Author name: TNN

We are excited to announce that the Tennessee Nonprofit Conference will return Thursday, August 28, 2025, in the Nashville area. (Our exciting location will be announced very soon!) The conference is presented by Tennessee Nonprofit Network and our community partners. The 2025 Tennessee Nonprofit Conference theme is “The Way Forward.” As TNN hosts our second […]

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Remember when you first got into the nonprofit sector? Do you remember the feeling? You were probably brimming with optimism, and you wanted to be the change you wanted to see in the world. Over time, though, reality might have set in. We might have

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network I was on a panel discussion once years ago that changed my perception of nonprofit consultants. While I am in no way the arbiter of competent consulting, this one really changed my view of nonprofit consultants. I used to think they were all made equally,

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Well now, isn’t it just the sweetest thing? Here in Tennessee, we pride ourselves on our manners. We hold doors, we say “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir,” and we wouldn’t dream of rocking the boat, bless our hearts. We like things comfortable, smooth, like a

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network For Tennessee’s vibrant tapestry of nonprofit organizations, the news emanating from Washington regarding potential federal funding cuts to AmeriCorps has landed like a stone dropped into a still pond, sending out widening ripples of concern and uncertainty. The recent report detailing an order from Elon

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network During my Easter Sunday visit yesterday to my 98-year-old grandmother at her assisted living center, a conversation arose that highlighted a concerning trend and hit me like a ton of bricks. My grandmother embodies a certain type of Southerner, one who is sweet as pie

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The very fabric of our present feels different, doesn’t it? It’s not merely a continuation of what came before; it’s a moment etched with a unique intensity, a confluence of challenges and opportunities that demands more than just passive navigation. For those of us called

SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TENNESSEE’S NONPROFITS! LEVERAGE YOUR EXPERTISE AND CONNECTIONS TO GUIDE TENNESSEE NONPROFIT NETWORK’S STRATEGY AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. As Tennessee’s first statewide nonprofit association, Tennessee Nonprofit Network provides essential resources, research, training, and public policy support to empower nonprofits of all sizes. Now, to further strengthen our reach

Nonprofit conferences are many things: a nice reprieve from the monotony of 9 to 5 work, a bastion of new and innovative ideas, and occasionally a monotonous series of back-to-back presentations that are a perfect time to play Candy Crush on your phone. Nonprofit conferences are where well-meaning individuals gather to share insights, network over

The recent news concerning the dismissal of AmeriCorps NCCC teams and the furloughing of AmeriCorps staff is deeply troubling and resonates with me on a personal level. As someone who dedicated two formative years, from 2003 to 2005, to serving as an AmeriCorps worker, I witnessed firsthand the profound impact this program has on individuals