We are thrilled to introduce Candace Surface, Executive Director of Day 7 in Nashville, as a new member of our Community Action Council! As a rare fourth-generation Nashvillian, Candace has deep roots in the community and is committed to serving the place she calls home.
Before leading Day 7, Candace worked in both director and development roles for another Nashville nonprofit ministry. She also spent several years as an elementary PE teacher and middle/high school soccer coach. With a strong interest in health and wellness, a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management, and numerous conversations with peers, Candace recognized a critical community need: overall health for those in helping professions. Ensuring the well-being of nonprofit staff so they can work from a place of personal and organizational health is the driving force behind Day 7. In addition to her role, Candace is a personal trainer and serves on three other nonprofit boards and as a deacon at her local church. Her favorite ways to practice self-care include boxing, counseling, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her husband, their four pets, and their adorable foster son.
Candace is excited about the new and emerging work Tennessee Nonprofit Network is undertaking statewide and wanted to partner in that effort. For her, the nonprofit sector is crucial for the health and well-being of communities. She also notes it is composed of some of the most giving and sacrificial members of our community, people whom Day 7 is passionate about caring for so they can continue their important work long-term.
During her time with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Candace hopes to be a voice and advocate for taking care of our greatest assets: our teams! She notes the lacking information regarding burnout and turnover in the nonprofit sector. A 2024 report by the Center for Effective Philanthropy found that 95% of nonprofit leaders expressed concern about staff burnout, with nearly 50% finding it difficult to fill staff vacancies. Another study revealed that 1 in 4 nonprofit employees report experiencing burnout “Often” or “Extremely Often,” and this increases to 1 in 3 for nonprofit leaders.
Candace is married to her husband, Matt, whom she describes as compassionate and empathetic, helping to ground her. They share their home with four spoiled pets: Artemis, a 3-legged mutt; Maple, a loud husky; Sheba, a temperamental Siamese cat; and Echo, another 3-legged cuddly cat. They have a trend of rescuing 3-legged animals. They also recently welcomed a new foster son, who just turned one and is described as precious, chill, and smiley.
As Executive Director at Day 7, Candace enjoys being a voice that gives people in the nonprofit sector “permission” to rest. She also appreciates the opportunity to practice what they preach, even if they aren’t always perfect at it.
She recently listened to “The Violin Conspiracy,” a fictional story inspired by the author’s experience as a classical musician. Candace appreciates gaining new perspectives from people with different life experiences and found the book impactful for its direct address of racism while also highlighting beautiful family and mentor relationships.
As a native Nashvillian, Candace has witnessed significant changes over the past three to four decades. She particularly loves her neighborhood for its walkable access to parks and restaurants. She also enjoys Nashville’s creative scene and the abundance of free, live music options.
Her all-time favorite movie is “Lion,” an inspiring true story about a boy adopted from India who, after getting lost from his family, eventually finds his way home. Candace loves films based on true stories because they often inspire her to take action in her own life.
Shabu Shabu, a Korean hot pot restaurant, is her favorite local dining spot.
A hidden talent that might surprise some is Candace’s ability to play the piano, and she hopes to learn the cello. As an athlete by appearance, people are often surprised by her musical talents.
If she could travel anywhere in the world, Candace would go to Norway. She finds the pace of life and focus on family time there to be a transformative perspective, having experienced it during a sabbatical in 2017.
Her advice for someone starting a career in the nonprofit sector is to “take time to rest.” She emphasizes that work will always be waiting, and systems will continually demand more, so self-care is essential for long-term sustainability.
Outside of her work with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Candace is passionate about several causes. These include The Center for Living and Learning, a nonprofit her mother started for her schizophrenic brother, which provides miraculous transformations for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in a residential farm setting in Franklin. She also supports Shine Photography, a nonprofit that offers $10 professional senior portraits to Metro Nashville students, boosting their confidence. Nashville NightShade, a professional women’s ultimate frisbee team that also functions as a nonprofit focused on youth development, is another passion. As a former collegiate soccer player now turned ultimate player, she loves being part of an organization that uplifts women and girls in sports. Finally, foster care and adoption are a personal call for her family, with over 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S. and 117,000 waiting to be adopted. She encourages anyone with love to offer a child to consider fostering and is happy to share her family’s experience.
A fun fact about Candace that most people don’t know is that she is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach.