About us
Calgary’s Essential Support System For Women’s Empowerment
Since 1981, Making Changes has helped Calgary women, teen girls, and individuals who identify as women overcome the barriers preventing financial independence through dignity-centered programs that create sustainable transformation.
Building a Calgary Where Every Woman Can Thrive
Our Vision
Empowering women to make meaningful contributions to
the community.
Our Mission
Making Changes is a community of women helping women and their families through life transition by providing them with the skills and resources to support their pursuit of meaningful work and educational opportunities.
What Making
Changes Stands For
We believe that workforce preparation, skills enhancement, and leadership development should empower women with financial independence. These values shape how we work, how we communicate, and how we show up for women every day.
Meet The Team Behind Making Changes
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS
OUR STAFF
Practical Programs With An Integrated Approach
Our programs work together as a comprehensive system, meeting women at different transition points while addressing the compounding barriers that traditional support misses.
Workforce Preparation
Professional clothing, skills training, and confidence building for women entering or re-entering employment.
Skills Development
Professional clothing, skills training, and confidence building for women entering or re-entering employment.
Youth Empowerment
Clothing, confidence, and leadership programs helping teen girls discover their voices and potential.
Community Building
Safe spaces where women build networks, find mentorship, and create the support systems essential for sustained success.
From Grassroots Initiative to Calgary Institution
THE BEGINNING
Women Helping Women
The Making Changes story begins in 1981 with a group of Calgary women who saw neighbors needing support that didn't exist
anywhere in the city.
They gathered in a community centre to provide practical, hands-on support as a group of women helping women because nobody elsewas doing it.
As word spread, the initiative grew organically. Women helped other women, who helped more women, creating ripples throughout Calgary.
1996 - 2002
Formalization & Growth
By 1996, the organization formalized as a nonprofit while maintaining its grassroots approach.
One year later, "The Walk-In Closet" was introduced as a professional clothing program recognizing that how a woman feels in her clothes directly impacts her confidence, posture, handshake, and interview performance.
2002 - 2017
Program Expansion through Listening
In 2002, Making Changes achieved registered charity status, opening doors to broader funding while remaining accountable to the community that created it.
In 2011, My Best Friend's Closet launched to serve teen girls facing similar confidence challenges.
In 2017, Women in Technology addressed barriers in male-dominated tech sectors.
2020
Strategic Collaboration
A significant change came in 2020 when Dress for Success Calgary merged as a division of Making Changes Association. The two organizations combined forces to create one stronger program able to serve our community with consistency.
The merger brought international brand recognition while maintaining Making Changes' community roots and comprehensive program model.
the present
45+ Years Strong
Making Changes now serves thousands of women and teen girls annually across multiple programs supported by hundreds of volunteers.
Today, we're still a community helping women. We're still grassroots at heart. We're still guided by what women tell us they need. And like those founding women in 1981, we're still asking: "How can we better serve the women in our community?"
Help Us Continue
Empowering
Women
Across Calgary
Since 1981, Making Changes has helped Calgary women achieve financial independence. Your support creates ripple effects that strengthen families, diversify workplaces, and lift entire communities.