We are thrilled to announce Kim James has joined our Board of Directors at Tennessee Nonprofit Network! As the Executive Director for Young Leaders Council in Nashville, Kim brings nearly two decades of invaluable experience and a deep commitment to the nonprofit sector.
Kim earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Fisk University and a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee State University. Her impressive career includes extensive experience in community relations, program management, donor engagement, and communications. Kim has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the Nashville Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs for 2024, featured among the Nashville Post’s “The Mentors” for 2024, and receiving the 2024 Paragon Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Junior League of Nashville. She is also a proud graduate of YLC Nashville Class 49.
Kim’s decision to join the Board was inspired by the work of Tennessee Nonprofit Network, recalling an info session in late 2023 that highlighted efforts to establish a powerful advocate for nonprofits across the state, offering training, conferences, and resources. She continues to be inspired by the dedication of the team to the mission and its impact on the entire community. She is honored to play a role in supporting her fellow nonprofit professionals in a broader, more intentional way.
For Kim, communities would not be the same without the nonprofit sector. She points out that in Middle Tennessee alone, over 1,000 organizations contribute significantly to local success through invaluable programs and services. As someone who has dedicated her professional life to this field, she is invested in its future and takes pride in helping it thrive.
During her time with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Kim hopes to deepen her understanding of how the legislative work drives change for Tennessee nonprofit organizations. She aims to become a better-informed advocate in her community and assist Tennessee Nonprofit Network in building connections and fostering partnerships with organizations in Middle Tennessee.
At home, Kim and her husband Ramsey are blessed with three children: Ramsey Jr. (14), Rhyan (12), and Robert (10). Their family also includes a Yorkie named Rosie, who is both bossy and lovable. Weekends are often spent supporting their children’s basketball games, with Rob also playing flag football and soccer, ensuring a lively household.
In her role as Executive Director for Young Leaders Council, Kim manages a small team and drives the mission of training and empowering the next generation of nonprofit board leaders. She enjoys the privilege of playing a small role in these young professionals’ journeys to improve communities, helping them achieve their goals and leverage their talents to make a difference as leaders for local nonprofit organizations.
While she primarily enjoys spy novels and books about assassins, Kim recently read Michelle Obama’s “The Light We Carry.” The book resonated with her deeply, as she identified with Michelle’s journey as a wife, mother, and a woman carving her own space while supporting her husband’s career. The book inspired her to embrace her talents and not be weighed down by flaws, reinforcing that each person has a unique path and light to succeed, and should use that light to help others.
Kim appreciates Nashville’s beauty and the community’s ingrained spirit of service. She notes that engagement and being part of something larger than oneself feel like part of Nashville’s DNA, with new residents often encouraged to connect through volunteering in the nonprofit community – a unique aspect of Tennessee, particularly Nashville.
Her all-time favorite movie is “Benjamin Button.” She loves its emotional depth and the touching story of a person living life backward. Despite the difficulties Benjamin faces, he maintains optimism and love, making the storyline and acting phenomenal and inspiring.
For a local escape, Kim and her family love visiting SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland for water, sun, and relaxation. They have many fun memories there, and the kids always enjoy it.
A surprising hobby Kim has, though she has no intention of public display, is that she can sing a little. She also dabbles in graphic design, creating marketing materials, invitations, and programs for friends and groups when needed.
If she could travel anywhere in the world, Kim would return to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Her recent trip was a favorite vacation experience, with gorgeous views, whale sightings, amazing food, and a profoundly relaxing atmosphere.
Her advice to someone starting in the nonprofit sector is to ensure they enjoy their work. This connection to the mission and the fulfillment from the job can sustain them through tough days, helping them remain focused and steady even when challenges arise.
Outside of her work with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Kim is passionate about connecting young people (both youth and young professionals) with opportunities that foster their success. She loves providing them with chances to learn about the world beyond their immediate surroundings, helping them dream big and envision a future where they can achieve anything.
A fun fact about Kim is that she was featured as a contributor in “A Cloud of Witnesses: A Sisters’ Survival Guide for the Workplace” by Marcia J. Bolden.