Committees
There are nine committees which do the work of the North Shore United Way and augment the 2.5 FTE staff members employed by NSUW. Each committee consists of Board Members, the Executive Director and dedicated volunteers without whom we would not be able to carry out our mission. Ad hoc committees are also formed as needed.
Each member brings a unique set of skills that benefit their committee, such as interpreting the financial statements of non-profit organizations in order to make allocation decisions. This helps us make informed decisions and maximize our human and financial resources.
Here is a snapshot of each committee. For more information, please email or call Margo Casey at 978.922.3966 or complete our contact form.
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is made up of the officers of the board and the chairpersons of the standing committees. This committee oversees the work of the Board of Directors.
Campaign Committee: The Campaign Committee is responsible for ensuring that we raise the funds needed to support our mission. This team works with individual donors, corporate donors and employee campaigns as well as agency campaigns. They work together as a whole and also in community teams.
Allocations Oversight Committee: This Committee oversees the Community Impact process, including the critical needs assessment and insuring that we stay focused on those needs which are identified. Members also work in concert with the Executive Director to identify new programs with promising outcomes that are candidates for discretionary grants. They review the recommendations from the Allocations Committee and make final recommendations for funding to the Board of Directors.
Allocations Committee: The 50-member Allocations Committee reviews funding proposals, following a diligent allocation process to engage and determine the best possible partner(s) to address a critical community need. Their work also insures that donor contributions are used for what they were intended: effective service delivery that results in positive impacts on people's lives. NSUW has a comprehensive application process and Committee members carefully review each submission before making recommendations for funding.
Discretionary Grant Committee: This Committee identifies and recommends funding for new and emerging programs that may not yet have formal sources of funding but which have potential for making a significant difference. The Committee works to stay current with new and effective intervention services.
Marketing Committee: This Committee is responsible for developing a plan to effectively communicate our mission and our message. The Committee identifies new and strategic opportunities to get the word out in ways that are relevant to the communities we serve, our donors, volunteers and partner agencies. This Committee also seeks to engage the pro bono services of experts in marketing and media.
Research Committee: The Research Committee is responsible for creating and managing a process that helps us to measure the impact of our invested dollars. This requires a laser focus on our 5 areas of critical need, digging into each area to understand the demographics in each community, identify emerging best practices in service delivery and measures that can be applied to evaluate success. The Committee partners with North Shore Community College to conduct research and make recommendations about how to direct funds to the areas that will have the most impact.
Endowment Committee: The Endowment Committee is responsible for building the NSUW Endowment Fund, which provides a steady source of long-term financial support to achieve our mission. Each year, by Board vote, a percentage of the income from endowment is used to offset NSUW’s operating expenses, thereby allowing more of our campaign dollars to go directly to critical community programs.
Nominating Committee: This Committee is responsible for recommending new members of the Board of Directors. The Committee follows a methodical process to identify potential candidates, to educate the candidates so they can make informed decisions about taking on the responsibility of being a Board Member, and to review the candidates and make recommendations of those whom the Board should consider. This process results in the selection of talented and dedicated individuals who serve both the NSUW and the North Shore community.
