Trident United Way has received a $150,000 investment from Coastal Community Foundation to expand its Family Coaches program, strengthening support for working families across Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
The funding, distributed as $75,000 annually over two years, will support Family Coaches who work one-on-one with families to increase income, reduce debt and navigate barriers to financial stability.
Across the Tri-County, nearly four in 10 households fall below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold — working families earning incomes that do not keep pace with the rising cost of housing, child care, food, transportation and health care.
Family Coaches help address this challenge by providing consistent, personalized support over time. Working alongside families, they focus on practical steps that help households stabilize and move forward.
For more than 80 years, Trident United Way has worked alongside community partners to strengthen the Tri-County, historically mobilizing resources and investments to support local nonprofits. Today, that work has evolved to also include direct support through programs like Family Coaching, connecting families to the tools, resources and guidance they need to achieve lasting financial stability.
“Every day, our Family Coaches walk alongside hardworking families who are doing everything right and still struggling to get ahead,” said DJ Hampton, president and CEO of Trident United Way. “These are families contributing to our community, showing up to work and doing their best to keep up, but rising costs keep putting stability just out of reach. Our role is to meet them where they are and help create a clear, practical path forward.”
Trident United Way’s Family Coaches provide one-on-one guidance focused on increasing income, reducing debt, building credit and connecting families to resources. Coaches are embedded in community spaces across the Tri-County, including Trident United Way’s four Centers for Strong Families, workplaces and housing communities, making support more accessible.
Coastal Community Foundation has been a long-standing partner in advancing solutions that strengthen communities across South Carolina’s coast. As the largest grantmaking organization in South Carolina, the foundation brings together donors, nonprofits and community leaders to tackle critical issues affecting the region, creating long-lasting change and benefits for all.
Together, investments like this reflect a shared commitment to strengthening both the nonprofit ecosystem and the individuals and families at the center of this work.
“The grant to expand Trident United Way’s Family Coaches program comes from the Economic Mobility Grantmaking Fund,” said Darrin Goss Sr., president and CEO of Coastal Community Foundation. “Opportunity for economic advancement is essential to create a thriving region. When families have consistent support and access to the right resources, they are better positioned to navigate challenges and strengthen community resilience. We are proud to continue to support Trident United Way’s work and invest in pathways to financial stability for working families.”
This investment supports Trident United Way’s goal of uplifting 15,000 families out of poverty by 2035. By expanding access to Family Coaching, the organization continues to focus on coordinated, long-term solutions that help families move from surviving to stable.
For more information about Trident United Way, visit TUW.org.