Tennessee Nonprofit Network launched three Community Action Councils (CACs) in 2024 to serve as ambassadors for our organization and be our “ears to the ground” in their local communities to unearth community needs and challenges. You can learn more about the full roster of CAC members here.
This week, we introduce you to Kate Haywood of Munford, TN. Kate is the owner and principle architect for daily design GROUP, an architecture firm located in Memphis. She’s also a wife and mom of 3 little ones while working to build the type of physical environments that have a positive impact on those that interact with them. She’s driven to do this work because she saw the direct benefits that safe and secure housing had on her mom’s mental and physical health. She is a University of Memphis and University of Oregon graduate and now owns her, daily design GROUP, where she and her team creatively problem solves in areas of urban/town planning, architecture and interior design. Kate says, “My professional and personal lives are becoming more blurred as we are now working on the redevelopment of our downtown district in Munford TN from the lens of resident, planner, architect, and developer.”
What excites you about the work that Tennessee Nonprofit Network is doing?
The connection of resources amongst nonprofits working so hard to further their missions. The difficulties in running any business are great and with the essential work our statewide nonprofits are doing. I feel that TNN is able to serve every one of them if they’re open to it.
What do you think the biggest challenges are for nonprofits right now?
Non-sustainable/stable revenue and overall burnout from leadership to team members.
Describe your role at your company/organization and what a typical day looks like.
I’m the owner and principal architect. Each day includes leading our team of 4, client communication, on-demand problem solving, administrative efforts, very large scale thinking to detailed decision making.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love being outside; walking, running, hiking, exploring. I love anything that can hold my attention and/or make me feel how big the world is; I recently went out on a (guided) canoe with friends on the Mississippi River and I never once thought about what was bringing stress in my typical days and felt so small out on the water.
Name a nonprofit leader that inspires you.
Amy Schaftlein of United Housing, Inc. in Memphis. She isn’t paralyzed by new/scary things and pushes through when it would be much easier to turn around. Years ago we were out of town at a conference and I mentioned to her how interesting it would be if UHI’s offices were in and around a community that they serve. Here we are probably 5 years later and they’re working on a big relocation to a historic building in the Binghampton neighborhood. It’s been so layered and difficult and I’m SO PROUD of her for making this move in service to her team and to the community. Imagine if every nonprofit and business were intentional about the space that they utilize as their home base?
If someone were to visit you, where would you take them to eat?
Oh goodness, I’m so out of practice with eating out. With 3 little kiddos, our kitchen table is the place to be! The place that pops to mind is McEwen’s on Monroe in Memphis; the food is pretty good, but it’s more about the feeling I have when I’m there. Welcomed, comfortable, always run into someone that I know like and trust.
What’s your favorite movie?
Again, so out of practice with movies! But the one that comes to mind is Baby Boom! It’s one I watch a few times a year and it simply makes me feel good. It’s about finding connection in a small town and settling into different versions of ourselves. My passion project at the moment is renovating 2 100-year old commercial buildings in my small town in order to provide spaces for community connection. I feel that where we are in our environment in 2024, fostering relationships with other humans is about the thing we need the most.
Any book recommendations?
Oh my! My readings are mostly around professional development and business efficiencies. A few of my top ones:
The One Thing by Jay Papasan and Gary Keller (did you know Jay is from Memphis?!)
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Vivid Vision by Cameron Herald
and then Traction by Gino Wickman
What change do you most want to see in the nonprofit sector?
Reduction of road blocks with funding. Even when they ‘have it’, they hit so many layers of red tape that it just seems so unsustainable.