Work Group Committees for Youth-Oriented Organization

The Nightingale Group Committee Structure & Volunteer Opportunities:

Our Mission

Building Better Relationships

Creating a culture where healthy ways of living and relating are learned, lived, and strengthened.

Why Committees Matter

The Nightingale Group (TNG) is building an organization designed for long-term impact, sustainability, and growth. Our committees bring together people with diverse skills, experience, relationships, and perspectives to help turn our mission into meaningful action.

Committees work collaboratively with TNG’s Executive Director, Board of Directors, staff, program facilitators, advisors, and other committees to strengthen the organization and advance its mission.

As TNG grows, committees may evolve, develop subcommittees, or take on additional responsibilities.

Our Goal for Every Committee

A fully developed committee will include:

• At least three active members, including a designated Chair
• Clearly defined responsibilities, goals, and annual priorities
• Sustainable systems, processes, and documentation
• Regular meetings as needed to accomplish committee objectives
• Clear communication with the Executive Director and Board
• Collaboration with other committees when projects overlap
• Appropriate tracking and documentation of progress
• Identification of opportunities, challenges, and organizational needs
• A willingness to continuously evaluate and improve the committee’s work

Committee members are volunteers and are not expected to do everything themselves. We are building teams that use each person’s strengths while creating systems that allow TNG to grow beyond any one individual.

TNG Organizational Committee Work Groups:

Research & Evaluation

Purpose: Build the research and evaluation infrastructure necessary to understand, measure, document, and communicate TNG’s impact.

Areas of Responsibility

• Develop systems for program assessment and evaluation
• Help establish meaningful measures of program efficacy and participant outcomes
• Research relevant adolescent, relationship, emotional wellness, and prevention literature
• Identify opportunities for research partnerships
• Assist with development and refinement of surveys and assessment tools
• Organize and analyze program data
• Help translate findings into meaningful reports and communications
• Support grant applications and funder reporting with relevant data
• Monitor emerging research that could strengthen TNG programming
• Maintain appropriate standards for research ethics, privacy, and data management

Potential committee members: Researchers, educators, psychologists, statisticians, data analysts, clinicians, public-health professionals, academics, or individuals with research/evaluation experience.

Fundraising & Grant Development

Purpose: Establish a sustainable funding infrastructure that supports TNG’s programs, operations, and long-term growth.

This committee may ultimately operate through two closely connected areas:

Fundraising

• Develop and oversee fundraising campaigns
• Assist with fundraising events and initiatives
• Develop donor cultivation and stewardship strategies
• Identify individual, corporate, and community giving opportunities
• Support sponsorship development
• Help create sustainable donor relationships
• Assist with annual fundraising goals and campaigns

Grant Development

• Research government, foundation, corporate, and other grant opportunities
• Maintain a grant opportunity calendar
• Coordinate grant application timelines and requirements
• Support development of compelling grant proposals
• Maintain documentation of applications, outcomes, and reporting requirements
• Develop repeatable grant-writing and submission protocols
• Help identify program and organizational data needed for applications

Collaboration

This committee works particularly closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Research & Evaluation Committee, and Marketing & Communications Committee.

Potential committee members: Fundraisers, grant writers, development professionals, nonprofit professionals, relationship-builders, corporate leaders, philanthropic advisors, event planners, or individuals with strong community connections.

Financial Oversight

Purpose: Help establish strong financial systems, accountability, transparency, and organizational sustainability.

Areas of Responsibility

• Work with the Executive Director and Board Treasurer on financial systems and procedures
• Support appropriate financial policies and internal controls
• Help monitor organizational budgeting and financial planning
• Support compliance with applicable federal, state, and nonprofit requirements
• Assist with development of annual budgets and financial projections
• Help establish financial reporting and documentation protocols
• Monitor organizational financial sustainability and reserve planning
• Help evaluate financial risks and opportunities
• Support preparation for audits, reviews, or other financial requirements as appropriate
• Promote transparency and responsible stewardship of organizational funds

Important: The Board retains fiduciary responsibility for TNG. The committee supports financial oversight and infrastructure but does not independently authorize expenditures or make decisions reserved for the Board.

Potential committee members: Accountants, CPAs, financial professionals, bookkeepers, CFOs, business owners, banking professionals, or individuals with nonprofit financial experience.

Strategic Development

Purpose: Help TNG build the infrastructure, partnerships, opportunities, and long-term strategy necessary to achieve its full potential.

Areas of Responsibility

• Support long-term organizational planning
• Identify opportunities for sustainable growth and expansion
• Explore strategic partnerships and collaborations
• Help identify community and organizational needs
• Evaluate opportunities for scaling programs
• Support development of organizational priorities and milestones
• Identify potential strategic risks and opportunities
• Help strengthen organizational infrastructure
• Encourage innovation while protecting mission alignment
• Assist with strategic planning and periodic organizational evaluation

This committee should continually ask:

Where are we going? What will we need to get there? And how can we grow without compromising quality, integrity, or mission?

Potential committee members: Strategic planners, business leaders, nonprofit executives, organizational-development professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, and individuals experienced in scaling organizations or programs.

Marketing & Communications

Purpose: Build awareness, credibility, engagement, and recognition of The Nightingale Group and its work.

Areas of Responsibility

• Website strategy and content
• Social media strategy and content
• Email campaigns and newsletters
• Donor and community communications
• Fundraising and campaign materials
• Organizational announcements and public relations
• Brand consistency and messaging
• Photography, videography, audio/visual content, and storytelling
• Media and community outreach
• Awareness campaigns
• Support communications for programs, events, partnerships, and fundraising initiatives
• Help communicate TNG’s impact through stories, data, and other appropriate content

Collaboration

Marketing & Communications works closely with every TNG committee, particularly Fundraising & Grant Development, Programs, Research & Evaluation, and the Executive Director.

Potential committee members: Marketing professionals, writers, designers, social media professionals, photographers, videographers, public relations professionals, journalists, communications specialists, and storytellers.

Programs

Purpose: Support the development, quality, relevance, implementation, and continuous improvement of TNG’s programs.

Areas of Responsibility

• Review and refine program content
• Help ensure programming remains relevant to the needs of the populations TNG serves
• Support development of new programs and program enhancements
• Review participant and facilitator feedback
• Collaborate with the Research & Evaluation Committee to assess program effectiveness
• Work with facilitators and program staff to identify opportunities for improvement
• Support program implementation standards and protocols
• Help maintain consistency with TNG’s mission, values, and trauma-informed approach
• Explore opportunities for program partnerships and expansion
• Collaborate with the Student Advisory Council when appropriate
• Identify emerging needs and opportunities within the communities TNG serves

Potential committee members: Educators, counselors, clinicians, youth-development professionals, prevention specialists, facilitators, curriculum developers, social-service professionals, and individuals with relevant lived or professional experience.

Board Governance

Purpose: Support strong governance, organizational accountability, legal compliance, and effective Board leadership.

Areas of Responsibility

• Support development and maintenance of organizational policies and procedures
• Monitor governance best practices
• Support Board recruitment, onboarding, and orientation
• Help maintain Board roles, responsibilities, and expectations
• Support Board evaluation and development
• Review organizational bylaws and governance documents as needed
• Help ensure appropriate compliance with nonprofit governance requirements
• Support conflict-of-interest and other governance policies
• Assist with succession planning
• Help maintain clear distinctions between governance and organizational operations
• Support effective communication between the Board and Executive Director
• Identify governance needs as TNG grows

Important: The Board of Directors retains ultimate governance responsibility for TNG. This committee supports the Board in fulfilling those responsibilities.

Potential committee members: Current Board members, attorneys, nonprofit governance professionals, business leaders, organizational leaders, HR professionals, and individuals with governance or compliance experience.

Volunteer Committee Expectations

TNG is looking for volunteers who are willing to contribute more than just their professional expertise. We value reliability, collaboration, curiosity, integrity, and a genuine commitment to our mission.

Committee members are generally expected to:

• Attend committee meetings consistently
• Participate actively in discussions and projects
• Follow through on agreed-upon responsibilities
• Communicate proactively when circumstances change
• Respect confidentiality and organizational privacy
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with people who may have different perspectives
• Keep the organization’s mission at the center of decision-making
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Disclose potential conflicts of interest
• Represent TNG responsibly when speaking about the organization
• Help create sustainable systems rather than relying solely on individual effort
• Participate in periodic evaluation of committee effectiveness

Time Commitment

Committee involvement will vary depending on the committee, current projects, and time of year. Most committees will meet as needed, with additional time occasionally required for specific projects, campaigns, events, applications, or organizational priorities.

TNG will work to respect volunteers’ time by keeping meetings purposeful and assigning responsibilities according to each person’s capacity and expertise.

How Committees Work Together

TNG’s committees are intentionally interconnected.

For example:

Programs develops and strengthens programs →

Research & Evaluation measures outcomes →

Marketing & Communications tells the story of the impact →

Fundraising & Grant Development uses that story and evidence to secure funding →

Financial Oversight supports responsible stewardship →

Strategic Development identifies opportunities for growth →

Board Governance ensures strong organizational leadership and accountability.

The Executive Director coordinates organizational priorities and day-to-day implementation, working with committees and the Board to ensure that efforts remain aligned with TNG’s mission and strategic objectives.

What We Are Looking For

You do not need to have nonprofit experience to serve on a TNG committee.

We are looking for people who bring:

• Professional expertise
• Community connections
• Creative ideas
• Organizational skills
• Specialized knowledge
• A willingness to learn
• Strong follow-through
• Collaborative energy
• A commitment to healthy relationships and stronger communities

Some volunteers may contribute hands-on expertise, while others may primarily contribute ideas, relationships, strategic thinking, or capacity to help execute projects.

There is a place for different kinds of contributors.

Interested in Getting Involved?

If you are interested in joining a TNG committee, we would love to learn more about your experience, interests, skills, and availability.

Potential volunteers will be invited to identify the committee(s) that most closely align with their interests and strengths.

Together, we can build the infrastructure necessary to turn TNG’s mission into lasting impact.

The Nightingale Group

Building Better Relationships