UWGN-2024 AnnualReport - Flipbook - Page 22
To help our neighbors beat poverty, United Way of Greater Nashville
established the Nashville Alliance for Financial Independence (NAFI), a
coalition of professionals helping working individuals and families build
assets for long-lasting 昀椀 nancial independence and economic mobility.
NAFI provides professional development to more than 50 local
nonpro昀椀 ts on 昀椀 nance-related topics and convenes multi-sector
partners to effectively change community conditions.
In partnership with the Nashville mayor’s of昀椀 ce, UWGN also operates
the city’s Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). The center provides
free one-on-one 昀椀 nancial counseling and teaches clients how to open
safe and affordable bank accounts, establish and increase credit scores,
reduce debt, and increase savings. Common goals and metrics were
established in partnership with the mayor’s of昀椀 ce, and sustainability
for the work has continued through the city and United Way operating
a cost-share model. Since its inception, the FECs have assisted and
helped over 11,115 clients reduce debt by over $31.1 million and increase
savings by over $4.9 million through more than 33,438 individual
counseling sessions.
In 2019, UWGN became the intermediary for Middle Tennessee to
recruit, train and monitor grantees through SNAP Employment &
Training, a federal program operated in partnership with the Tennessee
Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The program aims
to increase self-suf昀椀 ciency and independence by helping SNAP-eligible
participants reach their employment goals through funded education,
skills-based learning and hands-on work experience. Most participants
enrolled in workforce training programs have no income and/or no
reportable income prior to participation in the SNAP program.
11,115
clients served
since inception
22
$
31 MILLION+
2,791
of debt reduced
since inception
clients increased their
credit score by at least
35 points
