"People on the lowest incomes are not getting the increases in income to keep pace with rising expenses."
She is stepping down as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Turn Your Life Around Youth Development Trust (TYLA) is seeking $100,000 from the public amid the funding shortage.
Coughlan sat down with Newshub to explain why this partnership was so important to her.
Dave Letele said having to do so "weighs on you massively".
"There's 130 boys on the waiting list to be matched, and they really need some men to step forward and help make a difference."
Many organisations say they've never experienced such high demand for their services.
Inside there are white cards from different charities asking for donations for different items.
It's auctioning off the experience of feeding an old car through their shredding machine to raise money for a foodbank.
