Blog

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

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network It hits you mid-meeting, a slow, creeping realization. “Oh crap,” you think. “I’ve hired someone who views intellectual curiosity as an optional accessory, like a novelty hat.” They approach tasks with the enthusiasm of a sloth contemplating a marathon. Deadlines are met (barely), but the

Download the full legislative report here Download the full legislative calendar here The first session of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly is expected to pass the annual budget this week and adjourn for the year a few days after the Easter holiday. The House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee is scheduled to consider the budget

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The landscape of federal civil rights enforcement is undergoing a significant shift, marked by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent announcement of its intent to rescind its 2002 guidance concerning Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its application to individuals with