A Six-Year Sustainability Fund for a Decade-Plus Upcycling Project in Ghana
The Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund was established to raise $189,000 USD by 2028 to sustain the operating budget of the Matilda Flow Inclusion Foundation’s upcycling studio in Greater Accra, Ghana, for a minimum of six years (2027-2032). The fund will support the Foundation as it enters its second decade of impact and as it moves toward financial sustainability for its upcycling programs through the sale of handcrafted upcycled art made at the studio. Contribute to the fund with a donation via Zeffy.
about the fund.
Objective.
The Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund seeks to reduce the social and environmental impacts of secondhand clothing and textile waste sent to Ghana from the Global North, create fair-wage work and job training for artisans whose livelihoods have been displaced by secondhand clothing and fast fashion, and transform denim and other discarded fabrics into functional upcycled art. The fund was established in 2026 by MFC Tie-Dye Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization in the United States.
History.
MFC Tie-Dye Inc. and the Matilda Flow Inclusion Foundation have collaborated together on this upcycling partnership since 2016-2017, and with community support, MFC Tie-Dye Inc. has redistributed more than $220,000 USD in funds to the Foundation over this period. Having achieved substantial growth in the last decade and shifted most aspects of the upcycling partnership to the Foundation’s team in Ghana, MFC Tie-Dye Inc. plans to dissolve as a non-profit organization at the end of 2027 or in 2028, transferring full control of the upcycling partnership to the local governance and management teams in Ghana. The Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund aims to financially secure the upcycling partnership’s programs as this transition unfolds and as the Foundation continues to evolve towards financial sustainability.
Impact.
As of 2026, the Foundation employs at least 8 eight artisans or artisan trainees, has adopted an organization-wide fair wage standard that ensures wages are set 70-130% above Ghana’s minimum wage (adjusted annually), and upcycles a minimum of 2040 pounds of secondhand clothing and/or textile waste per year. The Foundation has also implemented low-impact natural dying methods in its upcycling processes. A $30 USD donation to the Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund helps fund the upcycling of two pounds of secondhand clothing and/or textile waste through this partnership.
Order Upcycled.
Order upcycled denim fashion and other art created through the upcycling partnership via Matilda’s Extending Denim Project. Launched in 2026, this project is the Foundation’s signature upcycled art brand, crafted by artisans via the upcycling partnership and transforming secondhand denim and other repurposed materials through patchwork design, fabric bead-making, and natural tie-dye techniques. Experimental designs in upcycled and organic cotton tie-dye and upcycled denim designed earlier in the project are also available on Etsy. Proceeds from sales through Matilda’s Extending Denim Project and on Etsy directly support the upcycling partnership.
More Information About the Fund:
Donations to the Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund are tax-deductible in the United States and are made through MFC Tie-Dye Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 82-1982920). View MFC Tie-Dye Inc.’s profile on Candid.
Donations are processed through Zeffy, which generates a tax-receipt to the email provided at checkout. Zeffy is a free platform funded by optional tips, which you can decline by selecting “other” and inputting “0” when prompted. You can also adjust your optional tip after donating by clicking “learn more” next to the “optional contribution to Zeffy” on your receipt. For other ways to donate to the campaign, such as via cash, check, PayPal, or Zelle, email info@makefashionclean.org.
After MFC’s dissolution at the end of 2027 or in 2028, the fund will be managed by a non-profit partner who will serve as fiscal sponsor (or some other equivalent arrangement). We will share further details about our plan in 2027. We expect this could involve a ~5% administrative fee (~$9,000) which we have included in the Fund’s fundraising target.
The upcycling programs supported by the Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund will be overseen by the Matilda Flow Inclusion Foundation board of directors, which is comprised of local stakeholders in Ghana committed to supporting the success of the project, and managed by Founder and Managing Director Matilda Lartey.
To provide additional monitoring and evaluation, members of the MFC Tie-Dye Inc. team will transition into advisory roles for the Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund and will monitor quarterly reports from the Foundation on expenses, materials upcycled, artisans/trainees employed, and any adverse events. The advisors will also review the Foundation’s annual audited financial report and ensure that the Foundation publishes an annual report of activities and finances and that an impact assessment report is published every three years. Additionally, the Foundation is in the process of applying for a fair trade certification, which will provide another level of project oversight.
The Foundation’s annual operating budget is approximately $30,000 USD and the Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund will support the Foundation for a minimum of six years. Starting in 2027, the Fund will distribute between $15,000 and $30,000 USD to the Foundation, depending on revenue from sale of upcycled products in the previous year. For every $10 USD dollars of revenue generated, the Fund will reduce distribution by $5 USD. If the Foundation generates substantial product revenue, the Fund may be able to help support the Foundation for up to twelve years.
The Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund offers a unique opportunity to invest in community-driven solutions to a range of pressing social and environmental challenges: (1) fair wages for artisans economically displaced by secondhand clothing and fast fashion, (2) inclusion of people with disabilities and their family members and caregivers in the creative economy, (3) upcycling textile waste using natural dying methods, and (4) women’s leadership in environmental advocacy.
Become a major investor or CSR partner by investing $2,500 USD, $10,000 USD, or $30,000 USD into the fund to support the upcycling of 170, 680, or 2040 pounds of secondhand clothing and textile waste.
To explore partnership opportunities or arrange a meeting to learn more about our work, please contact our team at info@makefashionclean.org.
Campaign Link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/make-fashion-clean-impact-fund
Campaign Video Link: https://youtu.be/Gi6m2xyaW-g
Follow @makefashionclean and @matildaflowghana on Instagram for the latest updates about our upcycling partnership. You can also find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Download a flyer for the Make Fashion Clean Impact Fund.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our campaign!
The team at MFC Tie-Dye Inc. recognizes that there are a lot of urgent and important causes to contribute to in the world right now and understand if this isn’t the one for you at this time. If our fund speaks to you though and you have the means to support, we deeply appreciate your investment into our partnership through a donation to the fund or by purchasing an upcycled product made through the partnership.
If you would like to support but are unable to donate or order, consider sharing about the Fund and our upcycled art with your network, such as with these posts on Instagram, Facebook, and/or LinkedIn. To explore other ways to get involved in responding to global fashion pollution, check out our free Textile Waste Facts resource.
This is a long-term fundraising campaign that will remain active through 2028.
