Blog

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network The noble nonprofit founder is typically fueled by passion, caffeine, and the unwavering belief that they, yes THEY, can make the world a better place. It’s a beautiful thing, really. In all honesty, though, sometimes that passion can lead us down a path paved with, […]

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Have you recently heard of a nonprofit closing? You probably have, as an inordinate number of nonprofit organizations are closing at an alarming rate. Many of these closures aren’t due to “mission accomplished”; rather, they are the result of months, years, or decades of slow

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network In 2021, Tennessee Nonprofit Network, formerly Momentum Nonprofit Partners, launched our first-ever public policy agenda. We spent weeks holding focus groups with our members, asking what their concerns were and what our policy priorities should be. What was disconcerting – for me, at least –

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Nonprofit organizations are founded on the principles of altruism, community service, and collaborative governance. Yet, lurking in the shadows of many well-meaning nonprofits is a sinister force that can undermine these noble ideals: the Illuminati-esque executive committee. No, this isn’t a conspiracy theory or a

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Did everyone enjoy the winter weather last week that left inches and inches of snow and ice all around Tennessee? Some nonprofits weren’t prepared, and they were calling us for advice on winter weather policies! Winter’s icy grip brings with it a unique set of

by Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network You’ve seen it happen before: a board member of a nonprofit organization resigns from the board to become the CEO of the nonprofit. While this may happen often, the optics of this aren’t always….um….great from the perspective of fairness and transparency, especially without great communication

The 119th Congress has officially begun and there is much at stake for charitable nonprofits as lawmakers discuss tax and spending priorities. Thanks to National Council of Nonprofits (of which Tennessee Nonprofit Network is an ally member), nonprofits are coming together to inform Congress about the impact of charitable nonprofits, and why they (we) cannot

by Angela Meekins, West Tennessee Regional Manager, Tennessee Nonprofit Network A Day of Merrymaking in Madison County! The holidays have always been a season for connection, joy, and celebration, and my recent trip to Jackson, Tennessee, delivered all of that and more! Braving the chilly December air, I made the hour-and-a-half drive up to Madison

Now more than ever, the world needs leaders dedicated to creating lasting change in their communities. Tennessee Nonprofit Network has partnered with the Clinton School of Public Service to provide scholarships for their online Master of Public Service program. Clinton School Online allows students to earn a Master of Public Service degree while offering the

By Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network Ah, Giving Tuesday. That magical Tuesday after Thanksgiving when our inboxes explode with pleas for donations, and social media feeds become a heartwarming (and slightly overwhelming) sea of charitable causes. I sometimes call it “Unsubscribe Tuesday,” as it’s the day once every year when I’m