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 statewide conference, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment for the nonprofit sector. Across the state and the nation, nonprofits are navigating complex political dynamics, increased demand for services, funding challenges, and shifting expectations from communities and donors alike. In the midst of these realities, this year’s theme is both a challenge and a charge: to move forward with clarity, courage, and commitment.
The Way Forward invites nonprofit leaders, funders, and advocates to come together to reimagine what’s possible. Through candid conversations, bold ideas, and practical tools, we’ll explore how our sector can lead with purpose, adapt with integrity, and build a more thriving future for all Tennesseans.
Let’s chart the path ahead—together.
Give a Presentation at the 2025 Tennessee Nonprofit Conference
We’re looking for more than just expertise—we’re looking for energy.
At the 2025 Tennessee Nonprofit Conference, we want sessions that inform, inspire, and ignite. If you’re a bold thinker with real-world experience and the ability to engage an audience—whether through storytelling, humor, interaction, or creative facilitation—we want to hear from you. Great content is essential, but how it’s delivered matters just as much. This year, we’re especially seeking speakers who can make learning stick by creating memorable, action-driven experiences for attendees across all roles in the nonprofit sector and can help navigate these turbulent times.
Presenters should demonstrate the following:
- Proven expertise in their topic area, with a strong understanding of the nonprofit sector and its unique challenges and opportunities, especially in this moment!
- An interactive and inclusive presentation style rooted in adult learning principles that encourages participation, reflection, and practical application. We aren’t looking for speakers who simply read from their slides.
- An engaging presence and facilitation skills that support our goal to make sessions dynamic, memorable, and highly rated by attendees.
- Diverse perspectives and innovative ideas that reflect the breadth of experiences across communities, geographies, and disciplines.
- Cultural humility and responsiveness—a commitment to creating welcoming, respectful learning environments for attendees from all backgrounds.
- Clear alignment with conference tracks, with slides and materials that are well-designed, visually appealing, and easy to follow.
- Supplemental materials such as worksheets, tools, activities, or additional resources that extend learning beyond the session.
Additional Expectations
- Responsive and Meets Deadlines: Stays in constant communication with event organizer and meets all deadlines.
- Willingness to engage before/after the session: Such as responding to follow-up questions, sharing slides, or contributing to continued conversations post-conference.
- Technology comfort level: Can comfortably navigate basic technology.
Presentation formats:
In-Person: Presenters will present to conference attendees in-person in formats such as a panel or an interactive workshop. The Tennessee Nonprofit Conference will not offer online/virtual sessions.
Workshops are scheduled for 1-hour time blocks. (Time blocks are subject to change.)
Speaker Fee
There is a $500 honorarium paid per session. (Co-presenters will be paid one $500 honorarium that can be split between them).There is a maximum of two presenters per session allowed. Any additional presenter will be required to register and pay for the conference at the current rate. (Co-presenters should not be added only to support or do Q&A, but must actually co-present.)
*Any colleagues, spouses, or friends that would be interested in attending your session would be required to register and pay.
Proposal Submission Timeline for 2025:
- Accepting submissions – May 3
- Deadline for submissions – May 28
- Selected speakers notified – June 3
- Deadline to accept – June 6
- Public notification of selected speakers – June 9
- Final conference agenda published – June 16
Selected conference tracks:
As we embark on planning our annual conference, we are deeply mindful of the current landscape facing the nonprofit sector. These are times marked by uncertainty and, for many, significant anxiety. Therefore, this year’s conference places a special emphasis on presentations that not only offer practical guidance and proven best practices but also incorporate new and innovative strategies that directly address the challenges and opportunities of this moment. We are actively seeking futurists, visionaries, and thought leaders who will bring fresh perspectives and move beyond familiar presentations. We strongly encourage each applicant to thoughtfully consider the unique context of our times and weave this understanding into their proposed sessions, ensuring attendees gain truly relevant and forward-thinking insights.
Mission & Momentum
For nonprofit leaders focused on strategy, governance, adaptive leadership, and financial management that drives long-term impact that not only navigates current challenges but also drives long-term impact.
Sustaining Impact
For fundraisers and development professionals who are rethinking how to build sustainable streams of support through grants, major gifts, events, and donor relationships in the wake of the shifting funding landscape.
Message & Movement
For marketing, communications, and storytelling pros seeking to amplify their mission through resilient brand strategies, impactful digital engagement that resonates in challenging times, and powerful narratives that cut through the noise.
People Power
For those leading volunteer engagement, talent development/HR, or human-centered internal culture—because people are your greatest asset.
Programs with Purpose
For program designers, managers, and direct service providers committed to results-driven, community-responsive programming.
Strategic Philanthropy
For funders and grantmakers who are reimagining how resources are shared, sustained, and aligned with community needs.
Who Attends
With the diversity of industry practitioners convening under one theme, the Tennessee Nonprofit Conference presents the opportunity for professionals at varying career stages and across sectors (executives, academics, program leaders, board members, funders, consultants, coaches, etc.) to collaborate, learn, shape and advance the nonprofit sector for the good of the communities we serve. Conference attendees represent varying cities across Tennessee.