FAQs
2. How did The Princess Project get started?
The Princess Project began in February 2002 when one girl needed one dress for her prom. Founders Laney Whitcanack and Kristi Smith Knutson responded to this young woman’s request for help by involving friends and family in a dress drive. Within days, women from all over the San Francisco Bay Area offered their support through donations of their “time, talent and taffeta.”
Since that time, The Princess Project has served over 20,000 teens through the dedication of more than 2,000 volunteers. In 2005, The Princess Project became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
3. How does The Princess Project work?
Every year, The Princess Project receives hundreds of dresses, accessories, and monetary donations from individual donors, corporations, and fundraisers to outfit our teens for Prom. After we receive the dresses and accessories, our wonderful volunteers organize them for our dress giveaway events. During our dress giveaway, thousands of teens from all over California come and find the perfect dress to make their prom dreams real!
4. What type of groups does The Princess Project support?
The Princess Project supports any high school teen in California who needs a dress. No proof of financial need is required – the teens only need a high school ID. Teens can sign-up individually or as a group through any Youth/School Organization. The Princess Project also provides support to other organization who hosts proms or gives away dresses and accessories.
5. When and where do dress giveaways take place?
Giveaways are held throughout California primarily in March.
6. When and where are fundraising events held?
Fundraising events are hosted by the individual chapters and held throughout the year. Link to individual chapter locations.
7. I’d like to get involved and live out East. Is there a Princess Project chapter near me?
The Princess Project currently has four chapters in California – San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Sonoma and San Diego. If you are interested in starting a chapter, or would like to make a donation, please email info@princessproject.org.
8. I’d like to donate. Where can I donate?
Most dress drives take place in the months of January and February, and locations can be found on the individual chapter sites. Dresses and accessories should be no more than 5 years old in clean, good condition.
Financial donations are always welcome and most appreciated. Link to Paypal to donate.
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop with AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. You can choose from over one million organizations to support.
9. What percentage of my donation directly supports your mission (vs. general operations)?
We are a 100% volunteer organization. 100% of your donation funds our giveaways and operations.
10. What are your biggest challenges? (i.e. fundraiser, volunteer support, etc.)
Sufficient dress inventory for sizes 0-2 and 16+ remain our largest challenge. Individual chapters often need to purchase dresses in these sizes, and we are always seeking partners who can help in these areas.
11. Is there a centralized governing Body/Board?
Each Chapter has their own Operating Board. The Princess Project also has a Governing Board that oversees all administrative operations and large partnerships.
12. What does The Princess Project Governing Board do and how is it different from the Board Chapters?
The Governing Board provides all administrative support and multi-chapter partnerships.