Author name: TNN

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Last week, my grandmother entered hospice. Her heart, after 98 incredible years, is finally failing her. This is, without a doubt, the closest I have ever been to watching someone die, and it’s been a profound, often bewildering, education in what grief and bereavement truly

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network For many in the nonprofit world, the language of “winning” often permeates our strategies and aspirations. We speak of eradicating poverty, curing diseases, achieving universal literacy – noble and essential goals, undoubtedly. This mindset, while driven by a profound desire for impact, can inadvertently trap

by Natalie Jones, Director of Advocacy and Research, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Background on the Johnson Amendment The Johnson Amendment is a provision in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that prohibits tax-exempt organizations—including charities and houses of worship—from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office. Enacted in 1954, the law was intended to ensure

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network One of my first jobs out of college was at a mental health organization for children. I was eager to make a difference, filled with the idealism that often accompanies a fresh start in the nonprofit world. I quickly learned that while passion was essential,

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network So, you’ve dedicated your life (or at least your 9-to-5, and let’s be real, often your 5-to-9) to making the world a better place. You’re knee-deep in grant applications, volunteer schedules, and the existential dread of fundraising, all for a cause you genuinely believe in.

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network My new favorite hobby is studying human behavior under pressure. Yes, this includes watching videos of public freakouts on YouTube, which can be both hilarious and terribly sad. Or shows like Walking Dead where, in the face of a zombie hoard, people make really bad,

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The Unspoken Expectation There’s a persistent myth in the nonprofit sector that fundraising is solely the purview of the development staff or the executive director. This belief often leads to a critical disconnect, especially when board members express discomfort with the idea of “asking for

We are thrilled to introduce Dr. Megan Schwalm, President and CEO of the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition in Nashville, TN, as a new member of our Community Action Council! Dr. Schwalm brings a wealth of experience in leadership, educational policy, and public health. With a PhD in Educational Policy and Public Health from the University of

We are thrilled to introduce Lisa Higginbotham, Chief Strategy Officer at Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC), as a new member of our Community Action Council! Lisa brings 25 years of social service experience to Tennessee Nonprofit Network, with expertise in affordable housing, homelessness, mental health, substance misuse, and domestic violence intervention. As a leader,

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Losing a great Director of Development can feel like losing a wheel of your car while you’re driving. Or, perhaps more accurately for nonprofits, it’s like watching your meticulously crafted budget spontaneously combust while your board asks, “But why aren’t we hitting our numbers?!” And