Our Mission

To do the most good for the most people.

Our Vision

We have more power than we know.

Pocketbook Brigade was founded on a simple and radical idea: women are among the most powerful economic forces in the United States, and most of us have never been taught to use that power intentionally.

Consider what the data shows:

• Women influence approximately 80% of all retail and online purchasing decisions

• Women control 90% of household spending, including groceries, clothing, and home goods

• Women are involved in 91% of home purchases

• Women purchase 54% of cars sold in the U.S. and influence 84% of all vehicle sales

Collectively, American women represent a spending force that shapes industries, employs millions, and determines the success or failure of companies across every sector. That is not a small thing. That is the entire economy.

Spending With Purpose

Pocketbook Brigade educates and empowers community members to understand how their everyday spending connects to their values. When we choose where to spend and where not to spend. We are not just making purchases. We are casting votes for the kind of economy and society we want to live in.

We believe in directing that collective purchasing power toward businesses that reflect our community's values: companies that support workplace equity, fair wages, inclusive practices, and the communities where we live and work. We especially encourage our members to seek out and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses in their communities.

A Legacy of Collective Action

Pocketbook Brigade draws inspiration from a long tradition of Americans using collective civic and economic action to create change. In 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention brought together women and men, including Frederick Douglass, to demand that women be treated as full and equal citizens. Frederick Douglass spoke in favor of women's suffrage and later wrote about the deep connection between women's rights and the abolitionist movement. He helped found the American Equal Rights Association in 1866 alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, recognizing that the struggle for dignity and equality was one shared fight. That same understanding drives us today. Pocketbook Brigade exists in the tradition of those who recognized that economic exclusion and civic exclusion go hand in hand and that ordinary people, acting together, have the power to change both.

What We Do

Pocketbook Brigade is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our work includes:

• Civic education: helping community members understand the connection between their economic choices and broader social outcomes.

• Community events: organizing marches, forums, and local gatherings that celebrate collective action and civic participation.

• Business support: building directories and resources that help community members find and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses.

• Voter education: providing nonpartisan information about the voting process, elected officials, and how to make your voice heard.

• Advocacy education: teaching members how to contact their elected representatives and participate in the democratic process.

• Education: Free seminars about the basics of personal finance, making a budget, saving for large purchases, having a rainy day fund and avoiding financial pitfalls like credit card debt. Educating businesses regarding best hiring practices and retaining employees. Tips on how to write a resume, prepare for an interview and negotiate for the best salary and benefits.

Our Values

We are guided by the belief that a strong democracy depends on an informed, engaged, and economically empowered citizenry. We are committed to:

• Dignity and equity for all people, regardless of race, gender, national origin, or economic status

• Transparency and accountability in both government and the marketplace

• The power of collective action, grounded in community rather than conflict

• Education over rhetoric, we want people to understand their power, not just feel it

Join Us

You do not need to be a political activist to be part of Pocketbook Brigade. You just need to believe that how you spend your money matters and be willing to spend it with intention.

Check our Calendar of Events to find a gathering near you. Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates and consumer education resources. And if you want to go deeper, visit our How Can You Help page to learn about volunteer opportunities.

We are glad you are here.