The Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund

Fashion Grants

Please Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances with all of the members of our board who have had medical related leaves of absence either for themselves or family, The Art of (DE-FI)ance is currently on hiatus and is not an active tax exempt organization. We are actively seeking additional board members to join us when we relaunch this programming in December of 2024. If you would still like to donate to our cause, please understand that your donation will not be made to a 501 (c)(3).

It is the mission of the Art of (DE-FI)ance to provide high quality opportunities, resources, and experiences to designers and other fashion talent from around the country that will help to ignite and cultivate their careers, build their teams, and align their accomplishments with other leading fashion talent. Our vision is to attract, expand, nurture, develop, and retain the fashion community to keep our fashion talent living and working in Dayton and Southwest Ohio.

We accomplish our vision and mission by supporting fashion based talent, employers, and organizations via collaboration and intentional opportunities including scholarships and grant funding. By challenging the status quo across every category within the fashion and design industries, The Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund also provides fashion talent with educational opportunities including partnership with established players in the fashion industry as well as workforce development.

Being a enrolled in the Dayton Fashion Week Incubator or affiliated with (DE-FI) Gloabl INC is not a requirement to be eligible or a recipient of the Fashion Fund. For beneficiaries of the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund who are in (DE-FI) related incubators, the common thread is that we support and nurture your brand from the start, through rapid growth, and eventual exit of the incubator. Our Fashion Fund aims to address a lack of capital and management skills required to leverage the power of creative and cultural industries such as Fashion.

Recipients of the Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund are expected to serve as bridge building ambassadors locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. Recipients must embody our mission and serve as good stewards and mentors of the fashion community at large.

Click here to complete the grant application.

Join Our Board of Directors

Apply to Join The Art of (DE-FI)ance Board of Directors

Want to deepen your involvement in the fashion industry? We have openings on our Board of Directors and are looking for passionate, engaged members to guide our work. The Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund Board provides leadership, direction and oversight. This is a governance board, not an operational board meaning that Board members aren’t expected to carry out the day-to-day operations. Board members are advocates, thought leaders and ambassadors.

We have an excellent team that implements our strategic and operational plans and works hard to make our vision a reality. The Board works closely with the Executive Director to ensure that we do our best work possible in pursuit of our mission. Board members are key advocates, thought leaders and ambassadors and act responsibility as the organization’s steward.

Commitment

Commitment to the mission: Work in good faith with staff and other board members as partners toward achievement of our shared goals. Believes in The Art of (DE-FI)ance’s mission and values and considers them as a framework for all decisions.
Attendance: Attend at least 75 percent of board meetings, committee meetings, and
special events. The Board meets bi-monthly. Build and sustain a competent board. Recruit candidates, help orient new members and regularly evaluating board performance and areas of needed improvement.

Oversight

Fiduciary responsibility: Participate in approving all policies that guide the
organization, its governance, and its work. Adhere to legal standards and ethical norms. Board members are responsible for monitoring the organization’s income and expenses, as well as reviewing and approving the annual budget.
Preparation for meetings: Stay informed about the organization’s priorities and
initiatives. Ask questions and request information to understand the issues at hand. Involvement at meetings: Participate in and take responsibility for making decisions on
issues, policies, and other matters. Board members do not stay silent if they have
questions or concerns. Board members are required to excuse themselves from
discussions and votes where they have a conflict of interest.
Planning: Help establish short- and long-term goals. Assist with the development and
evaluation of a strategic plan and in implementing and monitoring the plan’s goals.
Select, support, and evaluate the Executive Director. The Board is responsible for defining the Executive Director’s responsibilities and, when a vacancy arises, undertake a careful search to find the most qualified individual for the position. The Board should ensure that the Executive Director has the moral and professional support they need to further the goals of the organization.

Support

Personal gift. Make a personal financial contribution at a level that is meaningful to you, based on your personal budget and capacity. As a leader of the organization, we are grateful to Board members for making The Art of (DE-FI)ance a philanthropic priority.
Fundraising. Share the names of prospective donors, assist in cultivation activities, make solicitation visits and stewardship calls. Participate in the planning and marketing of special events. Carry out other resource development activities consistent with their
own skills and contacts and the needs of the organization.
Advocacy: Help interpret the organization's work and values to the community and act
as an ambassador. In turn, Board members also help interpret our constituencies' needs and values to the organization, speak out for their interests and hold the organization accountable. Board members may be asked to represent The Art of (DE-FI)ance at meetings or events.
Involvement on committees: Serve on standing or project-based committees.

Required attributes

Integrity. Tells the truth and is described by others as honest; consistently takes
responsibility for own actions. Does not deflect accountability for governance concerns or problems onto others but rather seeks to find collaborative solutions.
Credibility. Acts in accordance with stated values, has credibility and is trustworthy in
the eyes of colleagues, donors, and volunteers.
Compassion. Shows genuine concern for others. Develops relationships with
neighborhood residents, community organizations and stakeholders. Serves as an ambassador to engage and inspire people within and outside (DE-FI).
Courage. Acts decisively to tackle difficulty problems; perseveres in the face of
problems; takes the lead on unpopular though necessary actions.

Process

To be considered for Board membership, please submit a Board interest form and resume.
Board member selection is a multi-stage process with our nominating committee and senior staff. Once we receive your interest form, we will be in touch within to discuss next steps. Candidates may be invited to meet with a member of our nominating committee and/or our Executive Director to learn more about the Board’s role.
Finalists will be invited to attend a Board meeting before their nomination is brought to the Board.
Board members are typically elected to a three-year term, which may be renewed once for a total of six consecutive years of board service.
The Art of (DE-FI)ance welcomes people from all walks of life to partner in creating a better community for everyone.

Join Our Board

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"Success comes to the underdog who doesn't let sleeping dogs lie...

The Art of (DE-FI)ance Fashion Fund

Fashion Grants

Join Our Board of Directors

Apply to Join The Art of (DE-FI)ance Board of Directors

Join Our Board

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