Click here for Hurricane Helene Financial Recovery Assistance information

Donate

I am an employer.

Learn how inviting Appalachian Opportunity Fund financial coaches to engage your staff can increase productivity, decrease turnover, and show your employees that you care.

Investing in Your Employees' Financial Well-being

Appalachian Opportunity Fund is dedicated to building community wealth by providing free financial coaching and affordable lending in the Appalachian Highlands. AOF’s target clients are part of the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, representing a significant portion of the workforce in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. These households earn above the Federal Poverty Level but still struggle to afford basic living costs.

The Importance of Employee Financial Wellness

Financial Stress is a Major Issue: 70% of American households are financially unhealthy, and over half live paycheck to paycheck. Financial concerns can cause declines in both mental and physical health, directly impacting the workplace.

Employees Want Help: 74% of employees report wanting help with their finances.

Financial Wellness Programs are Increasing: Almost half of employers expect to offer comprehensive financial programs to their workers.

Benefits of Financial Coaching for Employees

  • Reduces Stress and Improves Mental Health: Financial coaching can alleviate stress and anxiety related to employees’ financial situations.
  • Enhances Financial Literacy: Employees gain a stronger understanding of personal finance, empowering them to make informed decisions.
  • Supports Responsible Debt Management: Coaching helps employees manage and reduce debt, leading to improved financial stability.
  • Aids in Retirement Planning: Employees receive assistance in navigating retirement accounts, investment strategies, and risk management.

The "Super-vitamin Effect" for Your Workforce

Integrating financial empowerment strategies can act as a “super-vitamin,” enhancing the outcomes of other employee benefits and programs. A stable financial foundation allows employees to more fully benefit from opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Financial stability also helps employees withstand financial shocks, preventing setbacks that can impact their job performance.

"AOF embraces our families with a level of genuineness and warmth that facilitates excellent working relationships."

Cory Whitfield, STRONG Families

How AOF's Financial Coaching Works

AOF provides 100% free financial coaching services. We build authentic, long-term coaching relationships with clients to help them:

  • Repay high-interest predatory loans
  • Co-create and achieve financial goals
  • Reduce financial stress

AOF's Impact

AOF’s clients, on average, experience the following:

  • Increased credit scores
  • Decreased delinquent debt
  • Decreased predatory debt
  • Decreased debt-to-income ratio

"Building my confidence financially has affected far more than my bank account–has changed my life."

AOF Client

Why Partner with AOF?

Increased Employee Engagement: Financially stressed employees are less engaged at work. Financial coaching can improve engagement and motivation.

Improved Productivity: Financial issues can be a distraction at work. Reducing financial stress leads to more focused and productive employees.

Reduced Absenteeism: Mental health-related leaves of absence, sometimes caused by financial issues, have increased. Financial wellness programs can improve overall well-being and reduce absenteeism.

Enhanced Recruitment and Retention: Offering financial wellness tools can increase employee retention and attract higher quality candidates.

Community Wealth Building: By empowering employees to achieve financial stability, AOF helps build a stronger regional economy.

Partnership Options

AOF offers several partnership models to integrate financial coaching services into your workplace:

Integrated Coaching Services: Our integrated coaching services offering gives you the opportunity to work with AOF Financial Coaches who will adapt their workflows and documentation to align with other employee benefits offerings and the needs of your HR department.

Engagement Workshop: You can book us to provide an engagement workshop at your facility for your staff and/or program participants. An engagement workshop will provide educational content and information about how to sign up with an AOF coach. Ask us about grant funding or sponsorships available to cover the cost of an engagement workshop with your workplace.

Referral Pursuit Subscription: Have a meeting with our staff to learn more about what AOF can do to support your people and programs and get access to marketing collateral that will help you promote our services to your staff and/or program participants.

Take the Next Step

Contact AOF to discuss how a partnership can benefit your organization and the community.

Cost Statement: AOF is a 501(c)3 non-profit and aims to make its services as accessible as possible while keeping operations sustainable. Most of our partnerships with for-profit employers require a paid contract with AOF.
Donate