Author name: TNN

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

Are you ready for the next step in your nonprofit career? Are you a nonprofit leader looking to nurture your organization’s emerging talent? Then read on… Tennessee Nonprofit Network, in partnership with the Institute for Leadership Development (ILD) at Christian Brothers University (CBU), has established the LeadingUp Program. This year-long, cohort-based nonprofit leadership program is

We are thrilled to introduce Candace Surface, Executive Director of Day 7 in Nashville, as a new member of our Community Action Council! As a rare fourth-generation Nashvillian, Candace has deep roots in the community and is committed to serving the place she calls home. Before leading Day 7, Candace worked in both director and

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Years and years ago, in what feels like a different life, I stepped into the role of a new leader at a nonprofit. I was greener, enthusiastic, and armed with all the textbook knowledge about fostering a collaborative and empowering environment. What I wasn’t armed

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Here in Tennessee, and across the globe, the year 2025 has arrived with a familiar refrain for nonprofits: “Pivot! Shift! Adapt! Or else!” It’s less a gentle suggestion and more a blaring air horn from the universe. With funding cuts looming like a perpetually cloudy

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

We are excited to introduce Karen Lampert, GPC, Grant Manager for the City of Murfreesboro, as a new member of our Community Action Council! Karen brings over 25 years of dedicated public service experience from both the nonprofit and government sectors. Before joining the City of Murfreesboro in 2019, Karen held various leadership and management

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network One might imagine that the path to robust community and donor engagement is paved with grand pronouncements and lavish galas. One would, however, be missing a crucial, albeit rather assembly-required, piece of the puzzle: the IKEA effect. For those who consider the finer points of