Get ready for an exciting opportunity to connect, learn, and grow! We’re thrilled to announce that the Tennessee Nonprofit Conference will be held at the spectacular Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville on August 28th! And we’re excited to reveal our full list of breakout sessions.
We know how important it is to provide a valuable and accessible experience for our members. That’s why we’re delighted to share that despite the amazing venue, we are able to offer the same affordable registration rates as our conference in Memphis last year:
Early Bird Member Rate (Through July 25): $199
Regular Member Rate (after July 25): $249
Non-Member Rate: $299
Group Rate of 5: $900
Group Rate of 8: $1400
Reception Add-On: $40
This is a fantastic opportunity to experience a premier conference setting without increased costs. We’re committed to making this event accessible to as many nonprofit professionals as possible.
Announcing our 2025 Tennessee Nonprofit Conference Breakout Sessions and Keynote Speaker below:
Keynote Speaker: Amber Hamilton
We are thrilled to announce that Amber Hamilton, a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in leadership strategies and nonprofit management, will be our keynote speaker at the upcoming Tennessee Nonprofit Conference!
Amber’s extensive career is marked by significant contributions to prominent organizations. She began her journey at the NFL Players Association, Fannie Mae’s Office of Community Giving, and Rebuilding Together Inc., where she held the vital role of vice president, overseeing 165 local affiliates. Her deep understanding of the nonprofit landscape is further evidenced by her service as Interim CEO of the Soulsville Foundation in Memphis and, most recently, as President and CEO of the Memphis Music Initiative. She has also appeared on the first season of I Was Told There Would Be Snacks: A Nonprofit Podcast from Tennessee Nonprofit Network (formerly Momentum Nonprofit Partners).
Today, Amber continues to empower leaders and organizations through her new endeavor, Amber Says The Things, where she facilitates impactful conversations and provides expert coaching. Her impressive academic background includes a B.A. in political science from Howard University, a master’s degree in executive leadership from Georgetown University, and a certification in executive coaching, also from Georgetown.
Amber’s dynamic presence and profound insights recently captivated audiences as the keynote speaker at Peak Grantmaking’s annual convening, where she “brought the house down!” We are incredibly excited for her to share her expertise and inspire attendees at our conference.
Flip the Script: Fundraise Where No One’s Looking!
Presented by Darren Thomas II, Leading Educators
This session explores innovative strategies for cultivating support from often-overlooked donor segments, including public sector employees, professional associations, faith communities, and small businesses. Attendees will collaborate to explore untapped donor segments and build an initial action plan.
Fundraising Fundamentals for Challenging Times
Presented by Linda McNeil & Kim Gaskill, Gaskill Strategies, LLC
This workshop will be focused on equipping you with the foundational tools necessary to navigate uncertain times in fundraising, even when resources are tight. This session will empower you to effectively manage challenges by emphasizing goal setting, donor segmentation, and the creation of consistent, compelling messaging. Preparation for the Storm: When the fundamentals of fundraising are in place—clear goals, strong messaging, donor engagement, and data systems—we’re not just building a solid strategy; we are building resilience.
Future-Proofing Your Mission: Financial Strategies for Scaling Impact
Presented by Josh Ireland & Drew Echternach, Jefferson Bridge Capital
This session reframes financial sustainability as a mission-critical capability, equipping leaders with models for contingency planning, capital allocation, and adaptive budgeting. Attendees will gain tools for long-term financial fluency.
You can’t build a nest with one twig: a discussion on diversified funding
Presented by Kenda Lovecchio, Nashville Public Radio
This session will begin with a description of various roles that Kenda has held in her 25-year nonprofit tenure, and her specific experience developing diverse revenue streams for multiple organizations. We will discuss categories such as membership/annual fund, mid-level support, major gifts, planned giving, earned revenue, and events. The group will discuss infrastructure development and real-world stories about diversification challenges. We will end with key takeaways for professional support and preliminary next steps for a 12-month planning process.
Secrets to Sharing your Nonprofit Impact
Presented by Angela Abdur-Rasheed, The Amplify Agency, LLC
This interactive and fun session will provide participants with proven communications strategies to capture data (numbers) and tell the story (narrating) behind the outcomes, impact and successes of their organizations. Attendees will gain: Compliance strategies to capture meaningful data Communications strategies to share compelling stories Community strategies to empower effective cheerleaders And they will have FUN!
Psychological Safety: Building High-Trust, Inclusive Cultures That Thrive
Presented by Lorne Epstein, Electric Cow
This workshop explores fostering trust, inclusion, and open dialogue. Participants will learn how to recognize supportive behaviors, lead with empathy, and build cultures where every voice contributes.
Weaving Your Values into the Fabric of Your Organization
Presented by Lesley Brown-Rawlings, Beloved Community
This session explores embedding equity and inclusion into organizational structures, including strategic plans, policies, and leadership practices, ensuring sustained momentum toward a thriving workplace.
Your Values Outta Cost You Something: Leading with Our Beliefs Even When It’s Inconvenient
Presented by Abigail Davis & Yodit Mesfin Johnson, NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work)
When values meet real-world pressures, many nonprofits face a quiet but consequential question: Will we just list our values, or will we actually live our values? This session challenges nonprofit leaders to examine how values-driven decision making often requires sacrifice, and how that sacrifice is where our values can cost us most. Participants will engage with real scenarios where upholding organizational values comes at a cost; turning down funding, challenging partners, or speaking out during politically sensitive times. Through interactive discussion and reflection, this session will equip attendees to navigate these moments with clarity, courage, and consistency. Together, we’ll explore what it looks like to embed values into decision-making, hiring, fundraising, and partnerships. Participants will walk away with a toolkit for evaluating values alignment in their organizations and strategies for fostering a culture of courage. This is not a session for the faint-hearted—it’s for those ready to lead with conviction, especially when it’s inconvenient.
Discover, Design, & Dominate Your Work-Life Balance in the Nonprofit Sector
Presented by Brian Nelson Palmer, Productivity Gladiator
Nonprofit professionals often struggle with sustainable work-life balance while pursuing their passion for mission. This interactive workshop introduces the Gladiator Life Balance Quadrants™ system to help attendees define personal equilibrium, create an actionable plan, and implement sustainable practices. You’ll move beyond vague notions of “balance” to concrete strategies that prevent burnout while maintaining mission impact. The workshop addresses the unique challenges nonprofits face: limited resources, the moral imperative of mission work, and the guilt many feel when prioritizing personal needs. Participants will leave with a personalized blueprint for sustainable work-life integration that honors both their professional commitments and personal wellbeing.
Who’s Got Next? Building Your Nonprofit’s Leadership Bench Today
Presented by Tanya Frey, Terra Firma Consulting
An interactive, tool-based workshop on practical succession planning tailored to organizational needs. Participants will explore how succession planning supports equity, culture, and long-term sustainability, with templates and real-world examples.
The Leadership Blueprint: Build Your Personal Strategic Plan for What’s Next
Presented by Dr. Patton McDowell, Institute for Philanthropic Leadership
Participants will create a Personal Strategic Plan to guide growth and impact over the next 1, 3, and 5 years. Hands-on exercises will assess leadership strengths, build a “Personal Board of Directors,” and reframe donor engagement cycles for professional growth.
Building the Board You Wish You’d Inherited
Presented by Kristine LaLonde, Humble Curiosity
Nonprofit leaders will reimagine effective board governance, focusing on aligning board-CEO relationships with the organization’s core purpose. The session explores procedures, financial stewardship, and accountability through interactive discussions.
Purpose Driven Leadership in Uncertain Times
Presented by Terri Freeman, Spark Consulting, LLC
This session helps leaders determine how a purpose-driven agenda rooted in mission can help maneuver uncertainty. Participants will leave with lessons in organizational resilience, mission alignment, decision-making, and personal leadership inspiration.
Designing Programs that Reflect the Communities You Serve
Presented by Kayla Smith-Hardy, Lilac Impact Services, LLC
This interactive workshop blends project management with community organizing, helping participants design programs rooted in community values while achieving measurable outcomes.
The Future of AI for Social Good: Leading with Purpose in the Age of Automation
Presented by Kayla Life, Rebrandland Ai
This interactive session explores how nonprofits can ethically and effectively integrate AI to amplify their impact and streamline operations—without losing the human touch. From fundraising and volunteer management to program design and donor engagement, participants will learn how AI can be a force for good. Using a human-centered design approach, Kayla will share stories, frameworks, and real tools to help attendees move forward with clarity, courage, and commitment.
Federal Focus: Tools to Navigate a Shifting Landscape
Presented by Mandy Spears, Sycamore Institute
This session offers an impartial, data-driven look at how federal funding and policy changes may impact Tennessee’s state budget, nonprofits, and the communities they serve. Attendees will learn about current and potential shifts in federal support, how these changes could affect each of Tennessee’s 95 counties, and more contextual information about how the federal and state budget process work together.
Learn more and register here.