+ Is my donation tax-deductible?

International Justice Mission is recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the IRS. Donations made are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law.

+ I'm donating from a country outside of the US? Is my donation secure? Is my donation tax-deductible?

Your donation is secure, but not eligible for tax deduction outside of the US at this time. Are you from Canada and looking to make a tax-deductible donation? You can now do that here.

+ What do I do if I receive cash or check donations?

If you are collecting checks, please have them made out to Dressember Foundation, and mail them together by the end of December. It is essential that these are postmarked by December 31st at the latest in order for the donation to be tax deductible for the fiscal year. Checks received in January will count as a contribution in the following fiscal year. Make sure you include your full name as you are registered on the campaign site, or your Dressember Team name, if applicable.

Please mail checks to:

International Justice Mission - Dressember PO Box 96961 Washington, DC 20090

If you receive cash donations, you can also mail us a check for the amount of the cash and let us know the campaign page to receive credit, as well as the names & addresses of donors; this will also allow us to send the donor a contribution receipt. In the past some advocates have received cash and then just made a credit card contribution online to their pages. We want you to understand that by doing that it does not allow us to get a contribution receipt to the donor, which denies the donor the ability to take a tax deduction.

+ How does Dressember raise money, and where does the money go?

Dressember participants help spread awareness about a world issue by committing to the challenge of wearing dresses all month. All month, those who participate spread the word about what they're doing and why, compelling many others in their lives to contribute to the cause by making a monetary contribution.

The money raised through Dressember goes directly towards the Global Survivor Network, front-line partners around the world, and IJM programs in Uganda, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Every dollar raised helps relieve victims of violence, restore survivors, prevent further exploitation and amplify survivor voices. Learn more about IJM here.

+ What is the Dressember Dress Collection?

The Dressember Dress is a dress collaboration with Noonday Collection, and a portion of proceeds go to International Justice Mission through the 2024 Dressember Campaign. Dressember is thrilled to partner with Noonday and Darling to launch this dress line, which will be sold through the end of December. Each dress is sold as a set with an artisan-made piece of Noonday jewelry and named after a woman in our Global Survivor Network. Look out for Marta's story on Dressember's socials in December!

If you share your Dressember Dress, please show some love to Noonday on your socials and consider sharing the product page with your audience. Please include #noondayxdressember and be sure to tag @noondaycollection and @dressember. Click here to see the full dress collection.

+ This issue is too big, I'm not a social worker or a lawyer, what difference could I possibly make?

You’re right! The issue is too big for anyone to tackle alone. But don’t get discouraged. That’s exactly why campaigns like Dressember and organizations like IJM exist – to leverage the power of collective action to make a significant, lasting impact on a global scale. The truth is you absolutely do make a difference. Because movements like Dressember and organizations like IJM couldn’t exist without individuals like you who have made the choice to participate in something bigger than themselves. And there are so many ways you can make an impact. Whether you're learning more about the issue yourself, raising awareness in your community, contributing to someone else’s campaign or deciding to explore more ethical fashion options in your day-to-day life, you are a crucial part of the movement.  

And the good news doesn’t stop there. We know people like you make a difference because over 10 million people worldwide have already been protected from violence! And we’re not going to stop until all are free.  

+ I don't have enough dresses or ties to participate.

That’s okay! There are so many creative ways to participate without spending an extra dime. Some people wear the same outfit for the whole month, others participate in clothing swaps with family and friends. For those who are willing to spend a little money to expand their wardrobe, shopping secondhand at thrift or consignment stores is a wonderful way to change up your closet in an ethical and economical way. Dressember is about feeling empowered to make an impact however you can! 

+ I don't feel educated or confident enough to speak about this complex issue.

We’ve got you covered. The Dressember Campaign is built around equipping you for everyday advocacy, regardless of how much you know about the issue or how comfortable you feel speaking about it. There will always be plenty of ways to make an impact that won’t require you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. But if you do need help finding the right words for your social posts or want some guidance on how to have better conversations about the issue with your friends, our Fundraising Toolkit should have everything you need! 

+ I work remotely or am home during the holidays, no one will see me in a dress.

Not a problem. Many of our advocates do a majority of their fundraising completely online. We’ve seen people post outfit of the day photos, get ready with me videos, and so much more! Plus, our Fundraising Toolkit makes it super easy to share pre-made content with lots of statistics, images and other resources included for your use. For example, our toolkit includes e-mail templates so that you can connect with anyone without needing to be in-person.  

+ I don't like going on social media a lot.

We hear that, and we have more great news for you. Social media isn’t a requirement at all! Advocates love using our e-mail templates to connect with their communities without using a single social app. Some of the most successful fundraisers we’ve seen have been creative in-person events like exercise classes, movie nights, clothing swaps, potluck dinners, fun runs and more. You can also find inspiration for events like these in our Fundraising Toolkit! 

+ I'm uncomfortable asking people for money.

This is a common barrier. We get it. But we have – you guessed it – more great news! You can run a completely successful campaign without directly asking anyone for a single dollar. Many advocates have found that simply adding a link to their donation page, email, social media posts or Instagram bio is an easy, effective way to provide their communities with an opportunity to give. And what’s more, money isn’t the only way to make a difference! Starting conversations and raising awareness about the problem of human trafficking is every bit as important as raising funds. Because awareness is where lasting change begins. And as awareness grows the movement grows, and then momentum grows, and that momentum leads to real transformation.  

+ I can't commit to a one-month long challenge.

You can still participate! Some advocates choose to dress up for only a few specific days throughout the week. But if that’s still a little bit more than you’re able to do, there’s another option for you. It’s called Dressember for a Day! For those who can’t participate the whole month, Dressember For A Day is an amazing alternative that allows even more people to make an impact. We’ve even created a whole range of resources specifically for Dressember For A Day that are included in the Fundraising Toolkit! You’ll have everything you need to have a meaningful and impactful day of fundraising and raising awareness.  

+ I still have questions!

We’d love to answer them! You can send an email to hello@dressember.org with any questions or comments you might have, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can! If you still want to learn more, you can also check out ijm.org or dressember.org for more info.