Mary Lee Foundation

What Mary Lee Foundation does

Mary Lee Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1963 by Charlene Crump as the Mary Lee School of Special Education and renamed Mary Lee Foundation in 1976 to reflect its widening scope. Headquartered on a 10-acre South Austin campus at 1339 Lamar Square Drive, the foundation serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), adults with severe mental disorders, adults with brain injuries and neurological conditions, seniors aged 62+, and other low-income residents through an integrated portfolio of residential, therapeutic, and community-based programs.

The organization's core service lines are organized into eight product offerings: an Affordable Housing Program comprising HUD-subsidized units at Charles Place (HUD 811, persons 18-62 with disabilities), Flagship (HUD 202, persons 62+), The Willows (50+ units), and The Legacy (40+ units, 4-star energy rated); three licensed Intermediate Care Facilities (two 13-unit apartment complexes and one 6-bedroom group home); the John Hartman Care Facilities for adults with mental disorders; Home and Community Based Services under Texas Medicaid HCS and CLASS waivers; Daybreak Activity Center day habilitation; outpatient physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy at the Mary Lee Movement and Wellness Center; and the Billo's Dog Treats vocational program in partnership with Hold Out Brewing. Underlying infrastructure includes S.M.A.R.T. (Sustaining and Maintaining A Residential Transition) Housing meeting Type A International Building Code accessibility standards, with features such as roll-in showers, Braille signage, fire alarms for hearing-impaired residents, and rooftop solar photovoltaic systems that reduce Austin Energy demand.

Revenue mechanics are blended and government-anchored. Recurring streams come from HUD subsidies (Section 202, Section 811), Medicaid HCS and CLASS waivers, Medicare Part B for outpatient therapy, and ICF per diems; usage-based revenue flows from private insurance reimbursements (Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, United Healthcare, and others); and supplementary streams include private-pay clients, donations, grants, planned giving, and annual event sponsorships (Impact Luncheon tiers from $2,500 to $25,000). Go-to-market is primarily referral-based via physicians and state agencies, supplemented by grassroots community outreach, an annual Impact Luncheon, a Fall Festival, monthly newsletters, and a "Making a Difference" tour program led by the Executive Director. The organization employs 101-250 staff and has been CARF-accredited for brain injury rehabilitation for five consecutive terms, most recently in 2015.

Name

Mary Lee Foundation

Legal name

Mary Lee Foundation

Website

https://maryleefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mary Lee Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1963 that operates a 10-acre South Austin campus providing affordable housing, ICF residential care, outpatient therapy, day habilitation, HCS/Medicaid waiver services, and vocational training for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental disorders, brain injuries, and low-income seniors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Disability support services
• Outpatient rehabilitation therapy
• Vocational training programs
• Community-based human services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies and Entitlements: HUD subsidies for affordable housing (Section 202, Section 811), Medicaid waivers (HCS, CLASS), and Medicare Part B payments for therapy services. Government contracts fund ICF programs and HCS services.
2. Healthcare Reimbursement: Payments from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for outpatient therapy services. Multiple payer sources including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, United Healthcare, and others.
3. Private Pay: Direct payments from individuals for housing, day programs, and therapy services not covered by insurance or government programs.
4. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Corporate sponsorships for events. Planned giving options including bequests and gift annuities.
5. Event Sponsorships: Annual Impact Luncheon sponsorships at $2,500 to $25,000 levels. Table host fundraising. Event-specific sponsors for Fall Festival and other community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mary Lee Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates a 10-acre South Austin campus delivering affordable housing, intermediate care facilities, outpatient rehabilitation therapy, day habilitation, home and community based services, mental health housing, case management, and vocational training programs for low-income adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, brain injuries, and seniors. The foundation coordinates a continuum of wraparound services funded through HUD housing subsidies, Medicaid/Medicare waivers, private insurance, private pay, donations, and grants.

Product overview

Mary Lee Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of wraparound services for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, severe mental disorders, and those needing low-income housing. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio centered on supportive housing (Affordable Housing Program with Charles Place and Flagship buildings), residential care (Intermediate Care Facilities and John Hartman Care Facilities), community-based services (HCS Program and Daybreak Activity Center), outpatient rehabilitation therapy (Mary Lee Movement And Wellness Center), and vocational training (Billo's Dog Treats program). All services are coordinated through Case Management. The organization operates a 10-acre campus in South Austin serving the Central Texas community since 1963.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Billo's Dog Treats: A vocational training program making all-natural dog treats from spent grain donated by Hold Out Brewing, providing job skills for adults with disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of clients achieved social and vocational independence within 3 years in 1969 Texas Rehabilitation Commission study.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• St. Edward's UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2013Organized Thanksgiving Food Drive for Mary Lee Foundation's Food Pantry through Lauren I. Hill and team of St. Edward's Educators.
• Hold Out BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustin brewery provides spent grain for Billo's Dog Treats program, which repurposes the grain into all-natural dog treats while providing vocational training for adults with disabilities. Partnership exemplifies sustainable community collaboration since 2020.
• Zilker Neighborhood AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNegotiated affordable housing funding agreement as part of BartonPlace zoning case, supporting grant application to Constructive Ventures.
• Haddon and Cowan Architects CollaborativecoreTechnology or IntegrationDesign team enabling Type A accessibility standards, 4-star energy rating, and 37 change orders through 6 months of site plan and building plan approval.
• EBCO General Contractor, Ltd.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for The Legacy and The Willows, managing construction activity and costs with successful 8-month delivery timeline.
• Texas Solar Power CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationDesigned and installed solar photovoltaic panels on roof to reduce Austin Energy demand and operating expenses for common areas and elevators.
• Habitat for Humanity of Caldwell CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurchased and relocated existing metal warehouses, repurposing remaining materials for affordable housing programs without construction waste going to landfill.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Green Doors: Austin-based nonprofit providing supportive housing specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those experiencing homelessness. Operates a similar "housing plus services" model serving the same IDD client base in the same metro area.
• Caritas of Austin: Austin nonprofit focused on homelessness prevention and affordable housing with case management and workforce development. Direct peer in mission (anti-poverty housing with wraparound services) and in competing for the same Austin funding streams and donor base.
• Foundation Communities: Austin-based nonprofit providing affordable housing with supportive services across multiple sites. Operates Learning Centers and serves low-income families with similar income-based rents and on-site services, making it the closest comparable in scale and mission within the same geography.
• LifeWorks Austin: Large Austin-based nonprofit providing housing, counseling, and youth/family services. Comparable wraparound service model serving vulnerable populations including those with disabilities and mental health needs in the same Austin market.

Broad incumbents

• United Cerebral Palsy of Texas: State-level nonprofit providing housing, therapy, and case management for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Operates similar ICF and waiver-funded programs serving a directly overlapping client population.
• Easter Seals Central Texas: Regional affiliate of national disability services nonprofit, providing therapy, employment, and housing services across a broader geographic footprint. Comparable mission serving people with disabilities through multiple program lines including therapy and employment support.
• The Arc of Texas: Statewide advocacy and service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates broader advocacy, case management, and family support services, competing for similar HCS/CLASS waiver funding and donor relationships across Texas.
• Volunteers of America Texas: Texas branch of national nonprofit operating affordable housing, behavioral health, and senior services across multiple cities. Directly comparable in operating affordable housing with supportive services and competing for similar HUD funding allocations.

Regional players

• The Other Ones Foundation: Austin-based nonprofit providing transitional housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness. Operates in adjacent housing-assistance space in the same metro and competes for similar Austin-area donor dollars and city contracts.

Others

• Housing Authority of the City of Austin: Public-sector housing agency administering Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Austin. Comparable in administering HUD-subsidized affordable housing for very low-income populations; an important funder/partner rather than direct competitor for Mary Lee's supportive housing model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mlf_austin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzPllICBbgosj5Er3t3BwZQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaryLeeFoundation/photos
• Instagraminstagram.com/accounts/login/?next=%2Fmaryleefoundation%2F

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mary Lee Foundation