Families for Families - Spotlight

CRISTYN MADLEY - FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

By JB

Cristyn Madley is the Executive Director of Families for Families (F4F), a nonprofit that has served those in need for almost a decade and continues to grow in impact, operations, people, and programs.

During a recent Q&A, Cristyn shared about what makes her and F4F a ‘leader and organization to watch’ as well as support.

F4F is not her first ‘Founder’ role. What was your pre-F4F career?

I started my career as a preschool teacher and then I founded a daycare that I ran for 28 years.

Taking it to the next level. What led you to transition to full-time with F4F?

As F4F continued to grow, we got to a point in 2019 with exponential growth and I was working the equivalent of two full-time jobs [daycare and F4F as President]. I needed to make a change so F4F could grow to the next level so after figuring out how to make it work financially, I took on the Executive Director role full-time.

No typical day. Describe a typical day.

Depends on the day. Some days I’m moving furniture and getting things ready for when clients come in. Other days, I go to networking events to get our name out there…today, I went to a Chamber of Commerce meeting. I do administrative tasks including emails, phone calls, and webinars. Two weekends a month, we do moves so during the week, I get ready by contacting clients, reaching out to donors about picking up donations, and coordinating volunteers. On moving days, three volunteers and the truck go out in the morning to pick up donations from the community, we unload it in the warehouse, and then reload the truck with items the clients picked out and then in the afternoon, we do the move in.

The learning never stops.?What is the biggest lesson learned since F4F started?

I continue to learn all the time. We started out with just the holiday programs and expanded to helping in all areas of our clients’ lives…from getting financial sustainability and knowing what the available social programs are to finding affordable housing (which is lacking). There is a gap between being able to afford to live and what wages are for our clients. Overall, I’ve tried to navigate and find ways where people can sustain themselves.

We are more alike than we realize. Share a special story of a family F4F has helped in the past decade.

There are a lot of special stories. There was a [lightbulb moment] at a client’s home when we were moving in furniture and I saw that the Mom had pictures of her kids on the walls…school pictures, track meet ribbons…and I realized how alike we are as Moms even though one of us is going through hard times.

Dressers, bedsheets, bath towels, and more.?What are the biggest needs F4F has?

Money, dressers, bedsheets, bath towels, pots & pans, microwaves, TVs, toiletries, food to stock the Food Pantry.

Coming in 2023.?Any new initiatives in 2023?

One new initiative is Community Dinner where we really focus on the relationships we have with clients through a workshop for parents while kids play games and do crafts, then we enjoy dinner and time together as a community. We are also focused on the Transition Fund which helps our families with the 3+ month gap between starting a job and being financially stable to afford their apartment on their own. We also coach clients to help them get better jobs.

Money can make a difference. If money was no object, what are the top initiatives F4F would implement?

First would be affordable housing. If I won the lottery, I would buy an apartment building where people in need can live a decent life and not worry or stress.

Second would be emergency backup childcare for single parents with no family to depend on when their kids are sick and they have to go to work.

Words of Wisdom. What is some advice to anyone embarking on the ‘Founder of a nonprofit' journey?

Learn as much as you can about the industry, what other nonprofits are doing (don’t recreate the wheel), and network network network. It’s all about the people you are helping and learning to be a part of their community - I try to soak up everyone’s experiences. Follow your heart, it’s a great industry to be in - you almost always feel good, except when someone is struggling.

There isn’t much free time. Outside of work, what do you like to do?

I love to spend time with my husband and 4 daughters or go dancing with my girlfriends.

Fun facts. What are some things about you many people don’t know?

I grew up in California and lived in San Diego and Lakes Tahoe and Mammoth. I love to travel. My bucket list includes Kentucky Derby, Mardi Gras, and visiting every state in the U.S…a few more to go including Maine and North Dakota.

THANK YOU Cristyn for taking time for Q&A!

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