Opening Plenary Speaker

We are beyond thrilled to announce that Diane Yentel, the visionary President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, will officially kick off our conference on September 29 and 30.

As the leader of the largest nonprofit network in North America, Diane is a powerhouse advocate who has already secured landmark legal victories protecting federal funding for the sector. From her early days as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia to her transformational leadership at the National Low Income Housing Coalition and HUD, Diane has spent three decades fighting for nonprofits and the communities they serve.

Her arrival in Tennessee follows a whirlwind year where she was named Influencer of the Year by The Nonprofit Times and one of Washington DC’s Most Powerful Women. You’ve probably seen her featured in Chronicle of Philanthropy or on CNN, too! Diane is the first of three incredible keynote speakers joining us for this two-day event. You won’t want to miss the chance to hear from one of the most influential voices in the country as we gather to strengthen our collective mission at Tennessee Nonprofit Network.

Keynote Speaker

We are keeping the momentum going for the Tennessee Nonprofit Conference in Franklin by announcing our second keynote speaker, the incomparable Tamsen Webster.

Tamsen is a master of message design who helps leaders craft the case for large-scale change, drawing on over 25 years of experience in building lasting buy-in. A sought-after consultant for institutions like Harvard Medical School and Fidelity Investments, she has also served as the Idea Strategist for a legacy-level TEDx event and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar.

She is the author of the best-selling books Find Your Red Thread and Say What They Can’t Unhear, the latter of which was named a top management book of the year by the Globe and Mail and a must-read for leaders by Forbes. Her sessions are known for being as engaging as they are transformative, providing practical tools for any nonprofit leader looking to communicate their mission more effectively.

Joining a powerhouse lineup of plenary speakers that includes Diane Yentel, President and CEO of National Council of Nonprofits, Tamsen Webster makes this two-day event on September 29 and 30 a must-attend for the sector. This is a rare opportunity to hear from two of the most influential voices in advocacy and communication as we gather to strengthen our collective mission at Tennessee Nonprofit Network.

Closing Plenary Speaker

Joining bestselling author Tamsen Webster and National Council of Nonprofits President & CEO Diane Yentel on the main stage is our newly announced closing keynote speaker, Britt Mitchell.

What do people say about your organization when you are not in the room? It is not your mission statement or your annual report that lingers, but the actual story they experience. In the final session of the conference, titled “You Are the Brand: Every Role, Every Room — Elevating Nonprofit Success Through Story and Brand,” Mitchell will challenge every attendee to rethink how an organization’s narrative is built and sustained.
As the founder of Dream Bigger Now TODAY, Mitchell is a Wharton-certified Executive Presence Coach, a Brand Innovators 40 Under 40 honoree, and a former Global Head of Enablement who built Stevie Award-winning programs for one of the world’s leading Fortune 500 data platforms.

This closing keynote moves beyond traditional marketing strategies to address the internal culture of storytelling. Regardless of job title—whether an executive director, an administrative assistant, or the first point of contact answering the phones—every single role shapes the organizational brand. Attendees will leave with a renewed understanding of how to take ownership of their organization’s most powerful asset.

We look forward to seeing you in Franklin for an unforgettable conference experience!

Purchase Your Tickets Here!