Partnering to Empower Your Community
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, which constitutes 30% of households in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. These households earn above the Federal Poverty Level but struggle to afford basic living costs.
The Super-vitamin Effect: Boosting Your Program's Impact
Integrating financial empowerment strategies into social service delivery can have a “super-vitamin” effect, enhancing the outcomes of traditional programs. New York City found that services like homeless prevention and workforce development achieve better and quicker results when financial empowerment programming is included. A stable financial foundation allows individuals and families to more fully benefit from programs designed to improve employment prospects or avoid housing crises. Financial stability also helps families withstand financial shocks, preventing setbacks that can undo progress.
How AOF's Financial Coaching Works
AOF provides 100% free financial coaching services to community members across Northeast Tennessee. 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 experience the following:
- Increased credit scores
- Decreased delinquent debt
- Decreased predatory debt
- Decreased debt-to-income ratio
- Defined financial goals
- New knowledge and tools to promote financial empowerment
- Reduced financial stress
"AOF embraces our families with a level of genuineness and warmth that facilitates excellent working relationships."
Partnership Options
AOF offers several partnership models to integrate financial coaching services into your organization:
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 the needs of your program. Integrated coaching services typically require a paid contract or joint grant contract with AOF.
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 non-profit.
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. Ask us about grant funding or sponsorships available to cover the cost of a referral pursuit subscription with your non-profit.
"Building my confidence financially has affected far more than my bank account–it has changed my life."
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.