Trident United Way

What it reported doing in 2024

Financial stabilityfinancial stability support helps families maintain income, manage expenses, and reduce financial stress - ensuring that short-term crises do not become long-term setbacks. This work is grounded in trusted relationships, coordinated referral systems, and family-centered coaching delivered across multiple access points in the strong families, strong community initiative.1) family coaching modelat the center of trident united way's work is a structured coaching approach grounded in financial empowerment, goal-setting, and accountability. Family coaches help households stabilize income, access resources, improve credit, reduce expenses, and build savings. Coaching is delivered across centers for strong families and thrive@ access points to ensure support is available where families already are. 2) americorps family navigatorstrident united way's americorps program builds local workforce capacity in human services while directly serving families seeking financial stability. Americorps family navigators provide individualized coaching, resource navigation, benefits access, and referrals - strengthening the regional infrastructure of support for alice households. During fy 2024-2025, americorps members connected families to coordinated services that addressed basic needs, employment barriers, income stabilization, and long-term financial planning. In total, americorps members supported 2,025 households - including 4,325 individuals - and connected them to 5,261 services, 3,116 of which addressed immediate basic needs. The program also helped develop a strong pipeline of trained professionals prepared to continue careers in the nonprofit and human services sector.3) barriers to employmentbarriers to employment provides short-term financial assistance to help individuals overcome obstacles that prevent them from finding or keeping a job - such as transportation, childcare, uniforms, equipment, certification fees, and other work-related costs. This resource allows families to maintain stable employment and avoid income disruption during periods of financial strain.4) 2-1-1 information & referral service2-1-1 provides free, confidential, 24/7 connection to essential human services via phone, text, and web. During fy 2024-2025, tri-county residents placed 17,084 calls, resulting in 40,337 referrals and 19,515 website visits for assistance with housing, utilities, food, and employment resources. Trident united way contracts with the united way of association of sc, which manages the call center and provides up-to-date, local information about resources in the tri-county to tri-county callers.5) volunteer income tax assistance (vita)through partnership with the IRS, free tax preparation services were provided to individuals and families with low-to-moderate income. In fy 2024-2025, more than 450 individuals received free federal returns generating $354,514 in refunds including $156,635 in earned credits. These services help families keep more of what they earn and reduce reliance on high-fee tax preparers.6) foodshare foodshare expanded access to fresh, affordable produce across the region by adding new distribution partners and strengthening rural delivery points, helping more families stay connected to healthy food year-round. Foodshare berkeley county is making meaningful strides in addressing food insecurity - distributing more than 70,000 pounds of produce to 1,041 customers, totaling over 4,300 boxes in fy 2024-2025, with slightly more than 50% of boxes purchased using snap benefits. The program also improved customer retention and long-term participation, reflecting strong satisfaction and continued community demand.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 99.9%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 68.6%; rating input score 69
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.59 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 73.9%; rating input score 74; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 97.7%; rating input score 98; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -44.8%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.92; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.08; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.2%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -6.3% per year; rating input score 0; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -5.4% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings