by Angela Meekins, West Tennessee Regional Manager, Tennessee Nonprofit Network
There are certain events we host here at TNN where you can feel the positive vibes the moment people walk through the door, and our recent Board Fundraising Regional Summit for Board Fundraising was one of those events!
I was standing at the door early that morning, greeting participants as they arrived, and I could immediately feel a sense of anticipation as each one entered the Playhouse venue. There was excitement, curiosity, and for some, a level of nervousness that eventually subsided as the day went along (except for four organizations, I’ll get to that part later). Many organizations knew they would be stepping into a space that required them to delve deeper into having a strong board/staff fundraising relationship, and in some cases, practice their skills in front of their peers. But what stood out to me most was that they showed up energetic and ready to learn these best practices.
As the day unfolded, what became clear is that fundraising is not about individual effort. It’s about strategy, alignment, and partnership between board and staff to move a mission forward. That message came through consistently across the sessions and conversations throughout the day.
Our powerful keynote speaker, Donna Murray-Brown, President & CEO of Inforum, set the tone for the day by emphasizing the importance of building a culture of fundraising within the board. Not as an added responsibility, but as a shared and integrated part of leadership. From there, the conversations expanded into what that actually looks like in practice and how boards can actively support fundraising efforts in ways that are both meaningful and sustainable.
The “Meeting the Moment with Fundraising Success” session focused on how boards can be more intentional and proactive in their role, emphasizing practical ways to strengthen fundraising capacity through alignment and clear expectations. It reinforced that successful fundraising happens when boards understand their role and are equipped with the tools to actively support the organization’s strategy.
The panel on “Creative Ways for Boards to Fundraise” expanded that thinking by moving beyond the traditional “give or get” model and highlighting multiple ways board members can contribute. From leveraging personal networks to identifying prospects and supporting campaigns, the discussion showed that fundraising can look different for every board member while still advancing the same goal.
After lunch, the afternoon Practice Pods opened, and the participants got right to work brainstorming and rehearsing various scenarios on how to ask for funding from potential donors. The introduction of the Practice Pods created a safe, peer-to-peer learning experience, giving the staff and board members the opportunity to learn directly from actual funders before seeing examples of their lessons applied in real time on the Playhouse stage. I walked back and forth all afternoon to listen to multiple pods to see if their lessons would come to life during the final live practice pod. In my opinion, this really helped organizations understand what strong funder conversations look like from both sides.
The final session was where participants get to “learn by doing,” or at least “learn by watching.” Four board member and staff member pairings took the stage to make a live ask in front of Tony Bowen, Executive Director of Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund®, participating in a mini pitch to the foundation while the audience watched. This session brought everything together in a way that was both engaging and memorable. Participants had about 15 minutes on stage each, and what made it even more enjoyable was watching Tony and the participants kick things off with fun warm-up exercises often used in the theater community to calm nerves before a performance, which added lightness and humor to a moment that could have been an intimidating experience. At random, the organizations selected were Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians, Intunity, Samaritan Counseling Centers of the Mid-South, and TennGreen Land Conservancy, and they all competed for a chance to receive a $1,500 grant. Each participant received live feedback via Mentimeter on their “ask” exercise. The BIG surprise at the end of the day to both the participants and the audience was that all four organizations received this unrestricted award! Which by the way, the TNN staff was told a short time before the event and I personally felt like that Kristen Wiig character from Saturday Night Live, Sue the Surprise Party Lady, on holding on to that secret all day!
By the end of the day, what stood out most to me was not just the information shared, but the environment that was created. This day was filled with openness, learning, and a sense of togetherness among nonprofits from across the state. Attendees learned that transparency and storytelling matter to funders. Being clear, honest, and intentional about your story is essential when having meaningful funding conversations.
The most heartwarming takeaway for me from the event was that the four organizations that received the grants represented every region of Tennessee, with service areas reaching across counties and communities throughout the state. Their work spans critical focus areas including housing, veterans, environment, public and mental health, community and youth development, and education.
After the Summit and several emails from the attendees in the days after, many shared with us that they gained new insight into creative ways to present their data so that it clearly supports their story and how to work in partnership with their board to fund their missions. It was truly wonderful to hear that they left with a stronger understanding of how critical their role is in the success of their organization and for some, a renewed spark, sense of purpose, and a deeper connection to the work.
I hope to see you all at our next major event to continue sharing your stories, learning from peers and experts, and strengthening your organization’s reach by joining the entire Tennessee Nonprofit Network team at our annual statewide Tennessee Nonprofit Conference, where some of the sessions will include board-specific topics to help you continue to move your mission forward!