named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Artisan Program
Supports refugee and immigrant women in creating and selling hand-embroidered textile ornaments and goods, providing economic empowerment and skill development
Textile Arts Center
Community space for learning and sharing textile arts, emphasizing reuse of materials and environmental stewardship
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Textile Waste Diversion and Reuse 2 activities
- Provide mending and alteration services to promote garment reuseOffers mending and alteration services to extend the life of clothing and reduce textile waste, aligning with environmental stewardship goals.
- Run Second Stitch program to reuse textile supplies and reduce wasteReuses donated and rescued textile materials through the Second Stitch program, supplying workshop and class projects, selling excess at low cost, and supporting environmental sustainability by diverting waste from landfills. Supplies and craft kits are made available to the public and used in educational programming.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Engage volunteers across operational functionsOffers volunteer opportunities in event planning, administrative support, retail customer service, and skilled trades to support organizational operations and mission engagement.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Offer monthly community textile arts classes and skill-building programsProvides monthly in-person and virtual textile arts classes open to all skill levels, covering techniques such as embroidery, dyeing, sewing, weaving, and indigo resist dyeing; taught by staff, community experts, and members of the Refugee Women’s Workshop. Includes specialized training programs such as the 10-week Indigo Dye Studio for refugee women.
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Vocational Sewing and Tailoring Training 1 activity
- Operate Refugee Women’s Workshop for economic empowerment through textile artsProvides refugee and immigrant women in Western New York with free tools, supplies, training, and flexible work options to create and sell handcrafted textile goods; compensates participants with 60% of the selling price and distributes monthly payments via check. The program supports over 200 women annually and includes initiatives such as adapted indoor looms for cultural weaving traditions and virtual workshops.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Sell handcrafted goods to support refugee women and fund programmingOffers for sale a wide range of handcrafted items—including ornaments, jewelry, wall art, home decor, and accessories—created by refugee women through the Refugee Women’s Workshop and Second Stitch. Sales are available online with shipping and in-store pickup options, directly supporting participant income and sustaining organizational programming.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1000K
Contributions & grants$566K57%
Program service revenue$428K43%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$696K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$247K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.78M
Cash$451K
Investments$0
Liabilities$645K
Net assets$1.13M
Liquid reserves7.8 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -10.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 10
- AMY ALVAREZ — SECRETARY
- CHRISTINE FONTANEDA — BOARD MEMBER
- ELIZABETH LOVRIA — VICE PRESIDE
- JOANN TOMASULO — BOARD MEMBER
- KAYLA GLEASON — BOARD MEMBER
- MEENAKSHI GUPTA — TREASURER
- MUNAWARA SULTANA — BOARD MEMBER
- NAOMI THOMPSON — BOARD MEMBER
- PATRICIA WATSON — PRESIDENT
- TASHI FABIAN SHERPA — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Arizo Partner — Artisan partner who creates beaded tie-on bracelets sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Bawk Mai Partner — Artisan who creates hand-embroidered Buffalove "Pride" heart pins for Stitch Buffalo.
- Bibi Taqwa Partner — Artisan partner who creates beaded heart earrings sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Bina Biswa Partner — Artisan partner who creates hand embroidered cuff bracelets sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Constantin Partner — Filmmaker who collaborated with Stitch Buffalo to produce virtual workshop content with a refugee artist.
- David A. Rivera Government — City Council Member (Niagara District—Buffalo, NY) who provided support for the production of welcome videos
- Freshta Partner — Artisan partner who creates hand embroidered cuff bracelets sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Freshta Partner — Artisan who creates medium hand-embroidered buffalo ornaments for Stitch Buffalo.
- Gulsom Partner — Artisan who creates hand-embroidered buffalo ornaments and other products for Stitch Buffalo.
- Joel Feroleto Government — City Council Member (Delaware District—Buffalo, NY) who provided support for the production of welcome videos
- Khalida Partner — Artisan partner who creates hand-embroidered prayer pouch necklaces sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Mahjabin Partner — Artisan partner who creates hand embroidered cuff bracelets sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Mahjabin Partner — Artisan who creates large hand-embroidered buffalo ornaments for Stitch Buffalo.
- Maimana Partner — Artisan partner who creates hand-embroidered prayer pouch necklaces sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Mara Partner — Artisan partner who creates gridded flower earrings and statement necklaces sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Migration Policy Institute Partner — Cited source for research on the impacts of social isolation and integration outcomes for refugee and immigrant women.
- Nargis Khan Partner — Artisan partner who creates beaded hoop earrings and statement necklaces sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Naw Ma Ooh Partner — Artisan who creates hand-embroidered Buffalove heart wall art for Stitch Buffalo.
- Rahema Partner — Artisan partner who creates khamak-inspired cuff bracelets and hand-embroidered prayer pouch necklaces sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Refugee Women's Workshop Partner — Collaborates with the Refugee Women's Workshop to support refugee women through textile arts.
- Refugee Women’s Workshop Partner — Collaborative program through which refugee and immigrant women create and sell handcrafted goods.
- Refugee Women’s Workshop Partner — Core program of Stitch Buffalo that employs refugee and immigrant women in creating and selling handcrafted textiles.
- Second Stitch Partner — Program or initiative that provides upcycled textile-art supplies and produces handcrafted items for sale.
- Second Stitch Partner — Program that rescues and repurposes fabric, yarn, and sewing supplies for reuse.
- Springboard Funder — Provided grant funding to support the Indigo Dye Studio Training Program for refugee women.
- Sui Partner — Artisan partner who creates hand embroidered cuff bracelets sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- Tek Rai Partner — Artisan partner who creates hand embroidered cuff bracelets sold by Stitch Buffalo.
- The Seed Time Foundation Funder — Provided grant funding to support the Indigo Dye Studio Training Program for refugee women.
- US Census Government — Source of demographic data on refugee populations in Buffalo, including foreign-born population rates in zip code 14213.
- individual donors Partner — Individuals who provide financial support to Stitch Buffalo
+ 1 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Community Integration Through Collaborative Art-Makingmethodology: community-integration-through-artBy engaging refugee and immigrant women in group-based textile arts alongside the broader community, the organization fosters inclusion, belonging, and social connection, because shared creative practices build trust, communication, and a common visual language across cultural and linguistic differences.
- Cultural Preservation and Personal Transformation Through Artmethodology: cultural-preservation-through-artBy integrating traditional textile arts and cultural tools into creative practice, the organization affirms the self-worth of refugee and immigrant women and preserves cultural heritage, because culturally informed art-making enables personal expression, emotional well-being, and intercultural continuity in new contexts.
- Economic Empowerment Through Craftmethodology: economic-empowerment-through-craftBy employing refugee and immigrant women as artisans and sharing revenue from the sale of their handcrafted goods, the organization creates income-generating opportunities that support economic advancement and integration, because direct financial return combined with skill development fosters sustainable livelihoods.
- Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy Modelmethodology: circular-materials-economyBy sourcing materials through reuse, rescue, and sustainable supply chains, the organization reduces environmental waste while promoting stewardship, because redirecting used supplies and designing responsibly lowers ecological impact and aligns program operations with environmental justice values.