong governing and fundraising board and dedicated, knowledgeable staff.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We provide a direct benefit to over 11,000 women and children per year— homeless women and children living in local shelters, transitional housing facilities, and safe houses, or living in the County at or below the federal poverty line. The demand for WGB’s services by women and children has been consistently increasing; for example, from 2017 to 2018, demand increased by 33% from approximately 7,331 women and children in 2017 to 9,960 in 2018. Our number of local partner referral agencies has doubled in the last three years to a total of 221.
In addition, in both years we provided on-site supervision and food for their children, as well as distributed Back-to-School backpacks and school supplies and a holiday gift program to help these children stay focused on school and life during these challenging times for their families.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our 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.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
WOMEN GIVING BACK INC
Board of directorsas of 01/24/2024
Denise Harrover
Van Metre Companies
Terri Stagi
The Stagi Group
Cyndi Shanahan
Freddie Mac (ret.)
Leslie Strittmatter
New Homes Guide (ret.)
Denise Harrover
Van Metre Companies
Cecilia Hodges
M&T Bank
Eve Weber
Selling Loudoun
Shona Bell
Beyond Accounting & Tax
Diane DuBois
The Washington Post (ret.)
Cindy Dwyer
Weichert Realtors
Jane Lyons
Lyons & Sucher
Vanessa Williams
Cornerstones, Inc.
Lauren Vanni Kinard
First Excel Title
Ebony Landon
JBG Smith
Board leadership practices
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? No
Organizational demographics
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
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 04/13/2020GuideStar 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
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- 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 seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- 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.