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 Tiffany Crumpton of Memphis Leadership Foundation. Tiffany Crumpton is currently the Director of Development at Memphis Leadership Foundation. She brings with her to the role over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit industry and a love of Memphis. She has a passion for fundraising, developing relationships, and strengthening communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Lipscomb University. She will be presenting at the 2024 Association of Fundraising Professionals conference in Memphis, TN this fall. Tiffany is also a wife, mom of two, and loves camping.
What excites you about the work that Tennessee Nonprofit Network is doing?
I think that the nonprofit sector has been overlooked for far too long. The work being done by nonprofits is invaluable to our communities. I love that TNN is not only bringing awareness to our work but also fighting for positive change for all nonprofits.
What do you think the biggest challenges are for nonprofits right now?
I have seen and heard three big challenges for the nonprofits we work with. The first is funding. A lot of the smaller nonprofits we work with don’t have the time or staffing to go after grants. They also find hosting events or even online peer-to-peer fundraising to be overwhelming. The second challenge I see is staffing. The smaller nonprofits can not afford a large staff and the staff they do have are overworked and underpaid. They also find themselves relying heavily on volunteers and my experience is that long-term (not event) volunteerism is way down. The third challenge I have heard about is leveraging online tools. A lot of the smaller nonprofits do not now how to use online tools like Canva, Hootsuite, Givebutter, and other free resources that would enable them to be more efficient without costing them money.
What do you love about the nonprofits in your area?
So much!! We have so many nonprofits in Shelby County and they are doing amazing works for folks from all walks of life. Imagine if everyone who worked at a nonprofit didn’t show up for just one day. Think of all the people that would be negatively impacted from just one day without nonprofits. It would be catastrophic. Yet so few people truly understand the role nonprofits play in our community.
Describe your role at your company/organization and what a typical day looks like.
As the Director of Development I am responsible for all of the fundraising for Memphis Leadership Foundation (MLF) special events, online giving, foundations, grants, recurring giving, legacy giving, and all of the data collection that comes with it. I also help the 15 nonprofits under the MLF umbrella with their fundraising efforts when needed. For our 6 member programs I do their donation processing and tracking. I also get to help pastors or other nonprofits who come through our classes with various resources and tools. I am also spending a lot of time in the community right now getting our name the recognition it deserves. In addition to these things, I manage our social media and am working with the board to grow their engagement.
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy reading, camping, and hanging out with my two kiddos.
Name a nonprofit leader that inspires you.
I have had the privilege to work with some wonderful folks in the nonprofit world. One that stands out to me is Jessie Wiley. We started out at the American Red Cross together and are now both Directors of Development. She has always been inspiring to me and I admire not her only her work ethic and commitment to the nonprofit sector, but her ability to balance it all while being a mom as well.
If someone were to visit you, where would you take them to eat?
I’m a total foodie and Memphis has some amazing spots. I’m a big fan of Elwoods Shack, Bains BBQ, Maciels Tacos, Chings Wings, and of course a sweet treat from Jerrys Sno Cones. It would be hard to pick one place, I hope they can visit for a week and are ready to eat!
What’s your favorite movie and why?
We are big Disney fans in my household. I love the classics that I watched as a little girl and The Little Mermaid has always been my favorite. I always wanted to be a mermaid and spend my days swimming around under water with a bunch of fish as my best friends. I would still totally do that!
Any book recommendations?
I genuinely love to read and wish I had more time to. I’m a big fan of historical fiction. One I recently finished and really enjoyed was The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard.
What change do you most want to see in the nonprofit sector?
I would love to see more thought put into the well being of those who work in the sector. We always hear about how to fundraise better, how to care for our communities better, how to increase awareness of the needs of our communities, and how to cultivate and engage our supporters. All of these are absolutely necessary but none of it would be possible without the thousands of people who go to work every day at nonprofits to make it happen. They deserve to be paid well, to have good retirement plans, to be respected and acknowledged for the work they do. The acknowledgement of how hard the work is but how under appreciated it is, that is something that I would like to see addressed.
How can nonprofits in your area benefit from becoming a member of Tennessee Nonprofit Network?
The benefits of being part of the TNN are numerous. Not only are there great opportunities for networking and trainings, there is a true sense of comradery. You know the people who are doing the hard work alongside you are also part of the network and we are all working towards common goals. Having a platform to join our voices together for the good of nonprofits across the state is amazing. The work that can be done by the larger group is inspiring. There is also constant change in the nonprofit sector and I have found the TNN is a great source of information.