The Front Row Seat: Amy Krulik on Leadership, Legacy, and Letting the Magic In
For the past seven years, Amy Krulik has been an integral part of HFL’s story. As Board President since 2018, she has helped guide our organization through extraordinary growth, innovation, and impact—always with a clear head, a full heart, and a deep commitment to the people we serve.
But if you ask her what mattered most? “The stories,” she says. “The lives changed.”
Amy didn’t expect this volunteer role to transform her life. A seasoned nonprofit leader, strategic thinker, and community builder, she took on the presidency with a strong sense of purpose and a pragmatic eye. What followed led deeper.
“I didn’t know how transformative it would be to lead this organization,” Amy said. “But the work is sacred. I’ve had a front row seat to lives changing.”
Under Amy’s tenure, HFL launched its first-ever loan program that doesn’t require a guarantor, secured sustainable Federation funding, and digitized its application systems to reach borrowers more quickly and with greater care. It adapted to crises, expanded its outreach, and deepened its commitment to dignity.
Behind the scenes, Amy was the steady hand, the strategic voice, and the advocate who never lost sight of the borrower.
“We meet people at a time when they need to feel seen. That’s what makes HFL so powerful,” she emphasized.
From convening mission-aligned Board of Directors members to asking bold questions about who HFL could serve next, Amy led with vision and vulnerability. Her ability to zoom in on individual stories while zooming out to shape long-term strategy made her leadership feel personal and profound.
“Amy has been so much more than a volunteer. She has been a true leader and even more so a mentor and a friend. I cannot express how important her guidance has been over the past two years as I transitioned into the executive director role,” said HFL Executive Director, Anna Marx. “To have a wonderful president in place when you take on that role – that’s a wonderful thing all on its own. But to have one who is such an accomplished nonprofit leader to mentor you through that process? That is a true gift.”
Now, as her term as Board President comes to a close, Amy leaves HFL stronger, more visible, and more prepared to meet the needs of the moment.
“Let the magic in,” she often reminds new Board members. “The magic really does happen here.”
That magic—made of risk, resilience, and quiet generosity—will continue as Amy steps into her new role as chair of HFL’s fundraising committee with the same heart and humor that has defined her tenure. As she passes the torch to incoming Board President, Harold Marcus, we say thank you, Amy—for every Zoom call, every late-night email, every thoughtful question, and every unwavering belief in what’s possible when we lend a hand with love.