i. The conversation that brought us here
A clear vision waiting on the right structure.
Kennedy is not a founder looking for an idea, she is a founder with a vision, purpose, and a fully formed WHY. What is needed is structure, scaffolding, and a clear pathway to take 'Look Within' from a flushed out idea into a board-led, grant-eligible 501(c)(3).
Our discovery conversation surfaced something important: Kennedy has drafted has the proposal document, the slogan, the pillars, the age-tier service approaches, along with the proof of concept. She has institutional access through her role with the City and her relationships with the high schools in District 6. What she does not yet have, and what RightTouch Solutions will deliver, is everything that turns intention into a recognized and sustainable public charity.
Organization Snapshot
Slogan
"Developing our Youth Holistically"
Mission Focus
Holistic youth development across seven life domains, tiered by developmental stage
Geography
Fort Worth, Texas (District 6 anchor; broader reach to follow)
Service Model
Pillar-based outcome framework, not single-program focused
Founder Context
Long standing community advocate with experience at a young age changing the academic trajectory of others
ii. What Kennedy is building
Seven pillars, three tiers, one framework.
Most new founders make the mistake of organizing around a single program. Kennedy intentionally organized around pillars and in doing so, structured 'Look Within' for grant eligibility diversification from day one. Each pillar is its own door into the service and funding spaces.
I.Education
II.Skill Building
III.Etiquette
IV.Self-Development
V.Fitness
VI.Mental Health
VII.Financial Literacy
Each pillar is then expressed across three age-banded service areas, with depth and application calibrated to developmental stage:
12–14
Introduction
First exposure: What is a savings account, what is dining etiquette, what is interest?
15–17
Application
Honing the skills: Practicing the conflict resolution, the fitness habit, the financial discipline.
18–21
Real-World
Adult application: Using what was learned to get ahead in the world they're now responsible for.
RightTouch Solution is not a firm where you get a PDF you cannot edit. Our award winning "Cousin Approach" means we show you what is being done, we explain why it is needed, and when this is over you can run your own house without the obligation of a house call. Our goal is to make sure your dream is seen, funded, and expanded. We will ensure that you are equipped to keep it that way long after our engagement ends.
— Willie Sublet III, Founder & Principal Consultant
iii. What we surfaced on the call
Findings that shape the engagement.
These are the items that will drive what we build first, and how we build it. None of them are obstacles or risk, they are simply an honest assessment of where we are.
Public-Figure Independence Is Non-Negotiable
Because Kennedy serves as Senior District Director for the City of Fort Worth, special attention is critical to ensure all documents have a robust conflict of interest and independence section feeling from day one. This protects the organization, Kennedy's professional standing, and prevents any appearance of overlap or influence between municipal duties and nonprofit operations. A clear-eyed communication strategy with her current leadership will be part of this work, sooner rather than later.
No Bylaws Yet — But Source Material
Kennedy has a thorough proposal porrfolio (mission, founder statement, audiences, age groups, programmatic intent). That gives us everything we need to draft purpose-built bylaws rather than generic templates. The bylaws will be written from her vision outward, not pulled from a template.
No Board, No Advisory Council, No Officers
Texas requires a minimum of three directors for a nonprofit corporation. Beyond that, Kennedy will need a President's Advisory Council — what we call a "sideboard" — a small group of trusted people who exist outside the formal board to absorb the weight of the seat. The board governs; the sideboard supports the human in the seat.
Texas Franchise Tax Exemption Must Not Be Skipped
One of the most common ways new Texas nonprofits lose their state standing in year one is by missing Form AP-204 with the Texas Comptroller, even when no taxes are owed. We file it deliberately and on time, alongside all other documents. Look Within will never land on the forfeiture list.
Public Charity Classification, Not Private Foundation
Look Within will be positioned for §509(a)(2) public charity status from the original Form 1023 which is the appropriate classification for an organization whose revenue model centers on diverse program-related grants and community support. Getting this right at filing is foundational.
Outcomes Language, Not Activity Language
Funders fund outcomes. The Form 1023 program descriptions and all subsequent grant materials will be written in outcomes language ("we equipped X youth with the financial literacy to open their first savings account") rather than activity language ("we taught a financial literacy class").
iv. The five-phase engagement
From founder's proposal to filed nonprofit.
This is the path we are proposing. Each phase produces concrete artifacts Kennedy can hold, and each one builds on the one before it. The full sequence is structured to have 'Look Within' legally formed and federally filed.
Legal Formation & Federal Compliance
The foundation. We get Look Within recognized as a Texas nonprofit corporation, secure its federal identity, and file the full application for tax-exempt status.
Texas Certificate of Formation (with IRS language & dissolution)
EIN secured from the IRS
Preparation of Form 1023 federal exemption application
Preparation of Form AP-204 Texas franchise tax exemption
Governance Infrastructure
The internal architecture. Bylaws written from Kennedy's vision, board recruited and oriented, the President's Advisory Council seated, and the policies in place that allow Look Within to operate cleanly.
Custom-drafted bylaws with adoption memo
Conflict of interest & independence policy
Board recruitment plan + gap analysis
Board roles, expectations & commitment letter
President's Advisory Council framework
First board meeting minutes template
Digital & Operational Infrastructure
Look Within needs an organizational identity that is separate from any individual, which includes its own domain, email, and digital presence. We set up the systems that clients, partners, funders, and the IRS expect to find when they go looking.
Domain registration & organizational email
Google Workspace for Nonprofits enrollment
Candid / GuideStar profile setup
TechSoup registration
Foundational web presence
Document & records storage architecture
Program Architecture
This is the largest writing effort, and the one Kennedy is best positioned to lead as writing is one of her most saught after strengths. We build out the seven pillars across the three service-area age tiers, with each program described in outcomes language and tied to measurable indicators. This becomes the engine that drives every grant proposal afterward.
Pillar framework documentation
Age-tiered program descriptions (12–14 / 15–17 / 18–21)
Outcomes & impact indicators per pillar
School & community partnership pathway
Programmatic budget framework
Three to five strong Form 1023 program descriptions
Funding Readiness & Strategic Positioning
The last phase opens the door to revenue. We build a curated grant database tailored to Kennedy's pillars to position Look Within for funding. Education is also provided to prepare the operational budgets that grant applications require.
Custom grant database (matched to all seven pillars)
Operating & programmatic budgets
Collaboration partner mapping (Givebutter, Zeffy)
Funder-facing organizational narrative
First-year fundraising plan
Founder's communication strategy
v. Beyond the launch
A relationship, not a transaction.
This engagement does not end when the formation paperwork clears. After Look Within is filed and operational, the relationship shifts into high gear. Through phone calls when something feels unclear, through coffee seccions when something needs talking through, through honest answers when Kennedy needs to know whether a "can" is also a "should."
What we are building together is not just a 501(c)(3). It is the operational version of a vision Kennedy has been carrying since she was a little girl, one that is now ready to serve thousands of young people across a city that is paying attention.
Ready when you are.
This brief reflects everything we discussed on April 20th and the path we believe gets Look Within across the finish line. Once you have reviewed it and we've talked through any adjustments, a formal contract will follow
~ Willie Sublet III
