Empower women & girls to improve their financial health to create a more secure future for their families & communities.

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Advocacy

Women’s Money Matters amplifies the voices of women and girls by raising awareness of the systemic barriers to financial stability and advocating for lasting change. We drive systemic solutions that foster financial security and long-term stability, with a focus on three key areas: the Cliff Effect, Pay Equity, and Financial Literacy Education in K-12.

The Cliff Effect
 

What is the “cliff effect”?

The cliff effect happens when a small increase in a family’s income leads to a sudden loss of public benefits, leaving them worse off financially—even though they’re earning more.

For example, imagine a mom gets a promotion at work that comes with a small raise. Because of that raise, she might lose her childcare assistance, which could end up costing more than the raise itself. That’s the cliff effect in action.

Assistance programs for essential needs like food, housing, and childcare often have income limits. While these limits are meant to ensure that help reaches those who need it most, they can create unintended barriers. Families may feel trapped in lower-paying jobs because earning more could mean losing benefits that are worth more than the extra income.

What does this look like for families?

According to the UMass Boston Center for Social Policy, for a single parent with two young children in Massachusetts, higher earnings can trigger a decrease in net resources when the parent earns between $15/hour and $24.50/hour, creating a barrier to upward mobility. These unintended gaps in the social safety net are often referred to as “benefits cliffs” or “cliff effects.” 

WMM In Action: Bridge to Prosperity – Cliffs Pilot Program

The Bridge to Prosperity pilot program,  a partnership between Women’s Money Matters, SpringfieldWorks and other community-based organizations, is designed to address the Cliff Effect by providing targeted financial support and career development opportunities. The 3-year pilot will support up to 100 participants with direct cash “bridge” payments to offset lost benefits as they progress in their careers. Participants will also receive job training and financial coaching to help them build long-term financial stability.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a $10,000 bonus to further support their financial goals and long-term success.

By combining financial support with career development, the Bridge to Prosperity pilot aims to demonstrate a sustainable model that not only empowers individuals but also benefits employers and the broader community by addressing workforce shortages

 In Collaboration with:

The Boston Foundation is providing financial support to help address the cost of living gap for Boson participants.

Read More about Benefit Cliffs and Bridge to Prosperity:

The Launch of Bridge to Prosperity: Benefits Cliff Pilot

Event Review: The Launch of Bridge to Prosperity

Our Commitment to Pay Equity –  Women’s Money Matters advocates for policies that promote pay transparency and fairness across industries. In 2024, women earned about for every dollar a man earned for the same job.The gap is wider for women of color, migrant women, those with disabilities, and women with children (Federal Register). This wage disparity is pervasive across all states, industries, and educational levels, and it continues to affect nearly every sector.

This inequity doesn’t just impact individuals—it affects families, communities, and entire economies. Women are disproportionately burdened with economic instability, limiting their financial wellness and security. By addressing pay equity, we work toward a future where women can thrive, support their families, and contribute more fully to their communities.Moreover, this issue is exacerbated by the “pink tax”—the increased pricing of products marketed to women. On average, women’s products cost 7% more than similar products for men, leading women to spend thousands of dollars more over a lifetime for essentially the same items. (National Organization for Women)

WMM In Action

  • Systemic Change Support: We support and mobilize our community to advocate for stronger pay equity laws.
  • Empowerment: We equip women with knowledge about their rights and provide tools to advocate for fair wages. We also share real stories from our participants to highlight the impact of pay inequity. Watch WMM program participants speaking on the impact of pay equity.
  • Education: Through partnerships with organizations like the Boston Women’s Workforce Council (BWWC), we help bring attention to the gender and racial wage gaps in Greater Boston, using data as a tool to track progress toward closing these gaps. As BWWC says: “In a city where women make up more than half the population and workforce, pay equity in Boston is not just a moral imperative, but an economic one.”

Financial Wellness Education Matters – In the 2023 National Report Card on High School Financial Literacy, Massachusetts received an “F” grade due to the lack of dedicated financial wellness courses in schools. This gap in education deepens economic inequality, as underserved students are less likely to receive financial guidance at school or at home. The current patchwork approach to financial education leaves too many students without the foundational knowledge they need to navigate credit, debt, savings, and financial decision-making.

By integrating financial wellness into the K-12 curriculum through classroom instruction and experiential learning, Massachusetts can empower students, educators, and families with the skills to build brighter financial futures. Ensuring all students—regardless of background—have access to quality financial education is a crucial step toward economic equity and long-term financial security.

WMM In Action

  • Systemic Change Support: At the Massachusetts State House, team members and graduates testified to support the inclusion of financial wellness education in school curriculums and making a financial education course a graduation requirement!  – This advocacy is part of our ongoing efforts to support legislation  that expands financial education in K-12 schools. As members of the Midas Collaborative’s Financial Empowerment Network (FEN), we advocate for financial education in K-12 schools and incorporating personal finance into the K-12 curriculum. 
  • Empowerment: As members of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, we come together with other community leaders.
  • Education: Expanding our workshop series for young girls and teens to provide practical financial skills with a tailored curriculum. Some workshops are offered in partnership with local schools, while our Level Up sessions dive deeper into financial wellness topics with expert speakers. A CNBC report found that taking a one-semester personal finance course in high school can result in a lifetime benefit of approximately $100,000 per student. Students bring these lessons home, and when multiplied across families and communities, these savings become a powerful economic engine.Starting early is key—by age 3, children can grasp basic money concepts, and by age 7, many of their financial habits are already formed according to PBS. By integrating financial wellness into K-12 education, we can help young people develop the skills they need to build a financially secure future.

WHY?

Lower the overall number of women in poverty and elevate the voice of our client.

WHAT?

Use deep understanding of clients from direct programming.

Advocate for systematic changes to benefit women on low incomes.

  • Cliff Effects
  • Equal Pay
  • K-12 Fin Lit
  • Paid Family Leave
  • Racial Injustices