Donna Klaeger aims to expand reach of Highland Lakes Legacy Fund

DANIEL CLIFTON • EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — A little more than a decade ago, Donna Klaeger helped introduce the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund to the community. Several organizations, including the Seriff Foundation and the Marble Falls Independent School District, joined together to create an endowed fund that would benefit the community in the present but also in generations to come.

Klaeger, though, eventually stepped away from the fund as she pursued other endeavors such as being the Burnet County judge for eight years.

But after Midge Dockery announced her decision to leave as the fund’s local manager to take a position with the Marble Falls Economic Development Corp., the Legacy Fund board approached Klaeger to take over the director’s role.

She said yes with the stipulation that it’s only for a year. And while she has agreed to a 12-month commitment, Klaeger has attacked the job with her trademark high energy.

While the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund has prospered, one of her goals during the next 12 months is to reach out to the community and work on further developing the fund.

“I’m really going to focus on developing the fund and educating the community on what types of funds are available,” she said.

Inside the Legacy Fund, a number of nonprofits, scholarships and other qualified organization funds reside. Klaeger said it’s about 20 different ones. As a group, the individual funds can achieve more growth than on their own. But each organization can use their funds for their needs.

The Highland Lakes Legacy Fund is part of the Austin Community Foundation. While some people might question having an Austin foundation manage the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund money, Klaeger said the wealth of knowledge and professionalism the Austin Community Foundation staff and board provide is a major benefit. All this adds up to a stronger Legacy Fund.

It’s all about managing for the future, so nonprofits and scholarships will have funds for generations to come.

“It helps people and nonprofits give when they want to and how they want to,” Klaeger said.

As she gets rolling, Klaeger plans to take the message of the Legacy Fund out into the community. She wants to let people see it as a place to donate for a way to make an impact in the community for years to come. Klaeger is looking at expanding the advisory board and include a topic session during the monthly meetings.

The topics would include information about nonprofit giving and how people can leave money to organizations and causes they support, among other topics.

“My goal is to communicate what the Legacy Fund is and build community awareness about it,” Klaeger said. “A community fund can really help take some of the pressure of nonprofits to fundraise so they can focus on what they do best: serving the community.”

Go to highlandlakeslegacyfund.org for more information.

daniel@thepicayune.com