NASHVILLE — Last weekend, leaders, advocates, and partners from across the state gathered at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for a historic, collaborative event: the Joint Community Action Council, Board, and Staff Retreat hosted by Tennessee Nonprofit Network. Held on July 11, 2026, the retreat marked a monumental milestone for the organization, which has rapidly transformed over the last three years to become one of the largest state nonprofit associations in the United States. The intensive weekend gathering served as both a celebration of recent milestones and a strategic forum to keep stakeholders closely informed about the organization’s trajectory and the real-time experiences of members on the ground.
To fully grasp the magnitude of Tennessee Nonprofit Network’s recent success, it is essential to look back at the strategic pivot that reshaped the organization’s trajectory. First established in 1992 under the name The Grant Center in Memphis, the organization originally focused on helping local entities secure state and federal grants. Over the decades, it evolved through several iterations—including the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence and Momentum Nonprofit Partners—consistently broadening its scope from simple grant writing to deeper operational capacity building.
However, the most radical shift began just over three years ago. Recognizing that the state’s nearly 40,000 entities lacked a centralized, unified voice to champion policy issues, monitor state legislation, and streamline communications, the leadership team and the board of directors engaged in an ambitious discovery process. Operating with a nimble “Fast X-teams” framework that prioritized swift, community-informed data gathering, the organization officially restructured and launched statewide as Tennessee Nonprofit Network.
The results of this transition have been staggering. Within just three years, Tennessee Nonprofit Network has successfully expanded its footprint from a regional hub serving approximately 800 entities to a massive, statewide network of more than 2,300 member organizations spanning all ninety-five counties. This aggressive expansion comfortably exceeded the team’s initial strategic target of 1,600 members.
To support this explosive growth, the organization scaled its operations, hiring key regional staff like East Tennessee Regional Director Tony Murchison and growing its annual operating budget to $2.4 million for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. Today, Tennessee Nonprofit Network stands as a prominent peer among top-tier national bodies, maintaining active institutional alignments with the National Council of Nonprofits, Independent Sector, and BoardSource.
Speakers at the retreat emphasized that this rapid expansion would have been entirely impossible without the tireless dedication of many Community Action Council members, staff members, and board members, both past and present. The weekend’s agenda was carefully structured to foster transparency, share vital organizational updates, and gather direct feedback from the frontlines of community service.
The retreat officially opened with warm introductory remarks from Board Chair Richard Kennedy, who set a collaborative tone for the day. Following the opening, Dr. Kevin Dean, President and CEO of Tennessee Nonprofit Network, took the stage to deliver his highly anticipated State of the Organization address.
Dr. Dean’s address provided a comprehensive analysis of where the sector stands and where Tennessee Nonprofit Network is heading. He focused heavily on the structural hurdles that have historically fragmented the state. “For too long, Tennessee has operated as one state behaving like three entirely separate regions,” Dean explained during his presentation, referring to the traditional grand divisions of East, Middle, and West Tennessee. He noted that without a coordinated infrastructure, local organizations have historically been left to navigate shifting federal rules, state grant compliance, and localized funding cliffs entirely on their own.
A major highlight of the address was the presentation of recent operational triumphs, including significant public policy advocacy wins at the state legislature and an aggressive new communications plan that has seen the network’s research featured in major national publications like the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe. Dean also pointed to the upcoming sixth season of the organization’s popular podcast, I Was Told There Would Be Snacks, as well as the upcoming Tennessee Nonprofit Conference in September as key vehicles for keeping the sector connected.
Rather than focusing solely on financial metrics and membership growth, Dr. Dean shifted the spotlight to the human element of the network’s mission by inviting participants to share their personal “TNN Moment”—a specific, meaningful memory connecting them to the organization’s work.
Reflecting on the exercise, Dr. Dean noted, “When we look at the incredible growth we have experienced over the last three years, it is easy to get caught up in the data points and the budgets. But the true strength of Tennessee Nonprofit Network lies in these shared moments of connection. Hearing our board, staff, and Community Action Council members speak about the exact moment they realized they were no longer operating in isolation, but were part of a statewide movement, reminds us why this network is so vital to Tennessee.”
Participants shared moving testimonies about how the organization has helped combat the chronic isolation, executive burnout, and regional fragmentation that often plague the nonprofit sector. For many, their “TNN Moment” occurred during intensive board governance cohorts, regional retreats, or collaborative advocacy efforts that helped them realize they were not alone in facing systemic challenges.
Jazmin Withers, a Community Action Council member representing Memphis, echoed this sentiment when discussing the collaborative energy of the weekend. “As someone who is passionate about helping nonprofits maximize their impact, it was inspiring to be in a room with leaders committed to strengthening Tennessee’s nonprofit sector and the communities we serve.”
The morning continued with a lively panel discussion titled How TNN Programming and Services are Supporting Nonprofits Across Tennessee, moderated by board member Amanda McCollum. The panel featured staff members April Carter and Natalie Jones, board member Christy Dolinich, and Community Action Council member Dr. Megan Schwalm. Together, they discussed the direct, on-the-ground impacts of Tennessee Nonprofit Network’s core initiatives, ranging from public policy tracking and legislative advocacy to statewide professional development and technical assistance. The panelists detailed how the organization’s current programming actively works to standardize best practices, bridge regional divides, and elevate the voices of rural and urban nonprofits alike.
Following a networking lunch, staff members Dorian Hines and Tony Murchison led an in-depth presentation on the Standards for Excellence program. As the sole state licensee for this national ethics and accountability code, Tennessee Nonprofit Network utilizes these rigorous guidelines to help local organizations build highly ethical, well-governed, and operationally sound foundations. The presenters outlined upcoming resources, digital learning tools, and assessment models designed to help member organizations strengthen their internal operations and build long-term sustainability.
The afternoon program shifted to an interactive, open “fishbowl” format facilitated by Andrea Hill. This dynamic discussion technique allowed a rotating inner circle of participants to debate critical issues while the outer circle listened intently. Key topics of debate included the current state of the nonprofit sector in Tennessee, persistent workforce recruitment and retention challenges, funding hurdles, and opportunities for radical collaboration. The fluid nature of the fishbowl ensured that a wide range of diverse, statewide perspectives were represented, ensuring that the conversation was democratized and driven by real-time community needs.
The retreat also served as an opportunity to welcome new voices to the growing team. Dr. Bev Vitali, a newly appointed staff member with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, shared her reflections on the profound impact of the gathering:
“There’s something powerful about being in a room full of people who show up, day after day, for their communities. We laughed, we learned, we swapped stories — I got to reconnect with old friends I hadn’t seen in far too long, and made new ones I know I’ll be in touch with for years to come. This is exactly why I said yes to TNN. Getting to work alongside nonprofit leaders like this, across every corner of Tennessee, is a gift. I can’t wait to dig into the work ahead — building capacity, growing leaders, and doing it all together.”
As Tennessee Nonprofit Network continues to look toward the future, the organization is busy preparing for its highly anticipated annual Tennessee Nonprofit Conference, scheduled to take place on September 29–30 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Franklin Cool Springs. The conference will feature expanded membership benefits, new online courses, and interactive workshops designed to further unify the state’s civic leaders. The palpable energy, shared vulnerability, and strategic alignment experienced at the Nashville retreat make it clear that Tennessee’s nonprofit sector is no longer fractured or siloed, but is moving forward together as a powerful, collective force