At Women’s Money Matters, we believe that financial wellness is a fundamental human right.
Our participants build real confidence and skills through workshops, one-on-one coaching, and a community that sticks with them — not just for eight weeks, but for the long run.
Empower women and girls to improve their financial health to create a more secure future for their families and communities.
We envision a world in which all women and girls have a financially stable life.
For women 20 and older
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For young women and girls ages 14–24
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For women planning the next chapter
We recommend graduating Financial Futures first
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You'll be matched with a personal coach who meets with you weekly, outside of group workshops, focused entirely on your goals
Our workshops cover budgeting, credit, banking, saving, fraud protection, and more. You'll graduate with tools you can actually use.
Programs are kept intentionally small so everyone has a voice. You'll learn alongside a group of women who are navigating similar challenges.
When you graduate, you join a community that includes Alumnae Circle gatherings, Level Up workshops, and ongoing support.
Our programs will always be free to participants.
Each week you'll attend a workshop (about 1.5 hours) and meet with your coach (about 1 hour) at a time that works for you.
We serve women and girls over the age of 8 who are living on low incomes, many in transitional housing.
Our programs are for cis and trans women, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centers on the experiences of women and girls.
Anita Saville and Kathy Brough start Budget Buddies
Anita and Kathy worked together on multiple political campaigns and shared a passion for empowering women. As the Great Recession hit, it became clear that few people had the skills to manage their money effectively.
After a year of research, Anita and Kathy realized that case managers don’t have time to help their clients learn key financial skills.
They determined that a sustained program that combined workshops and individualized mentoring was needed. “What if we trained volunteers for this”, one case manager said. The idea for Women’s Money Matters is founded “around a kitchen table,” in Chelmsford, MA.
First program cohort runs
501(c)(3) status established
Received the Unsung Heroines Award from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
Continued recognition
Named one of 8 Innovators by the Social Innovation Forum (Boston); founders honored at the YWCA of Greater Lawrence Tribute to Women; Nominated for Nonprofit of the Year by Enterprise Bank two years running
Boston expansion
Received the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley’s Power of Change Award (3rd annual); expanded into Greater Boston alongside continued Merrimack Valley programming. The seeds for what would later become Life Launch are planted as Budget Buddies explores a teen pilot program.
The first virtual cohorts are regularly offered
Budget Buddies entered a multi-year strategic partnership with Next Level Boston (later Next Level Social Impact): unrestricted funding tied to a plan to double participants served (200 → 400) and add virtual programming.
Participant growth accelerated through the pandemic
More than half of all-time participants joined from 2020 onward.
Budget Buddies rebranded to Women’s Money Matters
Rebranded from Budget Buddies to Women’s Money Matters; received the Project Innovation Award (NBC Boston) and the Above and Beyond Award (Women’s Fund of Essex County)
Launch of our online community platform
Women’s Money Matters Connect platform launched; Hidden Gems Award (Fidelity Charitable)
Road to Retirement program starts and Life Launch successfully piloted
Road to Retirement launched — created in response to participant demand for retirement-specific guidance, this program supports women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s with an 8-week curriculum on Social Security, retirement savings, healthcare planning, and senior housing options.
Life Launch Girls piloted — a new track of the existing Life Launch program, built for girls ages 8–14 rather than teens and young women. Five cohorts ran in partnership with four community organizations, mostly as after-school programming, introducing early financial concepts like the difference between saving and spending.
Graduates testify at the MA State House on the benefits cliff; Cummings Foundation 10-Year Grant awarded; Money Awareness and Inclusion Award runner-up
Looking to the future
Development of new digital tools and platforms to support the Women’s Money Matters community in new ways, alongside continued growth and outreach into Western and Central Massachusetts
Our mission is to build the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women and girls facing financial and systemic barriers, through a model that combines group workshops with personal, one-to-one coaching.
Participants gain the tools, support, and community to work toward long-term financial stability, for themselves, and for the next generation.
At Women’s Money Matters, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are at the core of our mission and model. We serve women and girls facing financial and systemic barriers to building wealth, many of whom are also members of historically marginalized communities.
We are committed to operating a diverse and equitable organization, in order to better serve our clients by more closely understanding their lived experiences, to improve outcomes through diversity of perspectives and experiences, and to create a comfortable and open environment for all.
