We are thrilled to officially introduce the newest members of our TeamUp cohorts. Our TeamUp cohorts are designed to provide long-term learning cohorts for nonprofit professionals to both deepen their personal knowledge of best practices while also building the capacity of the organizations they serve. After reviewing a deep pool of impressive applications from across the state, we have selected a group of dedicated nonprofit professionals who are ready to take their organizations to the next level. The 2026-2027 participants represent a diverse swath of Tennessee nonprofits, hailing from rural communities, suburban neighborhoods, and urban centers alike. Despite their different missions and locations, these leaders share a common goal of strengthening the foundation of their organizations through sustainable fundraising and robust volunteer engagement.
Over the next year, these cohort members will engage in a rigorous learning experience designed to drive real-world results. The program utilizes a hybrid model of professional development, featuring online coursework created in-house by Tennessee Nonprofit Network as well as monthly virtual peer learning sessions. This structure allows participants to troubleshoot challenges and build lasting connections with peers across the state. The journey also includes the Tennessee Nonprofit Conference in September, where cohort members will attend a special pre-conference session designed exclusively for them before joining the full event.
We know that when nonprofits have the tools to engage their communities effectively, their impact multiplies. The data from last year’s participants proves the value of this investment, as fundraising participants raised an additional $36,000 in individual donations on average, while the volunteer cohort recruited an average of 42 new volunteers per organization. We are honored to support these nonprofits as they grow together over the coming year. Please join us in welcoming the 2026-2027 TeamUp Cohorts.
OUR FUNDRAISING COHORT
Aaron Price Emory Valley Center
Alicia Horst Mid-South Immigration Advocates
Amanda Small Be Aware Blount
Amy Blackwell Compassion Counseling
Andrea Wensits Memphis Inner City Rugby
Ansley Ledbetter The Barnabas Vision
Asha Immanuel Knowledge Media for Generations
Ashiya Swan Nashville Freedom School Partnership
Ashley Weaver CodeCrew
Bianca Morton The Nashville Food Project
Brady Tanner Page Robbins Adult Day Center
Brandis Cashdollar Dream Streets
Candace Surface Day 7
Casey Sherrill Creative Compassion Inc
Christopher Liggins Heal Memphis dba Heal 901
Claire Hirsch St. Luke’s Community House
Colby Webb CASA of East Tennessee
Dr. Nicole Gates-Golden Golden Key Entrepreneur Training Academy
Emily Mantooth United Way of Blount County
Emma Sherrick Persist Nashville
Gretchen James Nashville Children’s Theatre
Haley Doss Gentner Memphis Medical District Collaborative
Hannah Garey Habitat for Humanity Jackson, TN Area, Inc
Hannah Overstreet Chattanooga Autism Center
Heather Patchett Book’em
Jessica Stephens Junior Achievement of East Tennessee
Johnnie Hatten Restoration Time Family and Youth Services
Katie Mixon Muse Knoxville
Katrina Greenwood Center for Employment Opportunities
Kaymi Butler Black Lemonade
Lauren Margetjak Possibility Place
Lindsey Tritt West Tennessee Legal Services
Lindsey Williamson FiftyForward
Macrea Love Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless
Matthew Hutchinson Warriors Center USA
Melissa Hinten Trees Knoxville
Michael HensleyAppalachia Service Project
Mike Goughnour Catholic Charities of West Tennessee
Mildred Weeks Christian Community Services, Inc
Murphee McDowell United Way of Greater Chattanooga
Noah McBrayer Jones Bridge Refugee Services
Rebecca Brado HomeSource East Tennessee
Shantwanza Gale Beautiful Spiritied Women
Sonya Manfred Sumner County CASA
Tamara Campbell SisterReach
Tammy Pierce Meritan
Tiffani C. Morrow Smith REACH Memphis
Tish Jones HC*EXCELL
Venita Doggett MICAH
Wendy Wand Friends of Literacy
OUR VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT COHORT
Amy Jordan Thriving Together TN
Andrew Bell Meritan, Inc.
Anna Ashworth A Step Ahead Foundation
Bonnie Ortiz Centro Hispano de East Tennessee
Candace Tate Leadership Memphis
Courtney Beard American Museum of Science & Energy
Elizabeth Thetford The Star Center
Emily Holden Voices for a Safer Tennessee
Iletha Michelle Washington United Methodist Neighborhood Centers of Memphis Inc
Jasmine Williams Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab
Jenny Humphreys Catholic Charities of East Tennessee
Kalina Bagley Northside Neighborhood House
Kelsey Mathis Senior Ride Nashville
Latasha Mister-Echols Knowledge Quest
Magaly Cruz Community Legal Center
Renee Watkins Nashville Diaper Connection
Riley Lloyd Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless
Shonnekia Murphy Christian Community Services, Inc.
Sid Sadler Habitat For Humanity Williamson/Maury
Vanessa Clark National Civil Rights Museum
Vanessa Henderson Freed Life Inc powered by Restore Corps
Vanessa Sweet Breakthrough Leadership Foundation
Vincenzina Monteleone Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts