Give to gain: How women-led non-profit partnerships create collective impact in B.C.

Strong partnerships are built through relationships that often begin with a simple decision to show up, support and get involved with non-profits making positive change in your community.

When local businesses and charities connect with shared values, those relationships can grow into something meaningful, creating impact that reaches far beyond a single moment or campaign. This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of International Women’s Day 2026 (IWD). This year’s theme, Give to Gain, is reflected in the growing relationship between Vancouver-based jewellery brand Olive & Piper and Dress for Success Vancouver, a non-profit community empowering unemployed and underemployed women to achieve financial independence and personal success.

Sparkle and style meet community legacy

Founded and led by Tania Yan since 2012, Olive & Piper is built on the belief that style can be both meaningful and impactful. Since 2021, the company has supported Dress for Success Vancouver through financial contributions and in-kind donations, giving nearly $14,000 in cash and more than 1,800 pieces of jewellery to clients and volunteers over the past three years.

Their support has been especially visible at the annual Success Luncheon, where Olive & Piper became one of the raffle partners in 2023. Beyond donating raffle items, over the last three years the brand also gifted jewellery to volunteers and clients in the Dress for Success Vancouver boutique, extending its impact well beyond a single event and spreading its sparkle to a deserving community.

Dress for Success Vancouver is a local charity with deep roots. Founded in 1999 by Astrid Levelt as the first international member of the Dress for Success network, the organization began with volunteers transforming a nun’s bedroom at St. Patrick’s Parish into a boutique. Today, it has supported more than 48,000 women across the Lower Mainland, offering free programming ranging from professional attire dressing services and job-readiness support to mentorship, career development and leadership training for women and gender-diverse individuals.

When giving becomes shared value

IWD’s Give to Gain campaign highlights the impact and value when a business chooses to build a relationship with and support a local non-profit on an ongoing basis.

“When local businesses take time and energy to build real relationships with aligned community organizations, the impact goes far beyond dollars or donations,” says Amanda Sayfy, executive director of Dress for Success Vancouver. “This kind of partnership builds trust, confidence and opportunity for the women we serve, while allowing our partners to put their value in action to our community of clients, volunteers and donors. This shared impact is powerful.”

For Olive & Piper, the partnership is as much about values as it is about brand building.

“Supporting Dress for Success Vancouver is in line with our motto, you’re the occasion,” says Yan, founder of Olive & Piper. “We love to support initiatives that empower women in their own lives and remind them that they’re worth showing up for. Through Dress for Success Vancouver, we’ve gained meaningful relationships, a deeper connection with our team and community, and we’ve seen firsthand the ripple effect empowering women can have on their lives, their families and the community. That kind of impact is priceless.”

Give to Gain emphasizes that generosity is not subtraction—it’s intentional multiplication. When women support one another, confidence grows, communities strengthen and everyone gains.

Learn more about the ways to support Dress for Success Vancouver and women in your community at dfsvancouver.ca.