ABOUT THE POSITION
The Budget Coach Volunteer is a volunteer-based position that is responsible for guiding, teaching, and compassionately supporting UWFC Budget Coach program clients. Budget coaches will help ALICE households in Frederick County improve their ability to budget and make well-informed financial decisions including budgeting techniques, financial management, and goal attainment strategies. One-on-one sessions or monthly reporting guidelines must occur to verify the client’s number of budget coach sessions, goal attainment, and/or anecdotal success stories. This may include spreadsheet data, Google surveys, and/or a brief narrative.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
• Guide, teach, and compassionately support Budget Coach program clients, which may include UWFC savers as well as clients referred from a community partner, by providing one-on-one coaching.
• Inform and encourage clients to utilize Prosperity Center programs, including the homeownership program, the car ownership program, the credit café, and additional online financial resources.
• Coordinate and manage reoccurring appointments for each client and continue to update and monitor progress throughout duration.
• Assist with recruiting more potential clients.
• Promote the Budget Coach program and be an ambassador for financial stability.
• Complete one-time mandatory budget coach orientation, and ongoing financial stability training at least twice/year. Training opportunities will be provided.
• Complete and submit one-on-one budget coach reporting as required (e.g. spreadsheet,
Google form, narrative, etc.).

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
• Trust is a must! Respect and adhere to confidentiality with any given client.
• Strong interest in making a difference in the client’s financial wellness and the community at large.
• Compassionate, empathetic, flexible to meet needs of diverse clients.
• Strong communication skills, interest in building relationships with first-time clients and seasoned savers.
• Supervision/Leadership/ Volunteer management or volunteer experience preferred.
• Ability to organize workload, work effectively and produce measurable results with minimal supervision.
• Understand financial literacy (knowledge of income and expenses, budgeting spreadsheets, asset building, working knowledge of credit scores and reports, etc.).
• Spanish-speaking/Bilingual a plus.

OTHER DETAILS
• Please anticipate intensive one-on-one volunteering on average 2-4 hours per month, with a possible 12-month commitment.
• This position has the flexibility for remote work (based on the needs of the clients and coaches).
• Meetings that take place in-person will adhere to CDC guidelines regarding mask wearing and social distancing.
• If you are currently enrolled in school, we value flexibility around key times including, but not limited to, final exams and holidays.

WHY IS THE BUDGET COACH PROGRAM IMPORTANT?
In Frederick County, MD, 33,138 households (32%) cannot afford basic needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, transportation, health care and technology. ALICE households have incomes above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), but still struggle to afford basic needs. As a volunteer with UWFC, you will provide insight and support ALICE individuals by providing knowledge and resources to help them achieve financial stability.

For more information on ALICE, visit: https://www.unitedwayfrederick.org/challenge-alice

WHAT MAKES UNITED WAY A GREAT PLACE TO VOLUNTEER?
Our culture rests on the values of inclusiveness, passion, compassion, excellence, innovation, and risk-taking. You’ll be able to further develop your skills and gain hands-on experience that can be transferred to your future career. You’ll receive supervision and support through check-ins with a direct supervisor, as well as the opportunity to learn how to give and receive constructive feedback with other volunteers.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to Mary Ellen Mitchell by emailing: programs@housingfrederick.org with the subject line “Budget Coach Volunteer.” Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

In 2024, United Way of Frederick County partnered with Housing Frederick to enhance the Budget Coaching program. Led by Mary Ellen Mitchell, Founder of Housing Frederick, United Way seeks to expand and enhance the program to serve ALICE households in the Frederick County community.

Mary Ellen Mitchell's Bio:

Mary Ellen Mitchell has played a pivotal role in promoting financial education in Frederick County for over a dozen years. Her commitment to empowering low-income individuals through various initiatives reflects her dedication to creating a positive impact on the community.

In 2014, while working at Interfaith Housing Alliance, Mary-Ellen established the Credit Café. This program aimed to assist low-income individuals by providing them with the opportunity to review their credit reports with financial professionals. Additionally, participants could engage in workshops designed to help them correct any issues in their reports and improve their overall credit standing.

She has been a charter member, past chair, and current chair of the Frederick County Coalition for Financial Success. This coalition, meeting monthly for over a decade, focuses on providing professional development opportunities to its members to enhance their ability to serve the community effectively. The group also hosts a prosperity fair, offering access to nonprofits and local services that can contribute to the financial stability of low-income earners.

In 2019, Mary Ellen founded Housing Frederick, a nonprofit organization dedicated to collaboration, advocacy, and education on topics related to affordable housing and economic empowerment. The organization's flagship program is financial education, which has impacted hundreds of individuals and their families. Mary-Ellen has personally developed curriculum for 10 workshops covering crucial topics such as credit management, budgeting, debt avoidance, renting, first-time home buying, and entrepreneurship skills development. 

Frederick County Association of Realtors (FCAR) and Housing Frederick are partnering to offer a series of financial education workshops open to the community.

Budget coaching participants are invited to attend the Financial Stability Workshop Series. Workshops are led by certified financial coach and CEO of Housing Frederick, Mary Ellen Mitchell and are held once a month at no cost. Reservations are mandatory.

The early evening classes will focus on developing individuals' confidence in budget and credit management leading to housing stability and preparing for future goals, such as homeownership to improve generational wealth.

To register for FREE or learn more, click here or call FCAR at 301-663-0757 x1002.

• Pathway to Homeownership
  • Contact: Joyce Kwamena-Poh by phone at 240-578-4009 or by email at jkwamenapoh@uwfrederick.org
• Pathway to Transportation
  • Contact: Joyce Kwamena-Poh by phone at 240-578-4009 or by email at jkwamenapoh@uwfrederick.org
• Credit Cafe - Offered by Interfaith Housing Alliance
  • Contact: Lacy Ames by phone at 301-788-0239 or by email at lames@interfaithhousing.org
• Budget Coaching
  • Contact: Mary Ellen Mitchell by email at programs@housingfrederick.org.
• VITA - Free Tax Preparation Service
  • Call 2-1-1 or 866-411-6803 for questions, information, and/or to make an appointment
• Homebuyer Education Workshop - Offered by the Community Action Agency of Frederick
  • The City of Frederick Department of Housing and Human Services, a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency, offers a virtual Homebuyer Education Workshop. Click here to register.

• United Way of Frederick County's Prosperity Center
• United Way's Financial Literacy Library
• CASH Campaign of Maryland
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• University of Maryland Extension Program
• Change-Machine

Please utilize the worksheets below to help you achieve your financial goals:

• Financial Empowerment Self-Assessment
• My Money Picture
• Setting SMART Goals
• Savings Plan
• Bill Calendar
• Cutting Expenses
• Debt Log
• Spending Tracker