Building a Legacy for Life

by Michele Krier

Marc and Carolyn Seriff have developed a dynamic new method of supporting non-profits. Rather than form a foundation that strictly grants monies, The Seriff Foundation (TSF) was designed to provide management assistance and training programs that improve the delivery of public health and social services in the Highland Lakes area of Austin, Texas.

Marc had worked on several start-up companies, one of which became America Online, which he saw grow from zero subscribers to 30 million. “If you’re going to make it in start-ups, you have to assume you’re going to succeed. Otherwise you won’t.” It’s that determination and vision that has become the hallmark of the foundation established by Marc and his wife Carolyn.

When they moved to the scenic Texas Hill Country, the Seriffs discovered that many non-profits in the area shared the same basic needs, requiring assistance with record keeping, fundraising, and personnel management. In addition, many agencies overlapped services, but lacked inter-agency cooperation.“We saw the same problems everywhere. In 1999 we made the decision to stop giving grants and instead, give business support to the non-profits in our area. We started to build a small staff whose initial goal was to help these groups keep records and write grants,” explains Carolyn.

Drawing on their successful management backgrounds, the Seriffs chose a path that would improve the effectiveness of organizations working in the areas of social and public health services. Foundation staffers now work with dozens of organizations throughout the area, increasing cohesiveness and effectiveness of the area providers.

Carolyn and Marc are also active on the boards of several non-profits and have helped many through their multi-organization retreat, providing the speakers and resources to train volunteers on how to be an exemplary board member. “We also do gap analysis and help incubate organizations that are needed for this area,” explains Marc.

The Seriffs were the lead donors in both the building campaign and the annual operating budget for the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes area. It was only natural that TSF staff and trustees would serve on the club’s board of directors and be active in volunteering, fundraising management, and club events. The club moved to a debt-free 21,000-square-foot facility in the center of Marble Falls, which boasts a full-size gym, computer lab, an arts and crafts room, two game rooms, and a full service kitchen. Today, between 200 and 250 children on two campuses participate in a wide variety of programs.

Every other year, TSF funds a day-long board training session for more than 30 organizations The TSF also established a monthly training program addressing organizational issues for nonprofit boards and volunteers. “We’ll provide 800 hours a year in training for 30 to 60 people each month to help these non-profit organizations,” said Carolyn. To enhance communication, TSF publishes a weekly email newsletter and a comprehensive Health and Services Guide for the community.

Recognizing the need for non-profit and government agencies to avoid costly duplication of services, the Seriff Foundation worked with the Marble Falls Housing Authority to create a one-stop shop, offering public health and social services to area clients. The Family Services center (FSC) opened its doors in 2005, providing a “shopping center” anchored by the Department of State Health Services, offering screenings and immu-izations, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, offering Medicaid, CHIP, food stamps, and TANF. The FSC now has 20 non-profits using the facility free of charge from a shared fully quipped office suite.

Among the most celebrated achievements of the Highland Lakes Health Partnership, which TSF helped realize, was the launch of a mobile pediatric van, which went from proposal to implementation in just ten months. The Eldercare Fair, held every other year, is attended by more than 1,000, with 80 exhibitors and 20 speakers focused on topics and services related ed to the elderly.

Another important achievement of the Health Partnership was a joint effort with the Texas Dental Association to provide a Mission of Mercy, offering a wide range of dental care for the area’s indigent population. “The Partnership was able to bring together volunteer dentists and hygienists who provided more than $500,000 in services to people of all ages who had no other means of paying for this care. Partnership volunteers wanted to stay past their shifts,” says Marc of the community’s dedication to the program.

The Seriffs also helped to create the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund, in cooperation with the Marble Falls Independent School District. The Legacy Fund is on track toward its long-term goal of $30 million to provide funding for area organizations to provide much needed social services.

Thanks to Marc and Carolyn, their vision for aiding non-profit organizations continues to enrich the lives and health of tens of thousands of Texans, while The Seriff Foundation plants the seeds for a brighter future for generations to come.