Author name: TNN

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The year 2020 was one that feels simultaneously like yesterday and a bygone era, doesn’t it? It was the year of sourdough starters, tiger kings, and a word that became so ubiquitous it nearly lost all meaning: “pivot.” Remember the endless Zoom calls, the frantic […]

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The old community center buzzed with a familiar, comforting hum, but to Sarah, it sounded more like a distant echo. For twenty years, the Bright Futures Learning Center had been her life’s work, a haven where children from underserved neighborhoods found tutoring, mentorship, and a

Note: we have already sold half of our available tickets to the 2025 Tennessee Nonprofit Conference in only two weeks time! We will sell out early! 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

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Imagine, if you will, the pinnacle of modern travel convenience: booking a house on AirBNB. The photos online are pure vacation porn – sun-drenched rooms, a perfectly fluffed duvet, a tantalizing glimpse of a clawfoot tub. You can almost smell the freshly brewed coffee and

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network They say I can be “difficult.” I prefer to think of it as “disagreeable,” at least in the enlightened sense championed by Malcolm Gladwell across his various literary and auditory endeavors. One might even describe me as mouthy, aggressive, terse, and frankly, impatient. My tolerance

Tennessee Nonprofit Network is thrilled to announce the launch of a vital new resource for our sector: the Tennessee Nonprofit Compensation Survey Report! Understanding appropriate compensation and benefits is paramount for effective nonprofit leadership and strong governance. This comprehensive report, a collaborative effort between Tennessee Nonprofit Network and the esteemed Sycamore Institute, launched in late

In the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. tax policy, proposed changes often send ripples across various sectors. The philanthropic community is currently bracing for one such significant tremor: a potential overhaul of how private foundations are taxed on their net investment income, as part of the current budget reconciliation legislation. This legislative tool, which allows Congress

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The winds of change continue to swirl through the nonprofit landscape, carrying with them echoes of Silicon Valley’s once-revered, now somewhat sheepishly regarded, mantra: “move fast and break things.” This philosophy, popularized by the rapid ascent of Facebook (now Meta), has even seeped into discussions

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Have you interacted with a nonprofit today without even realizing it? Consider this: from the moment you wake up and perhaps tune into your local NPR station for the morning news, to the educational programs your children attend, the cultural enrichment you experience at a

Dear Friends, Do you remember the buzz of last year’s conference? It was truly something special – our biggest gathering in the Tennessee Nonprofit Network’s 33-year history! The energy was palpable, the connections forged were invaluable, and the learning was inspiring. We all left the conference feeling energized and ready to tackle the year ahead.