Role: Chief Operating Officer

Background: Mariah Craven serves as the Chief Operating Officer of NFYI, where she oversees human resources, finance and accounting, programs, communications, and organizational systems. In this role, she is focused on supporting and coaching a diverse staff along with developing and improving NFYI’s internal systems to ensure the organization’s sustainability and impact.

Mariah first joined NFYI as the 2019 Shadow Day Manager before transitioning to managing the organization’s communications, then supported development, and later served as Deputy Director. Prior to joining NFYI, she ran her own consultancy and held leadership roles with various political campaigns and nonprofit organizations, working with changemakers like Mayor Karen Bass, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Senator Alex Padilla. As the executive director of Sea Change Leadership PAC, she mobilized thousands of Californians, raised money across the country, and designed a summer youth voter outreach program. She has also served as an award-winning mentor for young adults.

Before her career in campaigns and nonprofits, Mariah covered social and political issues as a TV news journalist and documentary filmmaker. She holds a BA in English from Boston University and an MA in Journalism from New York University. Mariah lives in Austin, TX, with her husband, two children, and rescue dog.

Why you like working at NFYI: The people! The young leaders, staff, board, legislators, and donors all play critical roles in lifting up foster youth voices — and their passion for what they do is inspiring. It’s an honor to learn from them all.

Passions/Hobbies/Aspirations: Mariah enjoys working out, food, music, and writing.

Fun personal fact: As a teen, Mariah participated in a youth development program focused on liberation and writing that set her on a path she could never have imagined: journalist, TV show creator, community organizer. She is proud to support NFYI in training the next generation of grassroots leaders and excited to watch their remarkable futures unfold.