Blog

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network It’s a truth universally acknowledged that fundraising can feel… awkward. But recently, the sheer absurdity of our donor interactions hit me like a poorly timed push notification. I was in Nashville, catching up over hot chicken with one of my dearest friends. Newly divorced, she […]

On Thursday, August 7th, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) that changes the federal grantmaking process. These changes will impact how federal agencies announce funding opportunities, review applications, and manage both current and future awards. Nonprofits in Tennessee – and across the country – should be aware of the new oversight, review requirements, and

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The phrase “toxic work culture” is the hottest new accessory in the professional lexicon. It’s on podcasts, in headlines, and whispered in hushed tones over lukewarm office coffee. Everyone, it seems, has either escaped a toxic culture or is currently trapped in one. But let’s

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network It all started with a polite but pointed phone call. Mandy, the seasoned executive director of a small but mighty nonprofit, picked up the phone one morning to hear a familiar, friendly voice on the other end: one of her most reliable program officers at

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Ok, y’all, we have to talk: the nonprofit sector has an addiction. We need to talk about the deep-seated, institutionalized obsession with two metrics: fundraising goals met and operating budget size. Lately, I’ve heard boards and staff justifying their belief that they will successfully navigate

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network How would you feel if you discovered the new firefighters arriving on the scene had never actually been inside a burning building? What if your nurse, about to administer medication, admitted they’d only read about injections in a textbook? Or imagine a new nonprofit Executive

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Ugh, fundraising can sometimes feel like trying to herd cats while simultaneously juggling flaming torches. Have you ever sat in front of your computer wondering how to frame out your new annual fund letter, while you also drowning in spreadsheets and wondering if “donor fatigue”

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