named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Mildred Blount Competition
An annual international hat design competition open to students and professional milliners, judged on design, execution, and interpretation of theme, with a popular vote component and finalist exhibition.
Monthly Zoom Meetings
Regular virtual gatherings for members to connect, share knowledge, and discuss millinery practices and business topics.
Professional and Emerging Milliner Membership
Two-tiered membership program offering benefits including mentorship, skill videos, block library access, networking, and directory listing to support career development.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Professional Networking Events 2 activities
- Hosts monthly virtual meetings for millinery membersOrganizes recurring monthly virtual gatherings for members to connect, share knowledge, and discuss millinery practices.
- Organizes participation in millinery events and exhibitionsFacilitates member involvement in international millinery shows, hat parades, and curated exhibitions to promote visibility and professional engagement.
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Photography and Creative Arts Competitions 1 activity
- Hosts international millinery design competitionOrganizes an annual international competition open to professionals and students, including anonymous judging and a virtual popular vote to select winners.
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Business Member Promotion Services 1 activity
- Maintains professional member directoryOperates and features a public member directory showcasing professional milliners affiliated with the guild.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Offers exclusive educational and business resources for membersProvides guild members with access to specialized classes, supply discounts, and business guidance to support professional growth.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Offers mentorship program for emerging millinersProvides six-month mentorship pairings to new and emerging milliner members to support professional development.
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Library of Things Lending 1 activity
- Operates member rental library of hat blocksProvides access to over 50 different hat blocks for member rental to support millinery creation and skill development.
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Animal Welfare Fundraising through Retail and Sales 1 activity
- Produces and sells themed fundraising merchandiseCreates and sells annual calendars and holiday cards featuring dogs in custom hats, with proceeds supporting animal welfare causes such as Rushton Dog Rescue.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produces podcast featuring milliners and competitionsCreates and publishes a podcast highlighting milliners, including winners of the Mildred Blount Competition, to promote the craft and community.
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Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
- Provides pre-recorded millinery skills training resourcesMakes available over 25 pre-recorded videos on millinery techniques for members to enhance their craft skills.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$6K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$60210%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$5K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$15K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$15K
2 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -35.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022
Who runs it
board members · 3
- AUSTIN GRAY — DIRECTOR
- JENNIFER HOERTZ — DIRECTOR
- KATHY ANDERSON — DIRECTOR
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- American Red Cross Partner — Collaborated with the Hollywood Canteen program between 1942 and 1946, organizing and training an interracial staff for reupholstery services.
- Anel Heyman Partner — Collaborated with award-winning milliner Anel Heyman to host a virtual workshop on sinamay feather-making.
- Byron Lars Partner — Receives bespoke headwear from MILLINERS GUILD INC member Lisa McFadden through collaboration with In Earnest.
- Detroit Historical Museum Partner — Co-hosted exhibition of 20 historical miniature hats in 1953.
- Detroit Historical Society Partner — Partnered to exhibit historical hat collection "Bonnets That Bloom in the Spring" in 1953.
- Fashion Institute of Technology Partner — Hosted the Milliners Guild exhibition "One Block, Many Milliners."
- Freedom Farm sanctuary Partner — Receives proceeds from the sale of Haute Dogs Christmas Cards to support care for rescued dogs that cannot be rehomed.
- Harlem Y.W.C.A. Trade School Partner — Partnered with the school to organize and teach millinery classes in New York.
- In Earnest Partner — Collaborates with MILLINERS GUILD INC member Lisa McFadden to produce bespoke headwear for brand partners.
- Macy's NYC Partner — Collaborated on Black History Month window display featuring designs by Milliners Guild member Evetta Petty.
- Macys Partner — Featured Evetta Petty in the Mildred Blount window display at Macy's NYC.
- Mildred Blount Partner — Names the competition in honor of Mildred Blount, a pioneering African American milliner.
- Milliners Guild Member Directory Network — Directory featuring member milliners
- Millinery Meet-up Partner — Collaborates on organizing and hosting the Sci-Fi Hat Design Contest.
- Millinery Meet-up Partner — Member Sally Caswell won First Place at the 2024 MMU Sci-Fi Hat Design Contest hosted by Millinery Meet-up.
- Millinery.Info Partner — Collaborated with Millinery.Info podcast to feature Saar Snoek, winner of the Mildred Blount competition.
- Pratt Manhattan Gallery Partner — Featured Lisa McFadden's hats in the Black Dress Exhibit II: Homage.
- Pratt Manhattan Gallery Partner — Hosts an exhibition featuring work by current MILLINERS GUILD INC member Lisa McFadden.
- Rushton Dog Rescue Partner — Receives all proceeds from the Haute Dogs 2025 Calendar to support dog rescue and rehoming efforts.
- Saar Snoek Partner — Featured artist and winner of the Mildred Blount Competition, highlighted in the Millinery.Info Podcast.
- Sheila Gray Partner — Receives bespoke headwear from MILLINERS GUILD INC member Lisa McFadden through collaboration with In Earnest.
- St. Catherine’s Day Parade Partner — Sponsored the St. Catherine’s Day Parade in New Orleans.
- Urban League Partner — Served in chapters in New York and Los Angeles, including as Vice President of the Young Women's Council and as a board member.
- Zeta Phi Beta Partner — Active member and named Outstanding Los Angeles Woman of 1944; became an honorary national member in 1947.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Mentorship-Driven Professional Acclimationmethodology: mentorship-acclimationBy pairing new members with experienced mentors, the Guild supports professional integration and knowledge transfer, because structured mentorship accelerates skill development and fosters long-term retention in the millinery field.
- Peer-Powered Knowledge Exchangemethodology: peer-knowledge-sharingBy fostering peer-to-peer knowledge sharing among professional milliners, the Guild drives collective innovation and skill advancement, because collaboration within a trusted community enhances learning and technical growth more effectively than isolated practice.
- Professional Excellence Through Selective Membershipmethodology: professional-excellenceBy restricting membership to milliners who demonstrate technical proficiency, the Guild ensures a high standard of practice, because maintaining a community of skilled professionals strengthens credibility, drives innovation, and elevates the craft.
- Public Engagement Through Cultural Events and Educationmethodology: public-awareness-through-events-and-educationBy hosting public events, educational seminars, and cultural celebrations like St. Catherine’s Day, the Guild increases awareness and interest in millinery, because experiential engagement drives public appreciation and supports recruitment and sustainability of the craft.
- Tiered Membership for Professional Developmentmethodology: tiered-membership-developmentBy offering a tiered membership structure with an emerging milliner category, the Guild supports skill development and career transition, because differentiated access based on experience level provides targeted support while maintaining professional standards.