Author name: TNN

Preparation is underway for our biggest conference yet. This year, the Tennessee Nonprofit Conference has officially expanded to a two-day event on September 29th and 30th in Franklin/Cool Springs, bringing you more networking opportunities, deeper learning experiences, and a spectacular lineup of speakers dedicated to strengthening our sector. Oh, and we like to have a […]

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network At a previous job, I decided to kick off my tenure by interviewing the entire staff. The minor detail I omitted during these chats was that massive budget cuts were imminent, and a good chunk of the people in the room would not be there

The upcoming Tennessee Nonprofit Conference, taking place September 29 & 30, 2026, in the Franklin/Cool Springs area, is officially shaping up to be our biggest event yet. Joining bestselling author Tamsen Webster and National Council of Nonprofits President & CEO Diane Yentel on the main stage is our newly announced closing keynote speaker, Britt Mitchell.

Every single day, nonprofits across Tennessee do incredible work. We feed families, provide shelter, work with children and youth, and protect our environment. We are excellent at providing immediate relief—treating the symptoms of systemic issues. But if we are being honest, most of us didn’t get into this work just to manage symptoms. We got

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Exactly sixty-four days ago, I decided to be sober. If you assume it required a dramatic, cinematic intervention involving a mahogany table, a box of tissues, and a tearful reading of prepared statements by my closest friends, I have some bad news for you. Instead,

by Amanda McCollum of Adams Keegan, Board Secretary, Tennessee Nonprofit Network As an HR professional, I’ve seen a shift in the “unhinged employee” scenarios I so often get called to mediate. In years past, people behaved badly at work. The infractions were often clear, and the consequences weren’t too surprising. Over the past few years,

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network *For the record, Virgin Voyages didn’t pay me for this blog. I’m just a big fan!! Part I: The Long Shadow of the Communal Trough Every year, Tennessee Nonprofit Network establishes the Nonprofit Day(s) of Rest in early May. It is an intentional, deeply necessary

Tennessee nonprofits operate in a rapidly changing communications environment defined by declining public trust, regional skepticism, and a fast-moving media landscape. However, research shows that with the right strategies and messengers, you can cut through the noise to reach your audience effectively. Based on extensive research by National Council of Nonprofits and Tennessee Nonprofit Network,

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Keeping up with the charitable deductions these days is like chasing an ostrich. Just when you think you have a handle on it, the bird shifts gears, kicks up a massive cloud of dust, and sprints across the savannah at forty miles an hour in

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Everyone loves their egos stroked, but is it ever too much? Public shout-outs have long been treated as the ultimate golden ticket for keeping donors around. When social media platforms took over our lives, fundraising teams immediately dragged traditional thank-you notes out into the public