Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Carley.
Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I look back at my childhood, I realize I was always incredibly sensitive and empathetic. I also often felt like a bit of an outsider, like I wasn’t always understood. I think that experience gave me a heart for people who felt overlooked or on the outside themselves. I found myself naturally drawn toward them.
That started by volunteering with students in my school who had additional needs. In college, it led me to work at summer camps for children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses (shout out to Camp Korey in Carnation, Washington!). Those experiences shaped me in profound ways and reinforced something I still believe today: relationships have the power to change lives.
After college, I spent several years working in the film industry in Los Angeles, where I developed my skills in production, project management, and storytelling. While film and nonprofit work might seem like two completely different worlds, I found there was tremendous overlap. Both require creativity, strategic coordination, relationship-building, the confidence to ask for what you need, and the determination to find a way forward when the answer isn’t immediately “yes.” Eventually, I realized I wanted to use those skills in service of something bigger than myself, so I made the leap into nonprofit work.
After working with a few organizations in Los Angeles, my family and I moved to Austin in 2015, where I joined Chive Charities. Over the next seven years, I had the opportunity to help grow the organization, leading development efforts before eventually overseeing operations. It was an incredible season of learning and growth that stretched me as a leader and deepened my belief in the power of community.
Today, I serve as Chief Impact Officer for National Angels, where we work to ensure every child, youth, and family experiencing foster care has consistent, healthy relationships. One of the greatest privileges of my career has been helping bring the nation’s first Foster Care Community Center in Austin to life—a place where children can play, caregivers can find support, volunteers can build meaningful relationships, and families can simply experience belonging.
Looking back, none of these experiences feel disconnected. Whether I was telling stories through film or helping build communities of support for children and families, the thread has always been the same: bringing people together and creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and like they belong. I feel incredibly grateful that I get to do work that reflects those values every day.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. While I’ve been fortunate to have incredible opportunities throughout my career, there have been seasons that stretched me more than I ever imagined.
On the personal side, one of the hardest chapters began when my daughter started having seizures at just a year and a half old. She was officially diagnosed with epilepsy just before her second birthday – and only a week before I gave birth to our third child. Navigating doctor’s appointments, medications, uncertainty, and the emotions that come with seeing your child in distress while working full-time and caring for a growing family was incredibly challenging. It taught me to let go of the idea that I could do everything perfectly and instead focus on being present for what mattered most. I’m happy to report that she’s doing amazing!
A few years later, my husband made the courageous decision to leave the company he had built and join the Army. For eight months, he was training states away, and there were weeks when a single phone call was all we had. Parenting three young children while working full-time without my partner beside me was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. At the same time, I wouldn’t trade that experience. It strengthened our family, deepened our appreciation for one another, and reminded us that we’re willing to make sacrifices in pursuit of the life we’re building together. I’m incredibly proud of him and of what we learned through that season.
Professionally, I think leadership itself is one of the greatest challenges. You make decisions with the best information you have, knowing they affect real people. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve handled conversations differently than I wish I had. I’ve had moments that still replay in my mind years later. But I’ve come to believe those experiences are what shape us into better leaders—if we’re willing to learn from them. They’ve made me quicker to listen, more willing to admit when I’m wrong, and more intentional about leading with both clarity and compassion.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that growth rarely happens during the easy seasons. The most difficult chapters of my life have also been the ones that have shaped me the most – as a leader, as a wife, as a mom, and as a person.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about National Angels ?
National Angels exists to ensure that every child, youth, and family experiencing foster care has access to consistent, caring relationships.
Through a growing network of chapters across the country – including Austin Angels—we partner with local communities to deliver two evidence-informed programs. Love Box® matches volunteer groups with foster families for at least one year, providing practical support, encouragement, and a dependable community. Dare to Dream® matches youth ages 11–22 with mentors who walk alongside them as they pursue education, career goals, and the transition into adulthood.
What sets us apart is our belief that relationships – not just resources – create lasting change. Rather than responding only in moments of crisis, we build intentional, long-term connections that help children and families thrive. Every volunteer is carefully trained, background checked, and supported by professional staff to ensure relationships are healthy, safe, and sustainable.
We’re also committed to measuring our impact. Years of research and outcomes data demonstrate that consistent relationships improve caregiver stability, youth well-being, educational achievement, and long-term connection. We don’t simply believe relationships matter – we’ve seen the difference they make.
We’re especially proud of our Foster Care Community Center in Buda, Texas, home to Austin Angels and National Angels. Designed alongside children, youth, caregivers, and professionals with lived experience in foster care, the center serves as both a local hub for families and a national model for what’s possible when communities intentionally invest in belonging. It provides space for mentoring, family support, volunteer engagement, life skills programming, and community partnerships – all under one roof.
As we continue to expand across the country, our mission remains the same: to ensure every child, youth, and family experiencing foster care has someone who consistently shows up. We believe relationships change everything, and we’re working toward a future where no one experiences foster care alone.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are so many meaningful ways to get involved, whether you’re an individual, a family, a business, or a community organization.
Individuals and families can become Love Box® volunteers or Dare to Dream® mentors, making a long-term commitment to walk alongside children, youth, and families experiencing foster care. Businesses can sponsor events, underwrite programs, organize volunteer service days, host donation drives, or provide in-kind expertise and resources. Foundations and community partners collaborate with us to expand our reach and deepen our impact in the communities we serve.
Financial support is also critical. Donations allow us to professionally train and support volunteers, provide direct resources to families, and expand our programs into more communities across the country.
If someone isn’t quite ready to volunteer or give, one of the most powerful ways to support our mission is simply by sharing it. Many people have never heard of National Angels or Austin Angels until someone they trust introduces them to our work. Every conversation helps us reach more children, youth, and families who deserve to experience consistent support and belonging.
No matter how someone chooses to engage, they become part of a community committed to one simple belief: relationships change everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinangels.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinangelsnonprofit?igsh=bDdnM3o0ZGRqZGJh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinangelsTX
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-carley123/
