ESSEX COUNTY, MA, MAY 25, 2021 – Women’s Money Matters (formerly Budget Buddies) is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. The Essex County-based organization was chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process and will receive $100,000 over 3 years.
Women’s Money Matters plans on using the funding to build and expand their virtual program presence including the implementation of their new “Signature Collective” program for women who are not affiliated with a social service agency. In addition, they plan on using this funding to continue to support robust volunteer recruitment and expenses related to the implementation of their virtual programs.
The Essex County-based non-profit focuses on building the financial wellness and confidence of low-income women and girls through a unique program that combines instructional workshops and personal, one-to-one coaching. As client needs have grown due to immense income and job loss caused by COVID-19, the organization has transitioned its programming to interactive online group workshops to continue meeting the needs of clients during this time of deep financial uncertainty.
“Now more than ever women living on low incomes are seeking financial wellness support brought upon by the immense job and income loss from the pandemic,” said Women’s Money Matters Executive Director Danielle Piskadlo. “We are grateful to be awarded with a Cummings Grant from the Cummings Foundation in support of our mission to help us continue to meet this increased need in our communities.”
“Now more than ever women living on low incomes are seeking financial wellness support brought upon by the immense job and income loss from the pandemic,” said Women’s Money Matters Executive Director Danielle Piskadlo. “We are grateful to be awarded with a Cummings Grant from the Cummings Foundation in support of our mission to help us continue to meet this increased need in our communities.”
-DANIELLE PISKADLO, BUDGET BUDDIES’ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 10 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.
“We aim to help meet the needs of people in all segments of our local community,” said Cummings Foundation executive director Joel Swets. “It is the incredible organizations we fund, however, that do the actual daily work to empower our neighbors, educate our children, fight for equity, and so much more.”
With the help of about 80 volunteers, the Foundation first identified 140 organizations to receive grants of at least $100,000 each. This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes—including social justice, homelessness prevention, affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity—spread across 43 different cities and towns. Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $300 million to greater Boston nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. . The complete list of 140 grant winners, plus more than 800 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.
“We have adopted a democratic approach to philanthropy, which empowers an impressive roster of dedicated volunteers to decide more than half of all our grant winners each year,” said Swets. “We benefit from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives; they benefit from a meaningful and fulfilling experience, and the nonprofits often benefit from increased exposure and new advocates.”
About Women’s Money Matters (Formerly Budget Buddies)
Women’s Money Matters is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing low-income women and girls with financial empowerment programs that are highly individualized to each participant’s financial needs and goals. Their mission is to work toward a world in which all women are secure in their own abilities to save, make sound budgeting decisions, and advocate for their financial needs. Recently, they have shifted to a virtual model due to COVID-19 and offer remote workshops and coaching across regions in English or Spanish.
About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings and has grown to be one of the three largest private foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn, and Veterinary School at Tufts, LLC in North Grafton. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.
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