Our Vision

A world where every woman and family in transition has access to spaces designed with dignity, healing, and hope.

Our Mission

To create spaces that support healing for women and families starting over.

Meet Our Founder

Kelly Finley has always believed in giving back. Growing up in Chicago, she learned early that everything she had was because someone else showed up for her, whether a grandparent, a teacher, or a mentor. That belief shaped the path she took: college, then law school, then eventually leaving law to pursue design. At every step, giving back was part of the equation. In college, she ran the volunteer service organization and started an after-school program at a community service center. As a lawyer, she took on pro bono work representing clients in asylum and criminal cases. And when she became a designer, she wanted to find a way to use those skills to give back too.

The idea for Joy Street Initiative came after a volunteer painting project gone wrong. Kelly looked at the finished work and knew she'd never let it leave her hands that way for a paying client. She hired a painter to fix it, but it sparked a bigger question: why should nonprofits and the people they serve must accept whatever they're given, in whatever condition?

Kelly founded Joy Street Initiative in 2018 to answer that question. She wanted to give back using the skills she has, not just good intentions. She is also the founder of Joy Street Design, the national interior design studio that powers Joy Street Initiative.

Why Organizations Trust Us

Most volunteer design projects are well-intentioned but inconsistent. A group shows up for a day, does what they can, and leaves. The nonprofit is expected to be grateful for whatever they get.

Joy Street Initiative works differently. We bring the full resources of Joy Street Design, our parent studio, to every project: professional design expertise, trusted vendor partnerships, and funding to fill the gaps. We don't hand off half-finished work. We don't ask nonprofits to lower their standards. We believe the spaces where people are starting over deserve the same care as any other space.

The smallest design choice can have a meaningful, long-lasting impact. A room that feels intentional tells someone they matter. That's not a luxury. That's the point.

About Joy Street Initiative