THE STORY BEHIND WHAT WE DO
It Started with a Simple Belief
WHAT IF EVERY PERSON COULD BUILD A LIFE THEY LOVE?
Meet Nate Chrisman
Our Founder
Nate Chrisman has invested his life in helping people grow, heal, and build better lives. From schools and group homes to recovery settings and community organizations, Nate has worked alongside individuals from every background — people rebuilding after setbacks, people navigating big transitions, and people who simply want to elevate their life and take their next step forward.
What he saw again and again was simple: everyone can grow when they’re given support, practical tools, clear language, and a hopeful path they can follow. Whether someone is starting over, starting fresh, or pursuing more, the right tools change everything. That belief inspired Nate to create GOODLIFE, a framework designed to help people strengthen their thinking, their choices, their relationships, and ultimately build a life they love.
Nate is the Founder and CEO of The Cleft, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals and communities with the resources they need to thrive. He’s a strategist, a communicator, and a long-time advocate for helping people build their lives with intention — one decision, one skill, and one day at a time.
Today, Nate partners with schools, counties, organizations, and leaders across the country to deliver GOODLIFE’s practical tools for personal growth, wellness, and meaningful change. His work is rooted in a simple conviction: every person’s story is still being written — and everyone should have the tools they need to shape it with purpose and possibility.
We Don't Just Stop Bad Things
WE BUILD GOOD THINGS. People have many direction-changing moments in life, and we believe more of those moments should be good.
The Science
Behind Our Work
GOODLIFE is built on evidence-informed frameworks
that have been proven to work.
We focus on developing protective factors—the internal and external resources that help people bounce back from adversity.
Our 5 Core Factor Frames aren't just nice concepts
they're based on decades of research into what actually creates resilience, prevents behavioral health crises, and builds lasting well-being.
But we don't just quote studies at you.
We translate that research into real, practical tools you can use starting today.
Our Vision
for You
You have everything
within you to build a life you love.
You might not feel that way right now. You might be dealing with stuff that feels overwhelming. You might have people in your life who've convinced you that you're limited by your circumstances.
we've seen too many people transform their lives to believe that anyone is truly stuck.
We believe you can become focused, confident, and resilient. We believe you can take ownership of your story and stride toward the future you want.
Most importantly, we believe your life matters
not just what you'll accomplish, but who you are right now, in this moment.
Ready to Start Building?
Your story isn't over yet.
In fact, the best chapters might be just beginning.
Let's build the life you love together.
