Accelerator Spotlight: Easter Seals of Central Texas

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Last April, Easter Seals of Central Texas, along with seven other finalists, pitched to a sold-out crowd at Philanthropitch. All eight nonprofits had one goal in mind: to gain support and funding for a program that would dramatically impact Austin. The wonderful folks at Easter Seals delivered an outstanding pitch which earned them $53,075 and entrance into Greenlights’ first-ever Accelerator, a rigorous, four-month program designed to help enterprising nonprofits grow or scale an innovative program or service.Instead of enjoying a relaxing summer, Easter Seals was one of five select nonprofits that worked alongside nonprofit experts, business entrepreneurs, mentors and consultants to build out their business plan. “The Accelerator program was intensive,” said Tod Marvin, CEO of Easter Seals of Central Texas. “Greenlights brought very successful, local entrepreneurs to each meeting. We were able to hear from a host of people who have been in our shoes. To be given access to that level of expertise was amazing.”The initiative they were hoping to grow is called Easter Seals Lawn & Landscape Services, a residential and commercial landscaping business with huge potential to create jobs for people with disabilities.  One such employee is Bruce Marshall (pictured below), known by his co-workers as “Bubba” and “Big Dog.” Bruce is a landscaper employed by Easter Seals Central Texas’ Paid Job Training program who has become totally responsible for his own personal, financial and medical needs. In addition to job placement and regular incomes, Easter Seals provides additional ‘wrap around’ services to help their workers, like Bruce, live independently, and that’s where the team at Easter Seals sees the most potential for growth and expansion. Thanks to the support of Accelerator classes and mentors, Easter Seals of Central Texas developed and refined their business plan in preparation to pitch to our Social Venture Partners (SVP) for further investment. And what a successful business plan they had! After an in-depth deliberation process, the selection committee agreed: Easter Seals earned top honors, a $35,000 investment, and three years of business growth consulting and mentorship from Greenlights to help grow and scale their paid jobs training program, Easter Seals Lawn & Landscape Services.“Our wrap-around services provide people with the skills and knowledge to pursue their hopes and dreams through paid job training, financial literacy education, and other necessary life skills. The investment we received through the Accelerator will be vital in scaling this initiative,” said Lucas Wells, Chief Programs Officer of Easter Seals Central Texas.We all know that Austin entrepreneurs have access to investors willing to provide the capital they need to scale and grow. At Greenlights we believe that nonprofit innovators deserve that same opportunity. We’re so proud of our first class of Accelerator participants, and look forward to promoting and advancing many more enterprising nonprofits like Easter Seals. “Easter Seals of Central Texas is setting an example of creative earned revenue streams which we know to be crucial to the long-term sustainability of a nonprofit,” says Greenlights’ CEO Matt Kouri.Get InvolvedOur Social Venture Partners are business leaders and social entrepreneurs who make a powerful commitment to our community by investing in high-impact nonprofits. By sharing their expertise and resources, Social Venture Partners help local nonprofits scale innovative programs and services to better solve big community problems. Know a nonprofit that could benefit from the Accelerator program? Applications for the next class open in February.

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