Help Working Families Increase Their Financial Stability

Are you looking to volunteer?  Are you interested in changing someone's life for the better?

Well, United Way of Greater New Haven has the volunteer opportunity for you.

Use what is uniquely you to help a working family increase their financial stability. Become a trained volunteer budget coach for Smart About Money (SAM), a free program that matches low to moderate income working households from New Haven, West Haven, East Haven and Hamden interested in improving their financial situation with trained volunteers acting as budget coaches for one-on-one assistance.

If you have a desire to help low to moderate income working families in the community gain the skills and resources necessary to become more financially stable, join us today! 

You’ll be provided with free training and a step-by-step curriculum that will equip you with all of the information you need to make a difference in the lives of others. Previous coaching experience or financial training is not required. 

After completing the training, each coach will be assigned to a household that has indicated an interest in developing a practical budget with the support of a volunteer coach. Participants may be individuals who have participated in classroom style financial education programs, been identified by referring community based organizations or self-identified the need for a financial behavioral change.

You and the household you are coaching will meet approximately 1x per month for 6 months (totaling 4-6 meetings) with average meetings lasting about 1.5 hours. There will also be check-in calls to follow up between each meeting. As a result of the meetings and phone calls, the participant will have a better understanding of his/her finances and how budgeting contributes to a more stable financial future. 

Simply contact United Way of Greater New Haven by emailing Jan McCray at jmccray@uwgnh.org or call (203) 691-4216 for details on how to become a SAM budget coach. Brochure Attached.