Blog

Memphis has recently witnessed a disturbing trend: four major nonprofits have closed their doors within the last six months. These are not small, barely functioning organizations. In fact, they are well-known organizations with a long history in our community. More nonprofits are, behind the scenes, underwater, and we will see more of these closures coming. […]

by Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Congratulations! You’ve made the leap from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector. It’s an exciting change, filled with the potential for meaningful impact. But as with any transition, there’s a learning curve. Many corporate folks don’t realize there are dramatic differences to working in the

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network A few years ago, a woman named Eliza reigned supreme in the nonprofit sector of Dyersburg, TN. A charismatic figure with a network that stretched far and wide, she thrived on exclusivity and insider knowledge. Gossip flowed through her like a river, shaping perceptions and

by Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Several years ago, I was in a meeting with several other like-minded nonprofit leaders.  A government leader had recently issued a profoundly damaging, biased, and dehumanizing statement about a community we all served, and we were strategizing about next steps to address the issue and mitigate

by Natalie Jones, Director of Advocacy and Research A little-known fact about me is that I am a diehard Harry Potter fan and a very proud Puff (aka Hufflepuff). In fact, I read through the entire series once a year and this year to mix it up I’m planning to walk the distance from Platform

The Tennessee legislature may have ended in April, but our elected officials in Washington D.C. are still hard at work working through several pieces of legislation that may impact your work as a nonprofit organization operating within the United States.   The House Ways and Means Committee recently advanced five bills that could significantly impact how

by Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network So, you’ve landed a meeting with your elected official – a chance to champion your nonprofit’s cause and make a real difference. But let’s be honest, that first meeting can feel intimidating. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal to have a few butterflies! At my first Lobby

by Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network As a nonprofit founder, you’ve poured your heart and soul into your cause. You’ve toiled away at crafting a vision and building a nonprofit organization from the ground up. You’ve begged for money from everyone you know. You’ve fought ridiculous battles to make it happen. You’ve

by Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network So you’ve applied for what could be your dream job at a great nonprofit in Tennessee. You send off your resume and cover letter, and you wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, you receive a form email from the organization letting you know you didn’t even

I remember walking into the movie theater 15+ years ago with jitters. As a lifelong comic book nerd, I was ready to see the live action adaptation of one of comics’ most revered and iconic storylines: the Dark Phoenix Saga. For those of you unfamiliar with this story, the Dark Phoenix Saga is a classic