About_2015

Nurturing nonprofits that support women and men seeking jobs and economic independence. Our nonprofits help with interview clothes, interview skills, and more.

The Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) fosters the creation and growth of community-based organizations that assist individuals to secure and maintain employment.

Our Story

In 1999, five nonprofit Executive Directors across the United States decided to leverage their collective knowledge and experience to provide a greater impact and support for small, independent nonprofits providing work clothes and interview clothes to women seeking economic independence and leaving welfare. This small band of women became The Women’s Alliance with a vision of sharing resources, training, and support in all communities. In hopes of broadening the work begun 15 years ago, in 2014 TWA became the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits to include career development organizations that serve men and teens.

In our 15 years, we’ve witnessed lives transformed. There’s Tina, the passionate storeowner reaching out to help women in her community get a fresh start. She’s found a sense of purpose, community and friendship in her work with a TWA member agency where she lives. There’s Monica, the single mother needing services and support to get back on her feet in the workforce as she raises her two children. With assistance from a TWA member agency, she got that job with just the right clothing, a positive sense of self and support. Now as ACDN, with an expanded mission, we wish to open up employment and career development services to many more communities, volunteers and clients. Help us grow.

Join us by starting a career development program in your community, or if you already are a 501(c)3 and provide these services in your city, join ACDN. If you just want to help grow the services in your community, support our outreach and expansion with a financial gift to Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits.

The Women’s Alliance name change in 2014 to the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits reflects their support of women, men, teens and military families with career development services.

Over the past two years The Women’s Alliance Board of Directors identified that the growth of our member organizations was extending deeper than our collective original mission: providing interview clothes and business clothes to women transitioning from welfare to work. This evolution of many of our members reflected the rising number of unemployed and the need for more support to be competitive in the job market, therefore, they moved in a direction to support women, men, teens and military families with career development services, such as resume development, mock interviews, professional development seminars/workshops and job development.

The name change to ACDN, the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits, better reflects the work our member organizations are engaged in and the services they are providing. Although over half of our members still only serve women, our other members are now also serving men, military vets and their families, as well as teens.

The Board of Directors and members felt the new name better reflected the services offered by our member organizations and those they serve.

Since 1999, The Women’s Alliance members have provided workplace clothing for over 250,000 women. Among ACDN member nonprofits, 100% provide work clothes and business attire to assist clients in dressing for success, and 70% also provide additional career development training. Our communities deserve to know that ACDN member agencies offer more than clothes – they are part of the workforce development solution for job seekers everywhere.

Meet Our 2015 Board of Directors

The ACDN board is made up of professionals from across the country with diverse talents but with a singular focus - we are each committed to our mission, and through the collective contribution of experience, energy, talents, and personal financial contributions, we support the sustainability and growth of the ACDN community. If you are interested in joining this group of people taking action and making a difference, please contact us.