Sophisticated Giving® is published by Mahanes Media Group, LLC and is independently owned and operated. Sophisticated Giving® and Sophisticated Living® are a registered trademark of Williams Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sophisticated Living® is published six times a year. Sophisticated Giving® is published annually. All images and editorial are the property of Mahanes Media Group, LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. Subscriptions: Email: nashville@slmag.net Telephone 615.308.9294
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From the Presenting Sponsor
I was born and raised right here in Middle Tennessee. For more than a decade, I poured my time and energy into building companies in the logistics industry. It was an incredible journey, but in 2023, my wife, Carli, and I began to pray about what was next. We felt a deep pull to take the resources God entrusted to us—our team, our energy, and our money—and focus them on the best ways to create a Kingdom impact. Out of that calling, the Patton Foundation was formed.
The Patton Foundation exists to champion the entrepreneurial spirit of Tennessee. We do this by offering grants, hosting pitch competitions, and serving as an inspiration platform for the next generation of leaders. We believe entrepreneurs are not only job creators, but community builders— and when they thrive, Tennessee thrives.
At the same time, Carli and I also began building Signature Required Media. The name comes from my years in logistics: most people don't realize that the person wearing a FedEx uniform, driving a FedEx truck, often doesn't actually work for FedEx. FedEx Ground contracts with more than 6,000 small business owners nationwide. Every package must be delivered, no matter what—but about 15% of those deliveries are special. They're high-value or irreplaceable. Those deliveries require a signature. To us, the stories we tell about Tennessee need to be treated the same way: they're significant, they're irreplaceable, and we want to make sure the messages are heard.
Through our Signature Required podcast and Patton Foundation events, we've had the privilege of sitting down with remarkable leaders in generosity—Chris and Elaine Whitney of One Gen Away, Papa Joe Bradford from Walk of Love, Rachel Freeman from the Sexual Assault Center, Darren Andrus from the Baptist Children's Home, Elizabeth Sherrad from the Nashville Public Library, Glen Cranfield from the Nashville Rescue Mission, and so many more. These conversations have shown us that the stories of generosity and impact here in Tennessee are endless.
Carli and I are honored to play even a small part in telling those stories and supporting those who live them out. As you turn the pages of this magazine, I hope you are inspired as we are—to continue giving, continue engaging, and continue being what makes Tennessee the Volunteer State.
With gratitude,
Spencer Patton
From the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Nashville has been our home for more than two decades, and in that time, we’ve been continually inspired by this city’s extraordinary spirit of generosity. Ours is a community filled with remarkable organizations—from small, grassroots initiatives to major nonprofits—all working tirelessly to make life better, spark new opportunities, fund breakthroughs, and celebrate the arts.
That spirit is what inspired us to bring Sophisticated Giving to Nashville. Now in its fourth year, this special annual guide was created to connect our readers with the causes that matter most. Each listing highlights an organization’s mission and offers a simple invitation to get involved— whether by making a gift, volunteering your time, or simply learning more.
This edition arrives with our November/December issue—just as many begin making their year-end giving decisions. Inside, you’ll also find a full calendar of 2025 fundraising events to help you plan a meaningful and inspired year ahead.
With so many worthy causes in our community, choosing where to give can be a challenge. Sophisticated Giving is designed to make that decision a little easier—and a lot more inspiring—by placing Nashville’s most impactful nonprofits right at your fingertips. Please make use of the included QR codes, which let organizations know you discovered them through this Charity Register. You can also mention Sophisticated Giving when making your donation—it helps them see just how far their message has reached.
People give for many reasons: to feel connected, to create change, to bring a little more joy into the world. Whatever your reason, we hope this guide inspires you to discover new organizations, support the ones you already love, and perhaps give more than you imagined. Because generosity doesn’t just change lives—it enriches us all.
Happy giving season,
Melissa & Dave
CHARITY REGISTER
ABE’S GARDEN COMMUNITY
Who We Are: Abe's Garden Community is a nonprofit senior life community and care provider driven to improve the lives of older adults and those living with dementia. Our mission is to establish a replicable model for senior life that focuses on brain health, wellness, and purposeful living. We demonstrate local and global impact by developing best practices in brain health and engagement that are foundational to our residential and community-based services in Middle Tennessee, as well as through our commitment to sharing these best practices with other senior life communities and professional and personal caregivers around the world.
What We Do: Abe's Garden Community provides services and resources for seniors and those affected by dementia, including diagnosed individuals, their families, and caregivers. We provide memory support, as well as independent and assisted living, in a caring, engaging, and homelike environment. Additionally, for those living on or off campus, we offer in-home care and engagement, dementia day programs, an early-stage dementia community group, and support and guidance to caregivers. Our specially trained team provides best practices in dementia care and engagement, which reduces symptoms of anxiety by 42%, depression by 41%, and neuropsychiatric symptoms by 32%.
Why We're Important: Our Let's Grow Together ~ Expanding Locally to Impact Globally priority expands residential capacity from 130 to 170, including 20 new memory care suites. Other priorities include a chapel, a music research lab, a community room, and a dedicated education and training suite. We have received 90% of our $20 million fundraising goal. We value philanthropic partners at all levels to complete our capital expansion, which enhances opportunities for person-directed engagement and sharing our best practices with care communities around the globe. Gifts and pledges for our capital campaign may be made over 3-5 years.
How We Serve the Community: In addition to our residential services, we have three programs that provide respite for dementia caregivers. Abe's Garden at Home offers in-home personalized engagement and activities of daily living
assistance. Abe's Garden Community Group provides those with early-stage dementia living on or off campus with a social supportive environment among peers on a similar journey. Abe's Garden Club is an on-site day program designed for individuals with dementia to benefit from unique and engaging experiences multiple days a week. The Abe's Garden model is used in 22 memory care communities worldwide, and we continue to educate providers on our approach.
How You Can Help: We deeply value philanthropic partners who support our mission. We gratefully receive gifts of time and money to make the following initiatives possible:
• Capital improvements/renovations/construction
• Continual expansion of wellness and engagement opportunities
• Assistance for residents and program participants w ho demonstrate financial need
• Caregiver education and support resources
We are grateful for individuals and organizations who believe in giving back to create a better world where everyone can live, learn, work, play, and age with dignity. Use the QR code to give now or visit abesgarden.org/capital-campaign for more ways to contribute.
Abe’s Garden Community 115 Woodmont Boulevard Nashville, TN 37205
Who We Are: The American Brain Foundation advances human health by funding life-changing research across the spectrum of the brain and nervous system with the support of our donors. We bring individuals, patient organizations, industry, academia, and corporations together around the common goal of curing brain disease. We raise awareness and promote education to ensure everyone has the knowledge to care for and protect their brain. Funding cross-cutting research is our best hope for finding better treatments, preventions, and cures. Brain diseases, disorders, and injuries are interconnected. When we cure one, we will cure many.
What We Do: Our Next Generation Research Grants kickstart the careers of promising scientists, including five program alumni now at Vanderbilt. 98% of these researchers have gone on to secure further funding from the NIH or other national funders, and their scientific papers have been cited nearly one million times. Our Cure One, Cure Many Awards provide large-scale catalyst funding to the world's top researchers pursuing the most innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to advancing our knowledge of the brain. These include awards in dementia, neuroinflammation, and disease prevention. In 2025, we are granting nearly $10 million to research—more than ever before in our history.
Why We're Important: Brain diseases affect billions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 43% of the global population will experience a neurologic condition at some point in their lives. Brain disease is the leading cause of ill health and disability globally and is responsible for 11 million deaths worldwide each year. Most of these conditions—including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis— do not yet have cures. But through research, we are getting closer to our vision of life without brain disease.
How We Serve the Community: The American Brain Foundation serves communities across the nation by funding groundbreaking research and promoting brain health. We're deepening our connection in Nashville through our annual gala, which brings philanthropists, advocates, and leaders in science together to raise funds and celebrate innovation in research. In September 2025, we held our inaugural gala at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The incredibly generous Nashville community raised nearly $1.5 million for brain research! Our gala returns to Nashville on Saturday, September 12, 2026, and we would love to see you there.
How You Can Help: The need to fund brain research is ongoing, and there are many ways to get involved. We invite individuals to share their own experiences with brain diseases and disorders, and we work with philanthropists and donors at all levels. We welcome direct donations, tributes and memorial giving, legacy bequests, donoradvised funds, gifts of stock, cryptocurrency, and other types of financial support.
Who We Are: Our Mission is to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. Our Bold Goal: By 2040, Blood Cancer United will enable people with blood cancer to gain more than one million years of life. This means more birthdays, more graduations, more cherished moments and memories with family and friends.
What We Do: Education & Support: We are the leading source of free education and support for blood cancer patients and families. We provide personalized one-on-one support, including helping patients find and enroll in clinical trials. Policy & Advocacy: With our nationwide grassroots network of more than 50,000 active online volunteers, we drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care. Research: We are the largest nonprofit funder of blood cancer research, supporting over 100 scientists last year alone at the world's most prestigious institutions with Blood Cancer United Research Grants.
Why We're Important: We've prioritized investments in research, patient services, and advocacy, so we can better address the challenges blood cancer patients face. We have provided over 542,000 financial assistance grants, two billion dollars in research, and funded more than 100 scientists at the world's most prestigious institutions.
How We Serve the Community: Blood Cancer United serves the community by raising funds that stay local to support patients, families, and researchers. Through peer support programs, community grants, and storytelling, we bring hope and resources to those impacted by blood cancer in the Tennessee and Alabama region.
How You Can Help: Join a campaign committee, such as the Visionaries of the Year Leadership Committee; nominate a Visionary; serve on our board; or connect with our team.
Blood Cancer United Website: bloodcancerunited.org Facebook: @bloodcancerunited Instagram: @bcutd_tennessee / @bloodcancerunited
Development Director (Visionaries of the Year): Kimmi Rasky kimmi.rasky@llg.org
Development Director (Light the Night): Fatemeh Delheimer fatemeh.delheimer@lls.org
Board Chair: Paul Wilson
BOOK 'EM
Who We Are: Book'em is the largest provider of free books to children (ages 0-18) in Nashville, with over 1.5 million books distributed since our founding in 1989. As we've grown over the years, our mission has remained the same: to create a more literate Nashville by igniting children's passion for reading through book ownership and engagement with enthusiastic volunteer readers. Our programs target children of all ages, with a focus on those in Title I schools and underresourced neighborhoods.
What We Do: Our mission is a big one, and because of that, Book'em uses a holistic, community-centered approach to literacy. We engage with children through our five main programs: Books for Nashville's Kids, Reading is Fundamental, Book Bus, Read Me Day, and Ready for Reading. We partner with teachers, Metro Nashville Public Schools, community groups, businesses, and volunteers to make it easy for kids to access books and experience the joy that comes from stories. This vital community work can help cultivate a child's love for reading and have a profoundly lasting impact on children, families, and communities for a lifetime.
Why We're Important: Book'em is unique. We're not just about book ownership—we help children learn to love reading, and that's only possible with strong community support. When you join our mission, your investment multiplies. Book'em reaches tens of thousands of children each year, with lasting impact as they grow. Financial donors and behind-the-scenes volunteers get books into the community, while reading role models share stories and inspire children to see themselves as lifelong readers. Getting involved means being part of something bigger than yourself—something that transforms lives through the power of books and the joy of reading.
How We Serve the Community: Book'em is active in the community, and it shows. Each year, through Books for Nashville's Kids, we partner with over 150 organizations to provide 100,000+ quality books to children. Through our Reading is Fundamental program, 300 volunteer role models visit Title I elementary schools to engage students with interactive reading. Last year alone, we distributed 30,000 books to these students. Our Book Bus has brought books to kids at 90+ events since 2024. We also place volunteers in local preschools and, in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools, host Read Me Day celebrations to promote literacy and joy.
How You Can Help: Our mission thrives thanks to community-minded people like you. Whether you're an individual, group, organization, or business, there are many ways to make a difference. We welcome monetary donations, quality new and like-new books, and volunteers to prepare books for distribution. Become a reading role model in local schools or help behind the scenes. Passionate about literacy? Consider applying to join our engaged board of directors. Every role—big or small—helps us inspire young readers and build a stronger, more literate Nashville. Together, we can create lasting change, one book and one child at a time.
Who We Are: The Brett Boyer Foundation was created in loving memory and in honor of our beloved daughter, Sadie Brett Boyer. Brett was diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect (CHD). A congenital heart defect is an abnormality of the heart present at birth. She battled congenital heart disease (atrioventricular septal defect) for her seven inspiring and incredible months of life.
When we received Brett's diagnosis, we were uneducated about both Down syndrome and CHD, and we were very fearful. As we learned more, we realized the world is in the dark about the underfunding of research necessary to improve the lives of those living with both DS and CHD, and that CHD is much more common than most are aware. As soon as Brett was born, we knew that Down syndrome was nothing to be feared, and it became one of our favorite things about her. We celebrate her Down syndrome diagnosis and work every day to support the CHD community.
What We Do:
• Fund research for advancement in the prevention, detection, treatment, and management of CHD
• Spread CHD awareness and education highlighting the need for research
• Provide financial, emotional, and mental health support for CHD patients, parents, and providers
• Support families while they are experiencing inpatient hospital stays
• Partner with organizations dedicated to inclusion, opportunities, and celebration for the Down syndrome community
Why We're Important: 1 in every 100 live births receives a CHD diagnosis, making it the most common birth defect. 40,000 babies are born with congenital heart disease each year in the US alone; however, CHD
research is severely underfunded. We believe this is because CHD is essentially an invisible disease. When a child with CHD wears a shirt, you can’t see their scars from treatment. It is our mission to raise awareness about CHD while funding research to improve survival rates, quality of life, and mental & emotional health for all affected by a diagnosis. We also aim to show the world that we didn’t lose Brett to Down syndrome. Down syndrome doesn’t need a cure. Congenital heart disease needs a cure, and the cause of most CHDs are unknown. Our goal is for every family fighting CHD or receiving a diagnosis to know we are here fighting for them, and we are here to offer them community.
How We Serve the Community: The Brett Boyer Foundation funds research nationally, as well as locally supporting families with CHD by providing free mental health support for any Tennessee CHD family, hosting heart community events, providing meals to inpatient families, supporting CHD healthcare workers, and financially assisting Tennessee heart families. We also partner with local organizations dedicated to inclusion, opportunities, and celebration for the Down syndrome community.
How You Can Help: You can help us fund our mission by donating at any time through our website. Visit TheBrettBoyerFoundation.org to learn more.
The Brett Boyer Foundation 4191 Arno Road Franklin, TN 37064
TheBrettBoyerFoundation.org
Instagram/Facebook: @brightforbrett
Founder/President : Ellen Boyer
Executive Director: Jennifer Peyser
CENTERSTONE
Who We Are: Centerstone is a nonprofit health system providing mental health and substance use disorder treatments. We have evolved significantly over our nearly 70-year history, expanding our services, our geography, and our partnerships. While our organization has grown, our singular focus on delivering care that changes people's lives has not; it's our noble purpose that drives us each and every day, connecting us to each other and caring for people and families in our communities.
What We Do: We want the best for our families, friends, neighbors, and communities. Services are available nationally through the operation of outpatient clinics, residential programs, school-based services, the use of telehealth, and an inpatient hospital. Centerstone also features specialized programs for the military community, therapeutic foster care, children's services, and employee assistance programs. Centerstone's Research Institute provides guidance through research and technology, leveraging the best practices in care for use in all our communities. Centerstone's Foundation secures philanthropic resources to support the mission of delivering care that changes people's lives.
Why We're Important: The need for mental healthcare is great.
• 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness each year.
• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34.
• 20+ veterans die by suicide each day.
• Our mission-driven team provides a full continuum of services, positively impacting our communities.
• Centerstone provides more than 2 million services annually, including over 6,500 for our veterans, service members, and their families, working with 1,500 therapists across the US.
How We Serve the Community: Community is at the heart and soul of Centerstone. Through 24/7 access and our full continuum of mental health and substance use disorder treatments, our team serves more than 107,000 people each year in communities across the country. With residential facilities, outpatient clinics, school partnerships, an inpatient behavioral hospital, addiction recovery centers, and the use of telehealth, we strive to meet the needs of people exactly where they are.
How You Can Help: Centerstone's Foundation works with individual donors, businesses, and grant-making organizations to ensure life-changing care is accessible to the children, adults, and families who need it most. Through sound financial stewardship, our Foundation amplifies charitable gifts made to Centerstone, making sure we have the maximum impact on those we serve. You can donate to Centerstone to ensure that those who need care have access to care when they need it most: Centerstone.org/give.
Centerstone
1921 Ransom Way Nashville, TN 37217
877.HOPE123
Facebook: @centerstone
Instagram: @centerstonehealth
X: @centerstone
Executive Director: David Guth, CEO Centerstone America
Development Director: Travis Clark
Foundation CEO: Ramona Rhodes
Foundation Board Chair: Bruce Barrick
CHEEKWOOD ESTATE & GARDENS
Who We Are: The mission of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is to celebrate and preserve Cheekwood as a historical landmark where beauty and excellence in art and horticulture nurture the spirit and serve as inspiration for a diverse and broad audience. Cheekwood is one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. The extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion and 55 sprawling acres, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum, with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art. The property includes 13 distinct gardens and a 1.5-mile woodland sculpture trail.
What We Do: Cheekwood welcomes 380,000 visitors every year, and it ranks as one of Nashville's top five highestattended destinations. Seasonal festivals include Cheekwood in Bloom, Cheekwood Harvest, and Holiday LIGHTS. Art exhibitions are displayed in the galleries and throughout the gardens. Cheekwood serves as the backdrop for special performances by local musicians, multicultural celebrations, and events such as Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars. Education and outreach programs engage K-12 students, and many are free of charge. From 250,000 blooming bulbs in the spring to one mile of holiday lights in the winter, there's something for everyone at Cheekwood.
Why We're Important: Cheekwood strives to be a locally celebrated and nationally recognized destination renowned for its distinctive beauty, historical significance, and excellence in art and horticulture. We are committed to growing and sustaining an inclusive organization that ensures every encounter and experience at Cheekwood is welcoming, and that all who visit are nurtured and inspired by the power of Cheekwood's beauty, its art, and the natural world. As an outdoor classroom with educational opportunities for all ages, Cheekwood serves as an accessible entry to the wonderful world of art and nature.
How We Serve the Community: Through special programs and partnerships, Cheekwood is committed to
ensuring that all can visit and be inspired by our art and gardens. Cheekwood is continually developing initiatives to broaden and deepen our presence and impact through multiple free and discounted admission programs. School field trips are free for K-12 students and teachers, with grade-appropriate itineraries designed to enhance school curricula. Free family field trips are offered in partnership with Title I schools and include a complimentary yearlong membership for each family. Cheekwood also offers summer camp scholarships, free and discounted admission for military and veterans, paid internships, and more.
How You Can Help: Join Cheekwood Society (starting at $1,500) to deepen your engagement and provide vital support to Cheekwood's operations. Cheekwood Society donors receive invitations to exhibition previews and private events, including the annual Cheekwood Society Dinner, recognition on donor lists, complimentary passes to Cheekwood, and more. Additional opportunities include the Family Society, which supports education and outreach initiatives; the Council of Contemporaries, for Young Professionals; and The 1929 Club, providing funding for historic initiatives, acquisitions, and an endowment for the Historic Mansion & Gardens. Tribute gifts, such as dedicated planters, benches, and trees, are available to commemorate the most important moments or people in your life.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville, TN 37205
Phone Number
615.353.8000
Website: Cheekwood.org
Facebook: @CheekwoodNashville
Instagram @Cheekwood
X:@Cheekwood
Executive Director: Jane MacLeod
Board Chair: Ronald Roberts
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM
Who We Are: The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum collects, preserves, and interprets country music and its history for the education and entertainment of diverse audiences. In exhibitions, publications, digital media, and educational programs, the museum explores the cultural importance and enduring beauty of the art form. Among the most-visited history museums in the U.S., the museum was awarded the country's highest honor in the arts, the National Medal of Arts, in 2024. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964.
What We Do: Since opening in 1967, the museum has built the world's largest and most significant collection of materials documenting country music and its culture. These collections are vital for study and research and are the foundation of the museum's exhibitions, online digital archive, educational programs, and publications. The museum's permanent exhibition "Sing Me Back Home: Folk Roots to the Present" presents the history of country music from its pre-commercial roots in the nineteenth century through its vibrant life today. The museum also maintains a regular rotation of temporary exhibitions, which explore a featured artist or delve into other related topics.
Why We're Important: As one of the most visited history museums in the country, the museum welcomed nearly 1.5 million visitors in 2024 and offered more than 2,000 in-person and virtual education programs. Its flagship Words & Music program promotes language arts by pairing professional songwriters with school classrooms to create original songs. The museum also offers the 7,500-squarefoot Taylor Swift Education Center on site for students, teachers, and families, as well as dedicated performance spaces in the CMA Theater and the Ford Theater. The museum's collection facilities, including the Frist Library and Archive, serve as a research hub for understanding the genre's history and impact.
How We Serve the Community: Throughout its more than 55-year history, the museum's educational programming has remained central to the nonprofit institution's service efforts. Typically, more than 100,000 individuals participate in guided instruction each year, offered on-site at the museum, online, and in the community with programs ranging from weekly instrument demonstrations to the museum's flagship songwriting program for schools, Words & Music. Through a steady schedule of educational programs, workshops, and creative classes, the museum also engages schools, students, and families from across Tennessee and beyond.
How You Can Help:
• Become an Honor Society member: Members provide meaningful support for the museum's award-winning exhibitions, education programs, and the preservation of the museum's collection.
• D onate: Gifts to the museum's Annual Fund help to sustain the museum and its uniquely American musical heritage now and into the future. Every dollar donated to the museum supports its educational mission, including its collections and preservation efforts.
• Become a volunteer: From greeting visitors, to assisting with music and art programs, to leading school tours through the museum's educational exhibitions, there are numerous ways volunteers can celebrate, inspire, and share the unique history of country music.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Lewis Way South Nashville, TN 37203
615.416.2001
Website: countrymusichalloffame.org
Facebook: @countrymusichof
Instagram: @countrymusichof
X: @countrymusichof
Threads: @countrymusichof
CEO: Kyle Young
CROSSROADS CAMPUS
Who We Are: Crossroads Campus is an innovative nonprofit transforming lives through the powerful bond between people and animals. We provide young adults facing homelessness and hardship with stable housing, job training, and community support—while also rescuing vulnerable cats and dogs and finding them loving homes. Our sustainable social enterprise model creates pathways to independence for youth and a second chance for animals.
What We Do: At Crossroads, we connect young adults overcoming barriers to housing and employment with animals in need of care and forever homes. It's a powerful bond that transforms both. Our young adult interns receive hands-on training in our pet-focused businesses, gaining real-world skills in grooming, animal care, and retail. This isn't just a job; it's a foundation for a stable future. In the process, they help us rescue and find loving homes for cats and dogs.
We also provide affordable housing and intensive support services. At Crossroads, we're building resilience, empathy, and community, one person and one pet at a time.
Why We're Important: Imagine a solution as innovative as it is impactful. At Crossroads, we've created a unique approach that focuses on two critical issues: youth homelessness and abandoned pets. We don't just offer a hand up; we help young people build successful futures by empowering them with the skills, confidence, and purpose they need. How? Through the life-changing experience of caring for homeless dogs and cats, they learn empathy and responsibility—and discover their own potential. Your support is a strategic investment in our community. You're not simply donating to a cause; you're funding a powerful model that transforms lives.
How We Serve the Community: Crossroads Campus strengthens Nashville through its holistic programs:
• Affordable Housing: 26 fully furnished apartments for young adults.
• Job Training & Employment: Pet-related social enterprise businesses provide workforce experience and the development of transferable skills for future careers.
• Pet Grooming School: Preparing young people for a sustainable wage, high-demand career as a professional pet groomer.
• Humane Education: Through teaching empathy and responsible pet care, we are able to reduce animal abuse and neglect throughout the community.
Every service we offer creates a ripple effect—economic independence, job creation, and animal rescue—strengthening the fabric of our community. To schedule a Crossroads Campus tour, contact: pam@crossroadscampus.org
How You Can Help:
• Donate: Make a gift online at crossroadscampus.org/donate.
Executive Director/CEO: Lisa Stetar lisa@crossroadscampus.org
Director of Development: Pam Sheffer pam@crossroadscampus.org
Board Chair/President: Robin Cohn robin@crossroadscampus.org
CUMBERLAND RIVER COMPACT
Who We Are: We all rely on river water for our day-to-day activities, which support our health, safety, and quality of life. Since 1997, the Cumberland River Compact's mission has been to enhance the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries through education, restoration, and collaboration. There are more than 3 million people and thousands of species that depend on clean water from the Cumberland River. We address the multifaceted root causes of water pollution, providing clean and abundant water throughout the Cumberland River basin through four programmatic areas: Stream Restoration, Urban Waters, Working Lands, and Education and Engagement.
What We Do: The work of the Compact spans an 18,000-square-mile watershed of rugged wilderness, beautiful streams, and charming towns in the Cumberland River basin of Kentucky and Tennessee. We work in rural areas of the state to reforest previously mined land and repair streambanks, improving habitat for elk, songbirds, and the endangered Hellbender salamander. We collaborate with farmers to enhance soil health and improve water quality on their land. In Nashville, we remove pavement and replace it with native trees to filter stormwater and provide environmental education for thousands of children each year.
Why We're Important: The Compact partners with individuals, communities, and organizations to support their conservation efforts, empowering them to care for their land and water. We strive to be a water conservation organization for all people, in all communities. Severe weather events, including extreme heat and record-breaking rainfall, are
becoming more common. Simultaneously, federal, state, and local laws that impact natural resources are eroding or are in jeopardy. Our future is dependent on the quality of our water. By supporting this work, you can protect the rivers, creeks, and streams in the Cumberland River basin, one of the most biodiverse places on earth.
How We Serve the Community: Providing clean and abundant water for all is our goal. When individuals, businesses, and communities partner with the Compact to take actions such as planting trees, increasing green space, restoring streams, and improving soil health, cascading benefits follow. Tree-lined streets improve the quality of life and provide cleaner air. Better soil health on farms improves water quality for all downstream. Kids who learn about environmental science grow up to be better stewards of our lands and waters. As an accredited land trust, the Compact holds permanent conservation easements on qualifying properties so that funded work is protected in perpetuity.
Cumberland River Compact 1320 Adams Street #1040 Nashville, TN 37208
615.837.1151
Website: cumberlandrivercompact.org
Facebook: @CumberlandRiverCompact
Instagram: @crcompact
Executive Director: Mekayle Houghton
Board Chair: John Stone
E.L.I.’S HOUSE
Who We Are: E.L.I.’s House is a Christ-centered organization who equips women (ages 18-30) and their children (9 years and younger) to thrive after trauma through a two year residential program. Our clients may be:
• Homeless, and living on their streets with their children.
• A domestic abuse survivor, with nowhere to turn.
• A victim of sex trafficking.
• An addict who needs recovery services.
• Or a survivor from other trauma, violence, and hardship.
What We Do: Our hope is that the women and children who spend time at Eli’s House learn to thrive and leave ready to live an abundant life. Our vision is: Empower Transformation. Establish Independence. Equip Futures. We do this by providing:
• Long-Term Housing – Women and children live in our residential community for up to two years, rent-free. We provide basic needs like shelter, food, and clothing so residents are able to focus on healing. Living together in a home develops relational skills and provides a supportive community of peers.
• Trauma-Informed therapy - Eli’s house provides traumainformed therapy which involves processing trauma and its impact on behavior, mental health, and ability to engage in treatment. EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are utilized. Trauma-informed therapists will take steps to avoid inadvertently triggering or re-traumatizing the client. Women also participate in gardening and equine therapy.
• Christ-Centered Programming – we have a curriculum that focuses on emotional and spiritual intelligence. Helping women to understand what trauma is, regulate their emotions, retrain their brains to think in a new way, to name a few, all undergirded with the truth that God sees them, knows them, deeply loves them, and will never leave them.
• ubstance Abuse Recovery – Many of the women have been numbing their pain from trauma with alcohol or drugs. We walk them through the Celebrate Recovery curriculum to help prevent relapse, for example.
• Vocational Services - To help them realize their dreams and ensure long-term economic independence, residents are offered education and employment training for their personal and professional development. Women may choose from many opportunities such as GED certification,
college courses, and internship programs. We partner with UpRise Nashville to prepare the women to have a selfsustaining career.
• Parent Education – In order to stop the generational cycle of trauma affecting these mothers and children, we need to heal the mothers and teach them healthy parenting skills. We off parent classes and real time coaching.
Why We're Important: Based on an article that came out in October of 2022, we learned that the state of Tennessee is number one in the nation for having the most unstable foster care system in the nation (meaning, a child is moved three or more times with the foster care system). Furthermore, if a child is moved five or more times, they are 90% more likely to end up in the judicial system. E.L.I.’s House wants to help the foster care crisis in Tennessee by keeping children out of state custody and keeping mothers with their children because the truth is they heal better together. Our hope is to break negative generational cycles of abuse and trauma and change the trajectory of the women and children’s lives for generations to come. E.L.I.’s House is the only faith based organization that accepts women and children, to heal together in our county and surrounding counties.
How We Serve the Community: It is our passion to care for the women and children in our community that are left to fend for themselves and have no community of their own. We consider this the biggest honor of our lives.
How You Can Help: E.L.I.’s House has ongoing needs to serve the women and children in our home. Please visit our website to find different ways to get involved by going on a coffee tour, volunteering, praying or giving.
E.L.I.’s House
330 Franklin Rd. Suite 135A-18
Brentwood, TN 37027
615.200.8801
www.elishouse.org
Instagram and Facebook: @elis.house.tn
Founder/CEO: Jenny Rustioni
Director of Development: Natalie LeMarbre
EQUAL CHANCE FOR EDUCATION (ECE)
Who We Are: Equal Chance for Education (ECE) is a Tennessee nonprofit dedicated to opening doors to higher education for talented students excluded from federal and state financial aid. Since 2014, we have awarded scholarships to more than 680 students—many firstgeneration and from immigrant backgrounds—helping them pursue degrees in high-demand fields such as business, engineering, and medicine. We are grateful for a strong GPA and retention rate, as well as hundreds of graduates now thriving as professionals. ECE builds opportunity, strengthens the workforce. ECE inspires a cycle of giving back. We believe every student deserves the chance to achieve their fullest potential.
What We Do: Equal Chance for Education (ECE) transforms lives by providing scholarships and wrap-around support to bright Tennessee students who are excluded from traditional financial aid. We partner with colleges and universities to make higher education accessible and affordable, while also offering mentoring, career coaching, and community connections to ensure student success. Our scholars maintain strong GPAs, graduate at exceptional rates, and go on to become nurses, engineers, business leaders, educators, and more. By investing in their potential, ECE strengthens Tennessee's workforce and creates a cycle of opportunity for future generations.
Why We're Important: Each year in Tennessee, thousands of high-achieving students graduate from high school only to find doors to college closed because they are ineligible for FAFSA, Tennessee Promise, or most scholarships. Equal Chance for Education (ECE) fills this critical gap. Without us, many of these students—often first-generation and from immigrant families—would see their dreams cut short. By removing financial and social barriers, ECE not only changes individual lives but also strengthens Tennessee's workforce and economy. Our graduates give back as professionals, mentors, and leaders, creating a lasting ripple effect of opportunity.
How We Serve the Community: Equal Chance for Education (ECE) invests in the future of Tennessee by unlocking college access for students excluded from traditional aid. We serve the community by awarding scholarships, fostering mentorship, and equipping scholars with life and career skills that position them for success. Our programs not only empower students to achieve their degrees but also strengthen local industries facing workforce shortages in fields like healthcare, business, and technology. As graduates become professionals, mentors, and community leaders, they reinvest their talents and resources—creating a powerful cycle of giving that uplifts Tennessee as a whole.
How You Can Help: Readers of Sophisticated Living can play a vital role in expanding opportunity. Equal Chance for Education (ECE) thrives because of generous partners who believe talent—not immigration status—should determine a student's future. You can help by funding scholarships, serving as a mentor, or opening doors to internships and career networks. Your investment not only transforms individual lives but also builds a stronger Tennessee workforce and community. Every contribution, whether financial support, time, or expertise, fuels a cycle of opportunity. Together, we can ensure deserving students achieve their dreams and give back for generations to come.
Equal Chance for Education
73 White Bridge Pike, Suite 103 #351 Nashville, TN 37205
Who We Are: Driven by faith, we provide hope and healing to our neighbors in need. Our vision is that all Middle Tennesseans have the healthcare they need to live a fulfilling life.
What We Do: Since 2001, Faith Family Medical Center has provided comprehensive healthcare, behavioral health care, and wellness services to over 33,000 patients through more than 112,000 visits. We are deeply dedicated to serving low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals from all walks of life. Faith Family offers accessible, affordable care that empowers patients to take charge of their health. For every patient visit, we provide a clinical service value of $25.44 for every $1 spent. This approach not only improves individual health outcomes but also has a generational impact on entire families, communities, and counties across Middle Tennessee.
Why We're Important: We are a vital lifeline for thousands of individuals who would otherwise go without essential healthcare. Due to constraints in their own world, people often delay care until their conditions become emergencies—resulting in preventable suffering and overwhelming medical costs. We provide affordable, patient-centric healthcare that treats the whole person — physical, emotional, and spiritual. We offer family medicine, mental health services, disease management, physical therapy, nutrition and wellness support, an on-site lowcost pharmacy, and much more. We aren't just providing medical care—we're helping to restore dignity, prevent crisis, strengthen families, and deeply invest in a healthier community for all Middle Tennesseans.
How We Serve the Community: Faith Family Medical Center helps Middle Tennesseans who are adversely
impacted by rising living costs and financial crisis. Our estimated annual community impact is $19 million, including $11 million in savings to local hospitals and ERs, and $8 million in patient savings! Also, by providing affordable healthcare and free wellness programs, patients get care early—before conditions require costly emergency treatment. For neighbors dealing with language barriers, limited access to healthy food, or demanding work schedules, we offer continuity of care, compassionate support, and the proper care to manage chronic conditions. Our work helps families stay healthy, stable, and full of life.
How You Can Help: For every $1 given, you help provide a clinical service value of $25.44 to our patients. Patient fees cover only 10% of our annual costs, so donor support is essential to keeping care affordable. While patients pay an average of $42 per visit, the true cost of care is $268— meaning a gift of $226 fully supports one patient's visit. Your generosity provides medical treatment, emotional support, dignity, hope, and compassion. Whether you give once or become a monthly partner, you make healthcare possible for those who need it most. We'd love you to get a tour of our clinic and see your impact firsthand.
Faith Family Medical Center 326 21st Avenue North Nashville, TN 37203 615.476.7683
Website: faithmedical.org
Facebook: @faithfamilymedicalcenter
Instagram: @faithfamilymedical
Executive Director: Phil Ellenburg
Board Chair: Anne Hancock
FAITHFULLY RESTORED
Who We Are: Faithfully Restored is a nonprofit founded by women of faith, mission-driven to comfort women facing life's most difficult seasons with prayer, encouragement, and community. Our story began with four women who endured grief and trials that challenged their faith. Through hope in Jesus, prayer, and the support of community, they found restoration and felt called to extend that same comfort to others. Faithfully Restored was born from their desire to share hope with women who need to know they are not alone, that they are seen, and that they are deeply loved.
What We Do: Faithfully Restored provides care packages, prayer support, and community connections for women facing illness, loss, financial hardship, divorce, and other life challenges. Each package is thoughtfully assembled to uplift and encourage women in their darkest moments. We are not a "one and done" organization—we walk alongside women longterm, offering ongoing support, including, but not limited to, mortgage assistance, respite trips, gift cards, counseling, and continued notes of encouragement. Our mission is to remind women, time and again, that they are surrounded by love, prayer, and community, and that they are never alone.
Why We're Important: Hardship touches every life. In moments of pain, loneliness, or uncertainty, even the smallest act of kindness can make a profound difference. Faithfully Restored steps into these moments with hope, encouragement, and prayer, reminding women they are not forgotten and their struggles are seen. Because we walk with women long-term, our support extends far beyond a single crisis. In times of grief, illness, or other life challenges, Faithfully Restored provides connection, compassion, and faith-filled hope, sustaining women and showing them they are valued, loved, and never alone.
How We Serve the Community: We have served over 10,000 women by sending care packages, writing notes
of encouragement, and hosting events that bring people together. Each package and gesture is filled with love and hope, reminding women they are not alone in their darkest hour. Beyond care packages, we provide ongoing support, including but not limited to financial assistance with mortgages and utilities for widows and single moms, counseling, respite trips, and continued check-ins. We also partner with Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital to love on 450 inpatient mothers each Mother's Day and with Tennessee Oncology to provide care packages for women beginning chemotherapy.
How You Can Help: You can make a difference by volunteering, donating, sponsoring events and or projects, or spreading the word. Every prayer, gift, and act of service helps us remind more women that they are loved and not alone. Together, we can share hope, faith, and restoration in life's hardest moments. Visit faithfullyrestoredwomen.com to learn more.
Marketing and Communications Director and Co-Founder: Heather Milburn hmilburn@faithfullyrestoredwomen.com
Co-Founder: Jamie Hamilton
Co-Founder: Jennie Rebecca Springs
FOLDS OF HONOR
Who We Are: Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen and disabled military members and first responders. Folds of Honor was founded in 2007 by Lt Col Dan Rooney and has grown from a vision into a movement. The folded flag is a constant reminder of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. It inspires us to help equip and educate their loved ones in need of our support.
What We Do: Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 scholarships totaling about $290 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and postgraduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program.
Why We're Important: At Folds of Honor, we provide hope and opportunity to the families of those who've sacrificed everything for our country. When a service member or first responder is killed or disabled, their family's future can be left uncertain - especially when it comes to education. We step in to ensure their spouses and children are not forgotten, helping them access the education they need to build bright, purposeful futures. It's how we honor their sacrifice and educate their legacy.
How We Serve the Community: Since its inception, Folds of Honor has awarded 2,981 educational scholarships to Tennessee recipients totaling over nearly $14 million in educational impact. While these awards set an all-time single-year record, approximately 7,000 qualified applicants nationwide did not receive full funding due to limited resources.
How You Can Help: Our mission is unwavering. Honor their sacrifice. Educate their legacy. Join us in supporting the families of our nation's heroes. With your help, we can continue to empower these deserving military and first responder families through educational scholarships. The need is great, but together we can be greater. Please visit our website to learn about all of the ways you can get involved through our chapter events, monthly giving, and company support.
Folds of Honor
2020 Fieldstone Parkway, Suite 900-93 Franklin, TN 37069
408.460.5054
Website: tennessee.foldsofhonor.org
Facebook: @foldsofhonortn
Instagram: @foldsofhonortn
X: @foldsofhonorTN
Board Chair/President: Robbie Goldsmith
FRANKTOWN OPEN HEARTS
Who We Are: FrankTown Open Hearts exists to be "Jesus" to Williamson County's inner-city youth. Our mission is to inspire, equip, and empower under-resourced youth in Franklin, TN, bringing both physical and spiritual hope by being the hands and feet of Christ. Guided by our faith in Jesus, we believe every child deserves love, opportunity, and a chance to thrive.
What We Do: We serve elementary, middle, and high school students in Franklin and South Williamson County through mentoring, weekly educational and vocational classes, recreation, and dinner meals. Our youth development model equips students with the discipline, life skills, and encouragement they need to succeed in school, work, and life. Programming takes place after school, in the evenings, and on weekends—meeting students where they are and helping them grow in every area of life.
Why We're Important: FrankTown Open Hearts stands in that gap. We serve over 170 youth each year through 35+ vocational and educational classes—ranging from auto repair, culinary arts, public speaking, and STEM to sewing, sports, and more. By pairing these hands-on skills with consistent mentoring, academic support, and a safe, faithfilled community, we help under-resourced youth see their God-given value and potential. Every program, meal, and conversation is an investment in a young person's future— breaking barriers, building character, and creating pathways to success in school, work, and life.
How We Serve the Community: Our impact comes full circle: youth and their families give back through community service opportunities, volunteering, and
mentoring as alumni—strengthening not only themselves but the community as a whole. We work alongside other area nonprofits, churches, local businesses, corporations, and local government to provide a well-rounded, holistic approach to youth development. And soon, we will break ground on our first permanent facility—housing all programming under one roof with an auto bay, professional kitchen, classrooms, and computer lab. This facility will serve as a vibrant community hub where opportunity and hope grow together.
How You Can Help: You can make a difference in the lives of youth in Franklin and Williamson County. Here's how: Volunteer your time and skills to mentor, teach, or support our programs. Donate to help us continue providing meals, classes, and mentoring year-round. Pray for our students, their families, and the work God is doing through FrankTown Open Hearts. Attend the upcoming FrankTown Festival of Lights—a drive-thru holiday light show at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center, running November 21 through December 31. All proceeds directly benefit FrankTown's mission. Together, we can inspire, equip, and empower the next generation.
FrankTown Open Hearts
320 Main Street, Suite 200 Franklin, TN 37064
615.807.0782
Website: franktownopenhearts.com
Facebook: @franktownoh
Instagram: @franktownopenhearts
Executive Director: Chris Barnhill chris@franktownopenhearts.com
FRIENDS OF WARNER PARKS
Who We Are: Friends of Warner Parks is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enhancing Nashville's beloved Percy and Edwin Warner Parks—3,200 acres of ecological and cultural significance just minutes from downtown. Since 1987, we've partnered with Metro Parks to protect these landscapes and provide a place of connection and belonging for all.
What We Do: Our pillars—conservation, education, and recreation—guide everything we do. We restore habitats, protect waterways like the Little Harpeth River, and safeguard old-growth forests. We amplify the work of the Warner Park Nature Center, and we take nature education into the community, partnering with local centers and like-minded nonprofits to reach people where they live and learn.
Why We're Important: A 3,200-acre natural sanctuary in the heart of a growing city is rare—and precious. Warner Parks is an ecological treasure, a community gathering place, and a refuge for wildlife. Preserving it is a shared responsibility. When you support Friends, you help ensure this extraordinary resource thrives for generations to come.
How We Serve the Community: Warner Parks offers more than trails and trees—it's a hub of connection, wellness, and learning. From youth programs and school partnerships to iconic traditions like Full Moon Pickin' Parties, we bring nature to life both in the Parks and across Nashville.
How You Can Help: Join us as a Friend, volunteer, or give to protect this irreplaceable resource. Your support fuels restoration projects, educational outreach, and community programs. Together, we can preserve the beauty, history, and ecological value of Warner Parks. Learn more at warnerparks.org.
Friends of Warner Parks
50 Vaughn Road Nashville, TN 37221
615.370.8053 W Website: warnerparks.org Facebook: @FriendsofWP Instagram: @friendsofwarnerparks X: @WarnerParksTN
Who We Are: The Frist Art Museum opened in 2001 in a beautifully restored 1934 Art Deco building in downtown Nashville and has since welcomed over nearly 5 million visitors and gained international recognition. Our vision is to inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways. The Frist presents an ever-changing array of world-class exhibitions and programs so that our guests experience and engage with new art every time they walk through the museum doors.
What We Do: Visitors to the Frist engage with art from some of the world's most respected art museums, such as the V&A, the MFA Boston, LACMA, and the British Museum. Our curators collaborate with artists and other institutions to organize exhibitions that open in Nashville and travel to venues across the country. A wide range of related programs – including gallery talks, conversations with artists and curators, tours, artmaking workshops, family-friendly Frist Arts Fest celebrations, and after-hours Frist Friday events – spark curiosity, inspire dialogue, and connect diverse communities to nurture our region's creative life.
Why We're Important: The benefits of the arts are wellestablished and extend across areas such as education, civic engagement, health, and well-being for all ages. A field trip may be a child's first visit to an art museum and can have a lasting impact, inspiring them to wonder, explore, share ideas, and discover personal connections. The Frist's award-winning Martin ArtQuest Gallery, with interactive art-making stations and friendly, knowledgeable staff, provides an important familyfriendly destination in the downtown area. Each year, First education programs reach over 15,000 students and include tours and professional development tailored to meet the needs of area educators.
How We Serve the Community: The Frist exists to bring art and people together, and since its founding, has prioritized broad access to the museum. For guests 18 and younger, admission is always free and includes access to ArtQuest. In 2025, the Frist launched a new Explorer membership level that makes free access to the museum available to 40% of families in Davidson and the surrounding counties. We collaborate with a network of 70 Community Partner organizations to enhance accessibility and belonging, reach new audiences, and present artist-led activities at neighborhood locations across the Nashville area.
How You Can Help: By joining the Frist Art Museum, you are supporting world-class exhibitions and visual arts programs that enrich the cultural life of the city. Members may visit as often as they like and enjoy unparalleled access to the museum and its curators, including exhibition previews, after-hours events in the museum galleries, and invitations to special events such as the annual Frist Gala and its accompanying Patron Party–among the premier social events in Nashville.
Frist Art Museum
919 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203
615.244.3340
Website: fristartmuseum.org
Facebook: @fristartmuseum
Instagram: @FristArtMuseum
X: @FristArtMuseum
Threads: @fristartmuseum
Executive Director: Seth Feman, PhD
Board Chair: Billy Frist
GILDA’S CLUB MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Who We Are: Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee uplifts and strengthens people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care. We are nationally recognized as the gold standard in psychosocial cancer support, providing resources, support, education, and community to anyone facing cancer, including family and caregivers.
What We Do: Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee provides free social and emotional support to anyone impacted by cancer. Our vision is that everyone affected by cancer has access to the care and connection they need throughout their experience. At our Clubhouse, participants find community, encouragement, and evidence-based programs that complement medical treatment—including support groups, mind-body classes, healthy lifestyle workshops, educational lectures, and social activities. Serving people of all ages, backgrounds, diagnoses, and stages across 15 Middle Tennessee counties, Gilda's Club is here to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.
Why We're Important: Since opening our signature red door in 1998, Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee has been the only organization in the region to provide a full wrap-around approach to cancer support—all at no cost. Guided by licensed clinical professionals, we host nearly 80 programs each month, offering opportunities for connection, education, and encouragement. Through these programs, people with cancer and their loved ones find the community, resources, and care they need to navigate every step of the experience.
By the Numbers (2024-2025)
• 7,904 Total Attendance
• 1,399 Responses to Resource Requests
• 295 Support Groups
• 109 New Participant Customized Support Plans
How We Serve the Community: Gilda's Club ensures cancer support remains accessible to Middle Tennesseans by meeting people where they are and providing what they need most. For some, that's a phone call with vital resources; for others, a virtual Family Support Group, a weekly Yoga class, or an Art Workshop. With programs offered virtually, in person, and in hybrid formats, we make it possible for anyone impacted by cancer to find connection and care.
How You Can Help: Gilda's Club's free cancer support program is sustained through generous donations, grants, and community events. Every contribution directly supports our mission. Gifts may be made online, through donor-advised funds or family foundations, stock donations, mailed checks, employer matching, or other preferred giving methods. Corporate sponsorships and participation also drive the success of our four annual fundraisers -the Red Door Bash Gala, Golf Classic, Fall Festival, and Songwriters Nightensuring we can continue providing vital support across Middle Tennessee. Because we offer cancer support at no charge to anyone, your donation makes Gilda’s Club possible.
Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee 1707 Division Street Nashville, TN 37203 615.329.1124
Gildasclubmiddletn.org
Facebook: GildasClubMiddleTN
Instagram: @gildasclubmiddletn
President & CEO: Harriet Schiftan harriet@gildasclubmiddletn.org
Director of Development & Marketing: Meghan Lamb meghanlamb@gildasclubmiddletn.org
Board Chair: Drew Mallory
THE GOLDFINCH FOUNDATION
Who We Are: The Goldfinch Foundation was founded in memory of Owen Willers to honor his love of health, art, and community. Our mission is to enlighten and empower young people to value mental health and social connection as essential to overall wellness. We believe there is strength in vulnerability, and that young people thrive when they are given high expectations, real support, and a community that honors their voice and potential. Every event we offer is grounded in science, rooted in social connection, and engages participants through a blend of creativity, nature, and physical activity.
What We Do: We bring experts out of clinical offices and into small group settings where teens feel respected and heard. Our programs are youth-driven; teens co-lead events in art, nature, movement, and service while medical and creative leaders guide with wisdom and support. This unique model fosters belonging, purpose, and connection without stigma, thus helping young people feel seen, valued, and empowered.
Why We're Important: Today’s young people face rising rates of anxiety, loneliness, and disconnection, yet too often mental health resources feel inaccessible, clinical, or stigmatized. The Goldfinch Foundation bridges this gap by creating welcoming, real-world spaces where teens and young adults can connect face-to-face, discover healthy outlets, and build resilience. By blending science with creativity, movement, and community, we offer an approach that not only supports mental health but also empowers youth to flourish and lead with confidence.
How We Serve the Community: Our impact ripples outward. Teens and young adults gain skills, confidence,
and belonging. Families learn to connect more deeply and schools benefit from empowered student leaders. By creating welcoming, device-free spaces where experts, youth, and community members gather, we strengthen the fabric of Nashville. Each event, from art showcases to wellness workshops to our sunrise 5K, becomes a catalyst for connection and reduces stigma and builds healthier, more resilient communities.
How You Can Help: The Goldfinch Foundation thrives through the support of individuals and organizations who believe in the power of youth and community. You can help by attending events, volunteering your time and talents, or offering expertise in the arts, wellness, or education. Financial contributions and sponsorships directly expand our programs and impact, allowing more young people to access safe, inspiring, and stigma-free spaces.
Equally important is the role of adults in our community. When adults show emotional vulnerability and practice coping skills, we lead by example, rather than lecture. No one has to navigate life's challenges alone.
The Goldfinch Foundation P.O. Box 40039
Nashville, TN 37204
629.777.8034
Website: thegff.org
Facebook: @The Goldfinch Foundation
Instagram: @thegff24
Executive Director, Elisabeth Willers, MD
hello@thegff.org
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Who We Are: Goodwill Middle Tennessee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing lives through education, training, and employment. Through Goodwill Career Solutions, we help thousands of Tennesseans each year gain skills, find meaningful work, and build brighter futures. Many of those we serve face barriers like unemployment, disabilities, lack of a diploma, or histories of incarceration or homelessness. Our programs and services are always free, thanks to the generosity of Goodwill shoppers and donors like you. Your support helps provide second chances and new opportunities—making a lasting impact in our communities. Together, we're creating hope and transforming lives across Tennessee.
What We Do: At Goodwill, we help individuals achieve the ABCs of employment: finding A job, preparing for a Better job, and building a lasting Career. Our free training programs connect job seekers to high-growth industries through:
• Educational Classes
• Dig ital Literacy
• Financial Literacy
• Employability Skills
• Training Programs
• Skilled Trades & Forklift Safety
• Google IT Certificates & IBM SkillsBuild
• EmpowerU Career Development
• Employment Services
• Career Coaching
• Job Fairs & Events
• Wrap-around support
Goodwill walks alongside every jobseeker, helping them build a brighter, more secure future—one step at a time.
Why We're Important: At Goodwill, we believe everyone deserves the chance to reach their fullest potential through the power of work. A job does more than pay the bills—it brings dignity, purpose, and independence.
We believe a hand-up is better than a handout, and when someone finds meaningful work, the entire community benefits. The ripple effect of one person's success strengthens families, builds confidence, and uplifts neighborhoods.
Through your support, Goodwill continues to change lives— one job, one opportunity, one future at a time.
How We Serve the Community: Goodwill's 13 Career Solutions centers and mobile career van serve jobseekers across 48 counties in Middle and West Tennessee—completely free. Our caring Career Coaches work one-on-one to help individuals discover their strengths, set goals, and build the skills needed to find meaningful work and start rewarding careers. While some find jobs at Goodwill, most secure employment with other local employers. Through training and certification programs in areas like construction, forklift operation, call centers, custodial work, and IT, Goodwill opens doors to new opportunities and brighter futures.
How You Can Help:
• Support Goodwill's mission by making a gift at www.giveit2goodwill.org.
• Join the William H. Cammack Society, honoring a leader whose generosity and service continue to inspire us all.
• Become a sponsor of our annual Impact Awards—help Tennesseans return to work, motivate your team, and celebrate the power of work. Reach out to Niketa HaileyHill at niketa.hailey-hill@givegw.org to learn more.
• Donate gently used items at any of our convenient donation sites, or shop for unique, budget-friendly finds at our stores and OnlineGoodwill.com.
Together, we're changing lives—thank you for being part of it!
Goodwill Middle Tennessee 937 Herman Street Nashville, TN 37208
615.741.5141
Website: giveit2goodwill.org
Instagram: @giveit2goodwill
Executive Director: Matthew Bourlakas
VP of Development: Paige Bainbridge
Board Chair: Jeff Young, Senior Vice President, FirstBank
GOVERNOR’S EARLY LITERACY FOUNDATION
Who We Are: With a mission of strengthening early literacy in Tennessee, Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), is committed to building home libraries and supporting families, educators, and communities through collaborative literacy programs. Our vision is a Tennessee where all children have access to the resources, guidance, and support they need to become lifelong learners. Rooted in partnership, we connect Tennesseans with the power of books and literacy from birth through third grade.
What We Do: Through statewide programs, GELF connects children with books from birth through third grade. Programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the K–3 Home Library program deliver high-quality books directly to children’s homes. We strive to spark literacy in our communities through interactive Storybook Trails and Book Buses that encourage family participation. At the backbone of our efforts is SELECT (Statewide Early Literacy Education Collaborative of Tennessee), which mobilizes early literacy champions. SELECT works to unite families, educators, and organizations so every child in Tennessee has the support they need to become a confident, capable reader.
Why We're Important: In Tennessee, less than half of third graders scored proficient in reading on the 2025 TCAP, leaving a majority below the state’s benchmark. Early literacy changes this trajectory. Research shows that even a small home library can profoundly shape a child’s future—just 25 books in the home is linked to an average of two additional years of education. By distributing millions of books, engaging families, and supporting educators and literacy leaders statewide, GELF works to ensure that every child has the tools to succeed in school and beyond.
How We Serve the Community: This year alone, GELF reached 190,000 children in Middle Tennessee and over 500,000 children across the state. By building home libraries, equipping caregivers, and partnering with schools and community organizations, we are transforming how families experience reading in all 95 counties. Since our founding in 2004, we have placed more than 60 million books into the hands of 2.9 million Tennessee children, laying the foundation for a more skilled workforce, thriving communities, and a brighter future for our state.
How You Can Help: Your support fuels our mission to strengthen early literacy by building home libraries and fostering literacy-rich communities across Tennessee. Every gift puts high-quality books into the hands of children, equips caregivers with resources to inspire reading at home, and expands programs that make literacy a shared experience in all 95 counties. By investing in GELF, you are doing more than giving books. You are opening doors to opportunity, imagination, and success for every child in Tennessee. Join us at GovernorsFoundation.org to create a legacy of children who read today and lead tomorrow.
Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF)
710 James Robertson Parkway, Andrew Johnson Tower, 1st Floor Nashville, TN 37243
615.253.3600
Website: governorsfoundation.org
Facebook: @GovEarlyLiteracyTN
Instagram: @GovEarlyLiteracyTN
X: @GovLiteracyTN
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER NASHVILLE
Who We Are: Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat of Greater Nashville is a community developer, home builder, educator, mortgage banker, retail operation, and volunteer corps in a five-county area: Davidson, Wilson, Cheatham, Dickson, and Robertson. We build communities and empower lives through our homeownership program as the core of our mission.
What We Do: Habitat of Greater Nashville builds homes for hardworking Middle Tennesseans who take Habitat's homeownership education classes and work on the build site to earn a 0% APR mortgage. We operate three ReStores, home, office, and building supplies resale stores, to help fund our mission in Davidson, Wilson, and Dickson counties. We are passionate about creating opportunities for stability by empowering lives through homeownership.
Why We're Important: Affordable homeownership is becoming very difficult for those who live and work in Middle Tennessee. Habitat's homeownership program serves those who make 80% AMI or less. Without programs like Habitat for Humanity, many children can't finish the school year where they started, and many parents have to increase their commute times to work, eroding education stability and family unity while adding more expense to already cost-burdened lives. Homeownership stabilizes lives and builds thriving communities, supporting vital infrastructures for us all.
How We Serve the Community: Habitat not only empowers hardworking people to stabilize their lives
through homeownership, but we also bring people together in a heart posture to help one another. Volunteering on the build site and at the ReStore creates a transformation that comes from engaging in equal partnerships that lift and inspire through a hand-up, not a handout. Habitat of Greater Nashville is part of a larger organization active in 50 states and in more than 70 countries. Through Habitat for Humanity, more than 59 million people have achieved independence through housing affordability.
How You Can Help: You can be a part of this transformational movement by making a financial gift, sponsoring a build, becoming a budget coach, volunteering at the ReStore or on the build site, or simply donating and shopping at any of our Restores. Habitat features specialty faith-based builds, an entertainment build, and corporate sponsorships. Estate and legacy planning are two more ways to positively enhance a family's future. Every donation and every helping hand make a difference. For ways to engage, visit: www.habitatnashville.org.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville 414 Harding Place, Suite 100 Nashville, TN 37211
615.254.4663
Website: habitatnashville.org
Facebook: @habitatnashville
Instagram: @habitatnashville
X: @habitatnashville
President & CEO: Danny Herron
HOPE SMILES
Who We Are: Hope Smiles was founded in 2005 by Dr. Phillip Kemp to meet the dental needs of those without access to quality care and to mentor future dental professionals. Guided by faith and compassion, we exist to restore hope and transform lives through dentistry — building a global community of leaders who love people, serve with excellence, and bring healing through every smile.
What We Do: Hope Smiles exists to restore hope and transform lives through dentistry. We equip and empower dental professionals to serve their communities with compassion, excellence, and purpose — both locally and around the world. At our Dental Center in Nashville, Tennessee, we provide high-quality care to those who might otherwise go without. Through mentorship and our residency program, we invest in the next generation of dentists, helping them grow as clinicians and leaders who bring hope through their care. Internationally, our longterm partnership in Uganda has grown into a locally led, sustainable model that continues to transform lives today.
Why We're Important: Hope Smiles is important because we meet both the physical and emotional needs of those we serve. Oral health is deeply connected to overall well-being, confidence, and quality of life—and we bridge that gap by providing care that's skilled, compassionate, and accessible. Every patient who walks through our doors is treated with dignity and purpose because we believe a healthy smile can open doors, restore hope, and change the trajectory of someone's life. Beyond individual care, we're also shaping the next generation of dental professionals through mentorship and education, ensuring our impact continues far beyond our walls.
How We Serve the Community: At Hope Smiles, we serve our community by providing compassionate, high-
quality dental care to everyone—especially those who might not otherwise have access. Through outreach events, mobile clinics, and partnerships with local organizations, we extend our care beyond our doors to meet people where they are. With multiple Free Dental Days held throughout the year, we bring together dental professionals and volunteers to provide no-cost care to individuals and families in need. These events ensure that everyone, regardless of circumstances, can access highquality dental treatment while experiencing compassion, dignity, and hope. We also mentor and train the next generation of dental professionals, equipping them to serve with excellence and empathy. Every act of service reflects our mission to bring hope, healing, and lasting smiles to our community.
How You Can Help: You can help Hope Smiles grow and share God's love by partnering with us to expand our reach and impact. Your generosity allows us to serve more patients, train more residents, and bring compassionate, Christ-centered dental care to communities in need. Every donation directly fuels our mission - restoring smiles, dignity, and faith in those we serve. As our community of supporters grows, so does our ability to change lives and share God's love in action. Together, we can continue to build something bigger than ourselves— transforming hearts and smiles, one patient at a time.
HOPE SMILES
2908 Sidco Drive Nashville, TN 37024
615.324.3904
Website: hopesmiles.org
Facebook: @hopesmiles.org
Instagram: @hopesmiles_org
Founder & CEO: Dr. Phillip Kemp, DDS, AAACD
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Who We Are: We are the Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee. It was most likely a flower show in 1930 that created the catalyst initiating the formation of the Horticultural Society of Davidson County. The Horticultural Society was one of three founding entities and moved its office to the Cheekwood Mansion in 1960 and still retains an office there. We strive to promote education on all things Horticultural and provide a community for local garden clubs and our auxiliary members.
What We Do: The early focus included strategies to promote civic improvements, beautification of state highways, and the preservation of wildlife and native plants, as well as flower shows with emphasis on horticulture. Our current mission still includes education on all things Horticultural and to provide community and connection for our local garden clubs and auxiliary members. Our recent outreach endeavor includes our Branching Out Campaign. This campaign serves to educate the public on the tree canopy of Nashville and plant 500,000 trees by 2050.
Why We're Important: We provide community to many like-minded individuals in the Middle Tennessee area who love all things horticultural. We provide education and volunteer opportunities for both our members and members of the broader Nashville Community.
How We Serve the Community: Our current mission still includes education on all things Horticultural and to provide community and connection for our local garden clubs and auxiliary members. Our recent outreach endeavor includes our Branching Out Campaign. This campaign serves to educate the public on the tree canopy of Nashville and plant 500,000 trees by 2050. We recently hosted our 1st annual fashion show and tea party in support of our Branching Out Campaign!
How You Can Help: You are always welcome to join a Garden Club or join HSMT as an auxiliary member. There are always plentiful opportunities to volunteer with HSMT, such as planting trees, planning educational meetings and workshops, and helping with fundraising and social events.
Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee 1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville, TN 37205
615.353.6978
Website: hsmtn.org
Facebook: @hsmtenn
Instagram: @hsmtenn
Executive Director and Board Chair: Deby Pitts president@hsmtn.org
INTERFAITH DENTAL
Who We Are: The mission of Interfaith Dental is to create a healthier community by providing transformational oral health care for those experiencing poverty. Since 1994, Interfaith has served more than 34,000 low-income, uninsured patients, including pregnant women. Today, we reach eleven Middle Tennessee counties through two clinics, 26 dental chairs, 70 dedicated staff, and over 150 dental professionals and volunteers. Our impact continues to grow because oral health is essential, and dignity in care should be universal. We deliver life-changing care that empowers individuals and strengthens the communities we serve.
What We Do: At Interfaith Dental, every smile matters. Every patient deserves care that transforms their health and future. Last year, we served 4,222 unique patients through 15,358 visits, providing comprehensive treatment, preventive education, and personalized support. Innovative programs like tele-dentistry help us reach those who might never sit in a dental chair, breaking barriers and expanding access. Every smile tells a story of healing and hope. For those facing financial hardship or without insurance, we offer more than dental care; we offer a path forward, restoring dignity and confidence through compassionate care and a commitment to overall health.
Why We're Important: At Interfaith Dental, we believe no one should have to choose between health care and feeding their family. We help individuals and families build healthier lives—physically, emotionally, and financially—through four pathways. Our Emergency/ Medical Clearance Clinic brings relief to 1,850 people in pain. The Transformation Clinic helps over 700 individuals regain comfort, confidence, and establish lifelong oral health habits. Graduates continue their journey in the Wellness Clinic, building routines that benefit their families. Our Baby Well Clinic supports pregnant moms throughout pregnancy and after birth, helping them establish healthy habits that protect both their own health and their baby's future.
How We Serve the Community: Interfaith Dental takes a holistic approach to oral health, recognizing that many patients face barriers like food insecurity, substance use, chronic illness, unstable housing, and limited access to transportation and mental health care. We meet people where they are on their health journey, addressing social drivers of health head-on. By offering transportation, emergency and walk-in clinic care days, and access to mental health and substance use resources, we help patients improve not just their dental health, but their overall well-being. This support empowers individuals to pursue jobs, opportunities, and fuller lives. We don't just treat patients; we help transform futures.
How You Can Help: Imagine living in constant pain, unable to eat, speak, or smile—simply because dental care is out of reach. This holiday season, 1,200 Tennesseans are still waiting for help. Your gift can be the one that changes everything. Thanks to generous donors and community partners, we're making a difference—but we can't do it without YOU. Your support helps ease suffering, restore dignity, and rebuild lives. With a healthy smile, people return to work, care for loved ones, and rejoin their communities. This season, give the gift that transforms futures. Help us turn waiting into healing and pain into possibility.
Interfaith Dental-Greater Nashville
600 Hill Avenue, Suite 101 Nashville, TN 37210
615.329.4790
Interfaith Dental-Rutherford County 210 Robert Rose Drive Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615.225.4141
Website: interfaithdental.com
Facebook: @interfaithdental
Instagram: @interfaithdental
Executive Director: Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi rhonda@interfaithdental.com
Board Chair: Dr. Ruth Edmonds
ISAIAH 117 HOUSE
Who We Are: Isaiah 117 House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster placement. Currently, when a child is removed in a county without an Isaiah 117 House, the child must wait in the child welfare services office. The child is often dirty, hungry, tired, scared, and unable to bring any personal possessions. Isaiah 117 House allows that same child to never go to an office but rather to a home with loving volunteers to care for them.
What We Do: Our mission:
• Reduce trauma for children awaiting placement
• Lighten the load for child welfare workers
• Ease the transition for foster families.
Our home allows children to receive the comfort and care they need while child welfare staff complete necessary paperwork and identify a suitable foster placement. As our guests transition to placement, we come around to foster families by providing needed resources to make their "yes" easier. Our homes also provide private, supervised visitation rooms that allow birth families to connect in a calmer, more effective setting, creating opportunities that can strengthen the path toward reunification.
Why We're Important: Every month in Tennessee, approximately 630 children are removed from their homes and placed into foster care. In 2024 alone, 1,024 children in Davidson County entered state custody. Each number represents a child experiencing one of the hardest days of their life. Isaiah 117 House transforms that day by easing the trauma of this transition into the foster care system,
supporting caseworkers and foster families, and meeting immediate physical needs. Dignity is restored, hope is instilled, and every child is reminded that they are seen, valued, and not alone.
How We Serve the Community: Isaiah 117 House serves children on one of the most difficult days of their lives and, in doing so, influences the course of their future. We provide a safe environment where children experience comfort and care instead of fear and uncertainty. At the same time, we stand alongside foster families, equipping them with resources that make welcoming a child into their home a little easier. We support child welfare workers by giving them the time and space they need to focus on finding the best placement for each child. Together, these efforts strengthen the entire foster system in our community.
How You Can Help: There are many ways to get involved. Volunteers can care for children directly or help behind the scenes to keep our home running smoothly. Others can join by becoming sock buddies —monthly givers who receive a pair of socks as a reminder of the comfort they're providing —or bin buddies, keeping clothing and supply bins stocked so every child has what they need. Whether you give your time, donate items, or provide financial support, you can help a child entering foster care feel valued and not alone.
Isaiah 117 House
615.490.2088
Website: linktr.ee/isaiah117housedavidsoncotn
Facebook: Isaiah 117 House Davidson Co, TN
Instagram: isaiah117housedavidsoncotn
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NASHVILLE
Who We Are: Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is the central voluntary communal organization of the Jewish community. Through its fundraising, planning, and community relations efforts, independently and in partnership with other Jewish organizations, the Federation works to promote the general welfare, viability, and cohesiveness of the Greater Nashville Jewish community and ensures the continuity of the Jewish people locally, in Israel, and around the world.
What We Do: The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville serves as the cornerstone of the Nashville Jewish community. As a consensus-building organization, our annual fundraising initiatives ensure the vitality of our community. The allocated funds, derived from the generosity of our donors, support the growth of local, national, and international Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. Federations play a vital role in fostering unity within Jewish communities across America.
Why We’re Important: The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville unites and strengthens the local Jewish community through funding, planning, and collaboration with congregations and Jewish agencies. As the primary grantee for Nashville’s Jewish organizations, the Federation ensures vital programs, including senior services, community education, and advocacy, are supported and sustained. By connecting organizations and individuals, it fosters a resilient, cohesive community and addresses local needs efficiently. Its work builds bridges within Nashville, combating antisemitism, and empowering future generations. Supporting the Federation strengthens Jewish life, promotes community well-being, and ensures the continuity and vitality of Nashville’s Jewish population.
How We Serve the Community: The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville strengthens both the Jewish community and the broader Nashville area through partnerships and advocacy. Its Jewish Community Relations Committee works closely with law enforcement, civic leaders, and policymakers to address antisemitism, promote justice, and ensure community safety. The Federation also collaborates with local organizations to support education, social services, and senior programs, while fostering interfaith and civic relationships.
How You Can Help: You can support the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville through donations to the Annual Campaign, which funds essential programs for local congregations, agencies, community security initiatives, and more. Contributions may also be directed through the Jewish Foundation in the form of donor-advised funds, endowments, and other specialized giving options to match your philanthropic goals. Every gift strengthens Nashville’s Jewish community and ensures the continuity of services and programs. Your support helps build a safe, vibrant, and resilient Jewish community for current and future generations.
Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville 801 Percy Warner Boulevard, Suite 102 Nashville, TN 37205
615.356.3242
Website: jewishnashville.org
Facebook: @Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville Instagram: @jewishnashville
Who We Are: The mission of The Jiselle Lauren Foundation is to help kiddos with disabilities experience joy in everyday moments and have unique experiences by providing financial assistance to families and organizations.
What We Do: The Jiselle Lauren Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that exists to advocate for, connect with, and provide opportunities for children with disabilities. Through generous donations and giving efforts, we are able to provide financial support to children and their families, allowing them access to therapies, medical care, devices, equipment, transportation, and many other resources. Our purpose is to bring more joy to these kiddos and their families through everyday moments and experiences.
Why We're Important: As special needs parents, we understand that meeting the needs of children with special needs can be a financial burden. We personally know the cost of therapies, medical care, devices, equipment, facility enhancements, transportation, and many other expenses, and they add up quickly. Therefore, we aim to help any family whose child has a special need or disability achieve things that wouldn't be possible otherwise.
How We Serve The Community: The Jiselle Lauren Foundation serves the community by providing opportunities to those with disabilities that they might not otherwise have. Through financial assistance, we are helping
kiddos with disabilities live a life to their full potential, whether that is through installing an inclusive swing in a local park or giving the family the ability to have access to therapies or equipment they otherwise would not have. We are inspiring more moments of joy in the lives of these kiddos so that they can be a success in the community.
How You Can Help: The Jiselle Lauren Foundation raises funds throughout the year to grant to families who have kiddos with disabilities and the organizations that support them. Through a grant application process found on our website, the grant committee selects applications each fall to distribute funds based on the amount of cash we have at the time. Due to the low nature of our overheads, we grant out the cash we have, with the exception of what it takes to throw our events each year. We accept funds by any means—check, cash, or online donations.
The Jiselle Lauren Foundation 2020 Fieldstone Pkwy #311 Franklin, TN 37069
Who We Are: Founded in 2017 in Hendersonville's historic Civil War-era Monthaven Mansion, Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center (MACC) is Sumner County's premier creative arts hub and jewel-box museum, connecting our community to comprehensive arts resources. Our mission is to educate, elevate, and encourage our community through the transformative power of the arts. We've grown exponentially since our humble beginnings with just 30 students, now serving more than 1,200 students on-site, and providing programs that attract visitors from across the region.
What We Do: Every year, we present a dozen free worldclass exhibitions, featuring Picasso, Dalí, Rembrandt, and other favorites, as well as offering year-round after-school semester art classes, summer camps, and workshops to youth and adults, with scholarships available. Music events and cultural performances provide memorable experiences to local audiences. Our Papillon Gallery features local artist exhibits, offering our ARTS Hub emerging artist career development resource program. Our EC:CO Outreach program and "Between the Lines" Healing Arts program deliver arts-based therapeutic expression and quality-oflife experiences to underserved families, military veterans, troubled teens, and women escaping crisis via partnerships across Middle Tennessee.
Why We're Important: In today's fast-paced world, the MACC nurtures souls through accessible arts, fostering empathy, innovation, healing, and lifelong learning for all. Free admission opens doors to everyone. The arts promote vibrant communities—enriching daily life, sparking creativity, and driving personal and professional achievement. Programs support volunteerism, creative camaraderie, mentorship, and cultural collaboration. Strategic partnerships and processes encourage healing for individuals with disabilities, trauma, grief, depression, or PTSD. Shared arts experiences strengthen families and beautify the fabric of our society. The future is bright as we advance our vision by building a dedicated 30,000-square-foot arts education center to serve the ever-growing needs of our region.
How We Serve the Community: MACC's ripple effect enriches Middle Tennessee: free arts-based outreach activities engage under-resourced youth and families; therapeutic healing arts programs aid at-risk communities in four counties; annual exhibits spotlight talented students and outreach participants. With scholarships and outreach programs removing barriers, we build resilient communities. Our cultural framework improves the mental and emotional quality of life for all. As a regional hub, we cultivate partnerships with organizations, schools, and community service providers. With the new creation of our mobile classroom, an art studio on wheels, we really are taking it to the streets...with the motto: All for ART - Art for ALL!
How You Can Help: We are so grateful for your support! Your monetary or in-kind donations extend our reach, empowering artists and programs that promote well-being, and fueling a legacy that builds brighter futures.
• DONATE online via the QR Code below to keep programs free.
• VOLUNTEER as a docent, board member, fundraiser chair, or serve on an event committee.
• SPONSOR an amazing exhibition or cultural event.
• JOIN our $10M capital campaign and help build a new 30,000 sq ft arts education center that will transform our future community.
• CONTACT celeste@monthavenarts.org to get involved.
Every gift transforms lives—become a champion of the arts today!
Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center 1017 Antebellum Circle Hendersonville, TN 37075
Who We Are: We are an inclusive dance studio dedicated to empowering individuals of all abilities through the art of dance. Our mission is to transform lives by teaching essential life skills, using the power of movement and music. We strive to create a warm, welcoming community where everyone feels supported and inspired.
What We Do: We offer weekly dance classes at our studios in Nashville and Franklin, along with a virtual class that connects students across the country. This year, we launched a new Wheelchair Dance Class, expanding our offerings to meet even more diverse needs. Our Community Outreach brings inclusive dance to underserved populations, including schools and nonprofit organizations. We believe the arts should be accessible to everyone. We increase accessibility through our scholarship program, ensuring no student is turned away due to financial need. Our recurring donors, known as The Joy Squad, fund tuition assistance so every dancer has a chance to shine.
Why We're Important: MOVE Inclusive Dance takes a uniquely innovative approach by integrating our classes with typically developing students and peer-aged volunteers, who dance alongside students with disabilities. This inclusive model blends art and exercise to enhance physical, psychological, cognitive, and social outcomes. Traditional dance studios often lack the training or accommodations to support individuals with disabilities. We remove these barriers by providing trained staff, accessible spaces, inclusive programs, and supportive peers.
How We Serve the Community: Since launching in 2019, our impact has grown dramatically. We've expanded from a single studio to a two-location operation and continue to introduce new initiatives that support not just our dancers, but their families and communities. In 2025, we introduced our MOVE Ambassador Program, an in-house internship that empowers students with real-world skills through volunteering, leadership training, and social events. We also host dynamic performances and collaborate with other organizations to increase awareness, advocacy, and inclusion in the arts.
We're always looking for volunteers and donors to support our mission.
• To add yourself to our volunteer list, visit www.moveinclusivedance.com/get-involved
• To learn more about the many ways you can give, visit www.moveinclusivedance.com/ways-to-give.
Who We Are: Musicians On Call (MOC) delivers live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients, families, and caregivers in healthcare environments.
What We Do: For over 25 years, MOC has leveraged the power of music to alleviate stress and complement the healing process for patients in healthcare facilities, including children receiving cancer treatment, adults recovering from surgery, seniors in memory care units, and Veterans in longterm care. As the nation's leading provider of live music in hospitals, MOC volunteers have performed for over 1.2 million individuals nationwide, and that number increases every day. With over 34 million people hospitalized annually, MOC is on a mission to reach millions more.
Why We're Important: With each program shift, Musicians On Call witnesses the undeniable physical, emotional, and mental benefits of music for hospital patients. Clinical research shows music can lower blood pressure, ease stress, reduce pain, and lift spirits – findings we see validated every day through our programs. In an environment often filled with uncertainty, we bring comfort and connection by delivering the healing power of live music to patients, families, and caregivers. By making music accessible at the bedside, MOC transforms the hospital experience, helping people feel cared for, less isolated, and more hopeful during some of their most difficult moments.
How We Serve the Community: Through in-room performances for those undergoing treatment or unable to leave their beds, MOC adds moments of joy to the hospital experience. During each bedside shift, a Volunteer Musician, escorted by a Volunteer Guide, visits rooms to share music directly with patients. These personal interactions help restore happiness that often fades in healthcare environments. In Middle Tennessee, MOC partners include Tristar Centennial Medical Center, Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital,
Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, Alive Hospice, the Nashville and Murfreesboro VA facilities, and more.
How You Can Help: Your support helps bring music to the bedsides of tens of thousands of patients, families, and caregivers in hospitals nationwide each year:
• Give: Support the healing power of music through your preferred method, including cash, stock, real estate, cryptocurrency, in-kind gifts, planned giving, donoradvised funds, or family foundations. Learn more at musiciansoncall.org/ways-to-give.
• Engage: We welcome companies to sponsor programs, campaigns, and events, plus increase impact through employer matching gift initiatives. Learn more at musiciansoncall.org/corporate-partners.
• Volunteer: Sign up to volunteer as a Volunteer Musician or a Guide. Get started at musiciansoncall.org/volunteer.
Musicians On Call is proud to have earned Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world's largest source of nonprofit information. We are grateful for our supporters and volunteers who help keep the music playing in hospitals for those who need it most!
Musicians On Call (MOC)
618 Grassmere Park, Suite 1 Nashville, TN 37211 615.432.2124
Website: musiciansoncall.org
Facebook: @musiciansoncall
Instagram: @musiciansoncall
Executive Director: Pete Griffin
Board Chair: Alissa Pollack
NASHVILLE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING COALITION (NAHT)
Who We Are: We are broken people loving and serving broken people, relentlessly proclaiming that NONE of God’s children are for sale. We exist to Rescue, Restore, and Resource women from the bondage of human trafficking and addiction. Our strategy is to Rescue, Restore, Recognize, and Resource.
• Rescue victims through survivor-informed interventions
• Restore through survivor-informed curriculum and relational wraparound support
• Educate the community to recognize human trafficking
• Resource survivors with jobs through NAHT’s Sweet Daisy social enterprise
What We Do: We Inspire Hope that victims CAN be free from their traffickers and addiction. Our four-part strategy helps victims walk from surviving into thriving. Educate to Recognize mobilizes the community with prevention education and resources to protect our most vulnerable, middle and high school students, from the lure of traffickers. Rescue conducts survivorinformed and thriver-led interventions, where we quarterback each victim’s care by utilizing several partner rehabilitation agencies. Restore provides a hope-filled community and a comprehensive after-care program that helps survivors become physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially free, equipping them with the tools to thrive within the community.
Resource survivors with jobs through NAHT’s social enterprise bakery, Sweet Daisy Petit Four Shoppe, which offers NAHT members a paid internship position in Sweet Daisy SEEDS (Support–Equip–Employ–Disciple–Send) Leadership Training Program. With mentoring and discipleship at the core of the SEEDS model, interns are trained to make petit fours while developing leadership skills rooted and informed by God’s Word.
Why We're Important: People are moving in droves to Nashville because of our safe schools and neighborhoods. At the same time, the human trafficking industry is flourishing, threatening that very security. Through the internet, every family is being targeted. Without NAHT’s Educate to Recognize training, survivor-led interventions, and restorative services, this industry will soon define our state.
NAHT is raising awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking in every zip code. We are equipping schools and families to prevent the lure of traffickers while also providing tactical opportunities for the community at large to fight AGAINST human trafficking and FOR its victims.
How We Serve the Community: Through partnerships with the community and local law enforcement, we are able to rescue victims of human trafficking and walk alongside them on their journey of healing through our Restore Program. We then resource these women with job skills and training so they can enter our community free, equipped, and filled with hope for a
new life. Through our “None of God’s Children Are for Sale” Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign, we are raising awareness among families in every zip code about the pervasive human trafficking industry. We educate parents, teachers, and students about human trafficking so they will know how to prevent it. Our impact in the community with the Educate to Recognize Program is not only preventing human trafficking among our children and grandchildren but also educating everyone about what human trafficking looks like in our state.
How You Can Help: Our vision is to see God raise up an army of humble servants who understand that all people are made in the image of God and therefore have inherent value, worth, and dignity. To do so, we need YOU. Go to our website to learn how you can join the fight AGAINST human trafficking and FOR its victims. We need monthly supporters! Your donation will:
• Rescue women and children who are actively being trafficked and struggling with substance abuse.
• Provide a woman/child recovering from trafficking with classes that help victims stay sober, grow in their relationship with Jesus, find employment, and learn to manage finances.
• Prevent trafficking by helping children understand specific vulnerabilities, spot the signs of trafficking, identify healthy support systems, and learn skills they need to stay safe.
• Break cycles and protect the next generation by resourcing parents and helping a victim seek justice against their traffickers.
• Help offer training and job opportunities in our social enterprise, Sweet Daisy Petit Four Shoppe.
• Equip a professional with an up-to-date and research-based child trafficking prevention curriculum, bringing it to youth in schools.
Donations can be made online through our website (www.nahtcoalition.org), or checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 158972. Please visit our website for volunteer opportunities. Your support is helping to save lives.
Executive Director: Mary Trapnell mary@nahtcoalition.org
Director of Operations and Rescue: Christina Meadows christina@nahtcoalition.org
Sweet Daisy Petit Four Shoppe sweetdaisy@nahtcoalition.org
NASHVILLE BALLET
Who We Are: We create, perform, teach, and promote dance as an essential and inspiring element of our community.
What We Do: Since our founding forty years ago, Nashville Ballet has become the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee. The company is comprised of professional dancers from around the world who perform during Nashville Bailee's performance season. Our Community Engagement Initiative brings educational dance programming to schools, community centers, and businesses, to introduce Middle Tennesseans of all ages to the artistry of dance. School of Nashville Ballet offers premier training for children and adults ages 2+. Artistic Director & CEO Nick Mullikin leads an outstanding artistic staff and faculty who provide inspirational dance experiences to all.
Why We're Important: Each year, through our mainstage performances, School of Nashville Ballet programs, and Community Engagement programs, we share the transformative power of dance with Middle Tennessee. Dance is a universal language that helps unite diverse communities and cultures while uplifting individual voices and creating a positive impact.
How We Serve the Community: Nashville Ballet is committed to making dance accessible to everyone. In addition to our ticketed events, we offer tuition-free dance education opportunities to more than 16,000 members of our community through over 100 programs, including Story Times with Nashville Ballet, School of Nashville Ballet Adaptive Dance, Young Men's Scholarship Program, special student-only matinee performances, and field trip opportunities. We reach over 8,000 students in 33 partner schools and five residency Title 1 schools. Each December, we share Holiday Magic with our Middle Tennessee neighbors by providing community partners
and social service organizations with more than 2,000 free tickets to performances of our annual holiday production of Nashville's Nutcracker.
How You Can Help: As a nonprofit arts organization, ticket revenue alone is not enough to sustain our work, and Nashville Ballet relies on generous philanthropic support from our community to achieve our mission. There are many ways you can help bring dance to everyone in our community:
• Donate to help us bring exceptional art and accessible arts education to Nashville and beyond. Donors receive special benefits, including performance receptions,
• exclusive rehearsal viewings, and backstage tours. Learn more at NashvilleBallet.com/Donate.
• Celebrate the holiday season at Nashville's Nutcracker Tea, which benefits the scholarship program at School of Nashville Ballet.
• Dance the night away at Ballet Ball, our largest fundraiser of the season that supports our Community Engagement Initiative and educational programs.
• Experience the magic of live performance! Become a subscriber at NashvilleBallet.com/2526-ticket-packages.
Nashville Ballet
3630 Redmon Street
Nashville, TN 37209
615.297.2966
Website: NashvilleBallet.org
Instagram: @nashvilleballet
Artistic Director: Nick Mullikin
Development Director: Michelle Chianese
Board Chair/President: Jim Munro
NASHVILLE BEL CANTO FOUNDATION
Who We Are: The Nashville Bel Canto Foundation is a nonprofit educational institution committed to nurturing the next generation of opera singers. Founded on the belief that opera should be accessible to all, regardless of background or financial means, we provide exceptional training, artistic mentorship, and vital resources to help young artists make the leap from school to stage.
What We Do: In May 2025, we launched our inaugural Bel Canto Opera Scenes Intensive, a transformative twoweek training program in Nashville. The course concluded with a packed-house performance featuring not only our singers but also young instrumentalists, showcasing the collaborative power of the next generation of artists. Every singer selected for our program receives generous scholarship support, ensuring that access is based on talent, not financial ability.
In the year ahead, we are expanding our reach with a Christmas concert, our second Piazza Italia fundraiser, the return of our summer training program, and a new partnership with the Bel Canto Society in Highlands, North Carolina, where our final concert will be reprised— giving our young singers additional platforms to perform, network, and grow.
Why We Are important: Too often, singers graduate with technique but little guidance on how to bring themselves fully into their artistry. We help them reconnect with opera’s emotional core—teaching them that real success lies not in perfection, but in authenticity. We train singers to be bold, expressive, and true to their unique voice while honoring the composer’s vision and connecting deeply with audiences.
How We Serve the Community: Through national and international partnerships, our foundation is building Nashville into a recognized hub for opera training and performance. Our graduates carry the spirit of our mission into professional stages around the world, serving as ambassadors of expressive, meaningful opera.
How You Can Help: None of this happens without support. Our singers depend on the generosity of donors who believe in the power of music and the importance of opportunity. Every dollar we receive goes directly toward scholarships, coaching, housing, and the resources that make our programs possible.
• D onate: Your gift has an immediate impact. Help us nurture the stars of tomorrow by contributing at nashvillebelcanto.com/donations-2.
• Volunteer: Join our passionate community behind the scenes. Email info@nashvillebelcanto.com to learn more.
• Stay connected: Sign up for our newsletter and follow our journey throughout the season.
• Together, we can lift young voices and ensure the future of opera remains vibrant, expressive, and alive.
Who We Are: The Nashville Food Project brings people together to grow, cook, and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating community and alleviating hunger in our city. We believe that food is more than fuel - it’s a powerful medium for connection, dignity, and transformation. Our vision is vibrant community food security, where everyone can access the food they want and need through a just and sustainable system. In this future, food improves nutrition security, strengthens local economies, stewards the environment, and fosters belonging across Nashville’s diverse communities. Together, we are building a city where food supports the well-being of all.
What We Do: We believe good food is a basic human right. At The Nashville Food Project, we don’t just feed people - we connect food access with community food security. Through three core categories - Grow, Cook, and Share - we align underutilized resources like surplus food, idle land, and community knowledge to reduce hunger and build a more equitable food system. Our programs operate at the intersection of food access, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship. Each week, we prepare 6,000-7,000 scratch made meals, recover food, and support community members in growing culturally meaningful crops, making nourishing food more accessible today and in the future.
Why We’re Important: Nashville is a city of contrasts— rapidly growing, yet deeply unequal. One in seven residents experiences food insecurity while over 40% of food is wasted. Climate change, gentrification, and rising costs make sustainable, community-driven solutions urgent. The Nashville Food Project bridges abundance and need by recovering surplus food, cultivating gardens, and sharing meals with schools, senior centers, and shelters. Beyond direct service, we advance long-term systems change—expanding land access, influencing food policy, and fostering resilient neighborhoods. Our vision: a Nashville where every neighbor can access nourishing
food in ways that are dignified, climate-friendly, and rooted in community food security.
How We Serve the Community: Food is a powerful force for well-being. Our programs nourish the whole community - body, mind, and spirit. Each week, we prepare and distribute 6,000-7,000 meals made primarily from recovered or donated food. We also cultivate six gardens where community members grow food for themselves and neighbors, building skills and relationships in the process. More than meeting immediate needs, we create opportunities for belonging. Whether it’s a neighbor harvesting vegetables in the gardens, volunteers working side by side in our kitchens, or a child enjoying a warm meal after school - where everyone has a seat at the table.
How You Can Help: Creating community food security is a shared effort. We rely on donors and volunteers to sustain this work. While 80% of our ingredients are recovered or donated, we cover the cost of the remaining 20% - along with infrastructure, staffing, and transportation needed to turn food into meals and meals into connection. You can help by joining our Seed Starters monthly giving program, becoming part of our Kitchen Cabinet Society, or giving a one-time gift to support our work. Every contribution helps us share meals, grow food, and deepen impact. Volunteers are vital - prepping, planting, and serving with care.
The Nashville Food Project 5904 California Avenue Nashville, TN 37209
615.460.0172
Website: thenashvillefoodproject.org
Facebook: @thenashvillefoodproject
Instagram: @thenashvillefoodproject
Executive Director: CJ Sentell
cj@thenashvillefoodproject.org
NASHVILLE HUMANE ASSOCIATION
Who We Are: Having served Nashville since 1946, Nashville Humane Association is the city's second-oldest nonprofit. Every day, led by Executive Director Laura Baker, staff members, volunteers, and fosters help provide a safe haven for animals who have been neglected, abandoned, abused, or lost. This work of supporting both pets and their owners wouldn't be possible without the community and an amazing network of supporters. NHA is not a government agency, nor do we have the support of a national umbrella organization—we're a small, local shelter committed to making life better for pets and the people who love them.
What We Do: NHA is more than just a shelter. We are committed to finding responsible homes, controlling pet overpopulation, and promoting the humane treatment of animals while supporting pets and pet families in the Southeastern region. We rescue animals from cases of abuse and neglect, hoarding, puppy mills, and overcrowded shelters, and provide them with medical services and enrichment activities while they await adoption. We offer myriad resources for pet owners, including low-cost vaccination and spay/neuter services, behavioral support, rehoming guidance, crisis fostering, and more—because the best "shelter pet" is one who never makes it to the shelter in the first place.
Why We're Important: Every animal deserves the chance to live a safe, healthy, and happy life, and they depend on us to make that possible. Without our work, countless animals would remain in unsafe, unhealthy, or abusive situations, risking starvation, injury, or neglect. Stray animals can also pose dangers to the community, from traffic hazards to the spread of diseases. At NHA, we give these animals a second chance, rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming them while making communities safer and stronger. Along the way, we connect people with pets who bring each other immense joy, comfort, and unconditional love.
How We Serve the Community: NHA makes communities safer by helping control stray animal populations. We keep animals out of shelters by providing pet owners with resources to keep their pets during difficult times, whether they need help with food, training, landlord deposits, low-cost veterinary care, or other essential services. We also have a 24/7 microchip scanning station. When animals come to our shelter, we provide safe places for them to receive medical attention and care while they await adoption. NHA also offers community outreach programming where we mobilize these services (and animals) to spread resources and joy throughout Nashville.
How You Can Help: There are many fun ways to support us! We're always looking for foster parents—we'll provide all the supplies you'd need. People can also host a doggie date or "rovernight" stay by taking a shelter dog out for a few hours or for the night. NHA depends on our wonderful volunteers to help us serve the animals, and there's always room for more within our walls. Beyond that, we appreciate financial donations, which you can make on our website or at one of our many fundraising events. Please help us get specialty license plates by signing up for yours today!
Nashville Humane Association
213 Oceola Avenue
Nashville, TN 37209
615.352.1010
Website: nashvillehumane.org
Facebook: @NashvilleHumaneAssociation
Instagram: @nashvillehumane
X: @nashvillehumane
Executive Director: Laura Baker laura@nashvillehumane.org
Board Chair: Michelle Cotton
NASHVILLE PARKS FOUNDATION
Who We Are: Nashville Parks Foundation is the nonprofit partner to Metro Parks and Recreation supporting 189 parks and 27 community centers throughout Davidson County. We enhance public parks and expand recreational opportunities while supporting sustainable growth of the park system.
What We Do: We promote wellness by expanding green space and open play which are vital to our well-being and contribute to the aesthetic value of our urban environment. We promote community by creating neighborhoods with performing arts, nature centers and programming across generations. We create prosperity by contributing to higher valued properties and ease of workforce development.
Why We're Important: Of the 189 parks in Nashville, only 12 parks have dedicated nonprofit Friends Groups to assist in advocacy, fundraising and collaboration for park improvements. In this way, the Nashville Parks Foundation is the Friends group for the remaining parks. Nashville Parks Foundation and Metro Parks strive to provide the same quality amenities and programming to all parks in Nashville because every neighborhood deserves a great park.
How We Serve the Community: As Nashville continues to grow, we work to ensure that parks provide nature and recreation across all parts of the city. We deliver successful projects when creating partnerships with businesses and organizations. Collaboration between public and private
resources improves Nashville’s parks and programming while contributing to a robust local economy. Current projects include a playground at McCabe Park, a wheel/skate track at Watkins Park, an all-inclusive sports field at Cedar Hill Park and system-wide community programming.
How You Can Help: Nashville is known for many things, but Nashville can also be known for great parks! Businesses can create an impactful connection to customers and employees with a park project that targets a specific neighborhood or community center. Donors and Foundations can leave a long-lasting investment in Nashville by supporting an existing park project or by creating a new project. Individuals can attend our signature fundraiser, Picnic for the Parks, a reasonably priced, casual, sustainable event held in September. Join like-minded park patrons for a sunset picnic to celebrate Nashville’s century-old tradition of public parks and recreation.
Nashville Parks Foundation
P.O. Box 196340
Nashville, TN 37219
615.337.7877
www.nashvilleparksfoundation.org
Facebook: @nashvilleparksfoundation
Instagram: @nashvilleparksfoundation
Board Chair: Jillian Frist
info@nashvilleparksfoundation.org
NASHVILLE PBS / WNPT
Who We Are: For over 60 years, Nashville PBS has been the heart of Middle Tennessee's storytelling tradition, celebrating the music, heritage, and entrepreneurial spirit that make our region extraordinary. As a nonprofit television station, we preserve the authentic voices of local artisans, musicians, and business owners while providing free educational programming that nurtures children's dreams and connects families across generations through shared learning experiences.
What We Do: We create beloved programming like Tennessee Crossroads, which has proudly documented over 5,000 local businesses and their inspiring stories across 39 seasons. Our PBS KIDS programming gives every child, regardless of family income, access to quality early learning that builds confidence and curiosity. We distribute educational resources to 30,000+ teachers and students, ensuring no child is left behind in their educational journey.
Why We're Important: Nashville PBS consistently ranks among America's most trusted institutions, with 93% of community members affirming we represent the diversity and experiences of all people in our region. In a world where local stories often go untold, Nashville PBS preserves the history of our communities. We've created an irreplaceable archive of Tennessee's legacy while providing safe, commercial-free programming that families can trust—our content bridges generations, transforming learning into joyful discovery.
How We Serve the Community: We bring neighbors together through 100+ annual community events, from
intimate coffee conversations at senior centers to familyfriendly educational workshops. Our four broadcast channels are available to watch for free anywhere, anytime on the PBS app, and our local documentaries can be viewed for free on YouTube. Nashville PBS extends into every corner of our community, from classrooms to living rooms to gathering spaces, fostering connection and understanding.
How You Can Help: As a nonprofit, we depend on donors who understand that investing in Nashville PBS means investing in our community's future. Your investment nurtures the next generation while preserving Tennessee's rich heritage for future generations. Major gifts ensure every child has access to educational programming that sparks imagination, while supporting local storytelling that celebrates our neighbors' achievements. Through planned giving, you create a legacy of learning and cultural preservation that will inspire Tennessee families for decades to come.
Nashville PBS
161 Rains Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
tv8@wnpt.org
bmagura@wnpt.org
Website: wnpt.org
Facebook: @nashvillepbs
Instagram: @nashvillepbs
Executive Director: Becky Magura
615.259.9325
Board/Chair President: Perri duGard Owens
NASHVILLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Who We Are: The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) is a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring every child can thrive in Nashville's public schools. NPEF works to improve student outcomes in Nashville's public schools by identifying challenges and advancing evidencebased solutions. Since 2002, NPEF's role as a catalyst for transformation has yielded tangible results in areas such as teacher professional development, teacher compensation, principal quality, and college access.
What We Do: NPEF raises awareness about challenges and opportunities in public education by creating infographics that break down complex topics, producing documentaries such as "By Design: The Shaping of Nashville's Public Schools" and "Why I Teach," convening the Leadership Public Education cohort with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and producing Thriving Schools data profiles. We invest in solutions by helping teachers develop innovative ideas through Teacherpreneur, celebrating teaching excellence through Blue Ribbon Teacher, bridging the digital divide through Tech Goes Home, and partnering with the school district to provide strategic support on issues such as teacher pay and talent recruitment pipelines.
Why We're Important: While Metro Nashville Public Schools has recently achieved historic gains in student academic growth, we must help continue this momentum to ensure every student in our public schools has access to the resources, supports, and opportunities that help them thrive each day. NPEF believes we all have a role to play in the success of our students, whether it be supporting an organization working on behalf of schools or families, growing your own knowledge about key topics related to our public schools, or using your voice to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities impacting student success.
How We Serve the Community: NPEF's efforts to raise awareness and support for research-based solutions
help increase understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our public schools and help build the knowledge and skills of public education advocates in the community. Our programs and direct supports to schools help support educators and school leaders to ensure all students thrive and reach their full potential. Thriving schools are an indicator of a thriving city; investments in the well-being of our students and public schools are direct investments in the health and sustainability of Nashville for generations to come.
How You Can Help: Support for the Nashville Public Education Foundation helps ensure all students thrive in school. Donations provide laptops and digital training for families through our Tech Goes Home program, stipends for teachers to participate in professional learning, the creation of resources that break down critical topics in public education, leadership development opportunities for public schools advocates, awards and recognition for educators, nonprofit partners, and school leaders demonstrating excellence in our public schools, strategic partnership and consulting with Metro Nashville Public Schools, and much more. Please visit nashvillepef.org/ give to explore all giving options for NPEF, including as a monthly sustainer.
Nashville Public Education Foundation
615 Main Street, Suite 124 Nashville, TN 37206
Website: nashvillepef.org
Facebook: @Nashville Public Education Foundation
Instagram: @nashvillepef
X: @nashvillepef
President & CEO: Dr. Diarese George diarese.george@nashvillepef.org
Board Chair: Ralph Davis
NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
Who We Are: The Nashville Public Library Foundation (NPLF) is the primary nonprofit partner of the library. We build relationships with individuals and private organizations to drive innovation, expand reach and impact, and ensure the long-term vitality of Nashville Public Library (NPL). Since its creation, NPLF has raised more than $99.5 million, which has been used to help the library system become the best in the country. Our mission is to fund, advocate for, and amplify Nashville Public Library to power literacy, life skills, and connection for all.
What We Do: Nashville Public Library is an essential resource that cultivates informed citizens, prepares a skilled workforce, opens windows of opportunity, and helps us stay connected. More than a place for books, today's library is a hub for personal empowerment, continuously adapting to meet its patrons' needs in a rapidly changing society. The resources and programs that make NPL a community jewel require more investment than is available in public funds. The Nashville Public Library Foundation provides that bridge, expanding what is possible for our library, and thus, for our community.
Why We're Important: No other organization serves as many individuals in as many ways—free of charge. Private contributions enable the innovation and expertise that enrich our community and make Nashville a better place to live. We amplify programs that make a powerful impact:
• For children and families beginning the literacy journey that will shape their lives.
• For students who gain access to quality after-school support and safe spaces for growth.
• For adults who find resources for their literacy, digital fluency, and personal and professional skills.
• For everyone - to explore our shared culture and knowledge and find the connection that enhances the spirit.
How We Serve the Community: NPL's education and literacy programming prioritizes access for all patrons with a dedicated commitment to meeting members of our community where they are. Through the new, NPLF-funded initiative Begin Bright, NPL is poised to dramatically impact the early literacy landscape and prepare our children for kindergarten reading success. This program will bring a little library and corresponding resources
to each of the more than 400 childcare centers in Davidson County, providing parents and teachers with a groundbreaking, free digital training tool to help develop skills. Using Vanderbilt University researchers, the program will also study its effectiveness and replicability.
How You Can Help: Our mission to power the life-changing resources at Nashville Public Library relies on your generosity. Please help by:
• Becoming a Monthly Sustainer or giving a one-time gift.
• Directing a DAF distribution to the Begin Bright campaign for early literacy.
• Joining the Carnegie Society, a group of Readers and leaders dedicated to providing unrestricted support for the library.
• Participating in Picnic with the Library or the Literary Award Gala.
• Connecting your Corporate Foundation or Social Responsibility Office to explore sponsorship or grants and registering as an NPL Ambassador to advocate for public funding.
• Joining the Next Chapter Society of emerging leaders, or
• Planning a Legacy Gift.
Nashville Public Library Foundation 615 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37219-2314
615.880.3939
Website: nplf.org
Facebook: @NPLFoundation
Instagram: @nplfoundation
LinkedIn: Nashville Public Library Foundation
President: Shawn Bakker shawn.bakker@nplf.org
Director of Major Gifts: Elizabeth Sherrard elizabeth.sherrard@nplf.org
Director of Marketing/Communications: Kristi Graham kristi.graham@nplf.org
Board Chair: Lucy Haynes
NASHVILLE REPERTORY THEATRE
Who We Are: Nashville Repertory Theatre is an established professional theatre company producing exceptional live experiences that enrich the community, support artists, and help sustain a vibrant arts culture in Middle Tennessee and beyond.
What We Do: Now in its 41st season, Nashville Repertory Theatre is Middle Tennessee's premiere professional theatre company and a TPAC resident company. Named Nashville's Best Performing Arts Group by the Nashville Scene in 2025, the Rep presents mainstage musicals and plays, new play development programs, community outreach events, and educational programs. We are proud to be bold and energetic partners in the local performing arts community.
Why We're Important: Nashville Repertory Theatre annually engages over 36,000 members of our community through special events, mainstage productions, and educational programs. In pursuit of this, the Rep employs over 200 actors, playwrights, designers, directors, musicians, technicians, and educators each year, making us the leading employer of theatrical artists in Middle Tennessee. This dedication only elevates Nashville's standing as a leader in the national arts landscape.
How We Serve The Community: Nashville Repertory Theatre produces 4-6 mainstage shows each season, offering a dynamic mix of classic and contemporary works for audiences of all ages. Our acclaimed Ingram New Works Project keeps the future of theatre vibrant by supporting the creation and development of new plays and empowering local playwrights. We nurture emerging talent through programs
like Young Voices and our Broadway Masterclasses, which provide hands-on learning and mentorship from theatre professionals. Through our partnership with the Johnson Alternative Learning Center, we bring artists directly into classrooms, helping students in challenging circumstances build confidence and self-expression. Time and again, we see young people stand a little taller and speak a little prouder as a result. Learn more about our education and community programs at nashvillerep.org/education.
How You Can Help: Theatre connects us, inspires us, and tells the stories that matter, and Nashville Repertory Theatre depends on you to keep that magic alive.
• Buy Tickets. Experience powerful plays and musicals while supporting the local artists and craftspeople who bring them to life.
• Give Generously. Ticket sales cover only part of what it takes to create exceptional theatre and reach students across Middle Tennessee. Your gift makes it possible.
Who We Are: A Christ-centered nonprofit providing hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity to those who are hungry, hurting, and experiencing homelessness.
What We Do: Since 1954, Nashville Rescue Mission has provided meals, safe shelter, clothing, showers, and case management for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Our Life Recovery Program helps individuals overcome addiction and broken lifestyles through a Christ-centered, comprehensive approach, guiding them to rebuild their lives on God's Word. We also engage the community through volunteer opportunities and events, giving neighbors and donors a chance to directly support life-changing services.
Why We're Important: Providing meals, shelter, and lifechanging recovery to thousands each year.
How We Serve the Community: We restore hope and dignity by meeting immediate needs and fostering lasting transformation. Each meal served, bed provided, and recovery milestone achieved strengthens families, equips individuals for success, and mobilizes the community to support those in need. Through compassionate care, education, and engagement, we create pathways out of
homelessness and addiction, empowering people to rebuild their lives while inspiring a culture of generosity and service across Middle Tennessee.
How You Can Help: Support Nashville Rescue Mission through prayer, financial gifts, or volunteering. Donate food, clothing, or toiletries, or join our monthly Partner of Hope program to sustain life-changing work. Take the "I Had No Idea Tour" for a behind-the-scenes look, or partner as an event sponsor. We also offer employment opportunities for those called to serve. Every act of generosity shares compassion, love, and hope with neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Nashville Rescue Mission 639 Lafayette Street Nashville, TN 37203
615.255.2475
Website: NashvilleRescueMission.org
Facebook: @NashvilleRescueMission
Instagram: @NashvilleRescue
President & CEO: Rev. Glenn Cranfield
Board Chair: Eric Ward
THE NASHVILLE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Who We Are: The Nashville Shakespeare Festival has been a local staple since 1988, when a group of actors decided to perform the first free-of-charge Shakespeare in the Park production of As You Like It in Centennial Park. Held annually, Shakespeare in the Park is a beloved Nashville tradition, with its pay-what-you-will model offering professional outdoor productions that are financially accessible to all. Beyond summer, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival creates educational opportunities by bringing shows and workshops to schools across the region, provides job opportunities to local artists and technicians, and ensures the arts remain a vibrant part of our community.
What We Do: The mission of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival is to educate and entertain the Mid-South community through professional theatrical experiences. The Festival enriches and unifies our community with bold, innovative, and relevant productions along with empowering, participatory educational programs, setting the community standard of excellence in educational outreach and performances of Shakespeare's plays.
Why We're Important: We believe theatre should never feel out of reach. By lowering barriers and opening doors, we invite more people to experience the joy and wonder of live performance.
How We Serve the Community: We aim to be a true reflection of the community we serve - welcoming, relevant, and responsive. Our work is shaped by the people who
gather around it, and we strive to create spaces where everyone feels they belong. This past year, over 5,300 people attended our pay-what-you-will summer production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
How You Can Help: Make a tax-deductible donation or become a monthly donor! Your support fuels unforgettable productions, creates educational opportunities, provides job opportunities to local artists and technicians, and ensures the arts remain a vibrant part of our community. Visit nashvilleshakes.org/donate to donate online. Volunteer with us! Volunteering for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival's productions is a unique experience that not only serves the arts community of Nashville but also exposes the volunteers to various aspects of the theatrical world. Learn more at www.nashvilleshakes.org/volunteer-opportunities.
Who We Are: Nashville Wine Auction is a self-sustaining, non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization that exists solely to raise funds to support the fight against cancer. Our mission is Uniting the Wine Community to Fund the Fight Against Cancer. Our single objective is to generate as much money as possible for cancer-related programs.
What We Do: The Nashville Wine Auction unites the wine community through world-class fundraising events that fund the fight against cancer. Our events are lively, fun, and educational, fostering an environment of spontaneous and generous giving by those who love and appreciate wine. Toward that end, Nashville Wine Auction cultivates participation by the domestic and international wine communities that understand our respect for the wine, national and local businesses, hospitality professionals, restaurants, chefs, and members of the entertainment industry, as well as individuals united in the common goal of winning the battle against cancer.
Why We're Important: Since its inception in 1980, Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $43 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to cancer research, innovative patient treatment, and caregiver/patient support. We are proud to support these organizations: American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge, Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation, Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee, HopeKids, Inc., The Heimerdinger Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Societ, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville General Hospital Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Survivor Fitness, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
How We Serve the Community: Whether it is funding to build the kitchen at Gilda's Club, mobile mammograms for rural and low-income women through Saint Thomas Ascension Health Foundation, granting wishes for kids, supporting targeted treatment research at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, donating gas cards for patients, or other projects, Nashville Wine Auction supports organizations that touch the lives of cancer patients and their families daily.
We tap into the generosity of our wine-loving community by bringing people together with a shared passion, curating unforgettable experiences with vintners and wine education, thereby creating a stream of funding for these charities that would likely not otherwise exist.
How You Can Help:
• Attend our events and bid generously! Our events feature Silent and Live Auctions filled with fine wines, exquisite trips, luxury items, dinners, tastings, and more.
• Donate: We accept wine donations of every size, from a couple of bottles to cases, to entire cellars – we will arrange pick up. We also accept travel packages, dining experiences, luxury items, and more.
• Volunteer: Our mission cannot be accomplished without the support of our volunteers. More than 250 volunteers help produce our events annually.
• Sponsor: Position your company as an active participant in the fight against cancer.
Nashville Wine Auction grant applications are accepted year-round and will be reviewed by the Grant Committee and approved by the Board of Directors annually. Completed applications with all required attachments must be received by December 31 to be considered for a grant in the following year. Approved beneficiaries are confirmed in January, and financial disbursements are made in December after all fundraising auctions have been completed for that fiscal year.
Who We Are: Nashville Zoo is more than a destination—it’s a nonprofit conservation leader and an AZA-accredited zoological park right here in the heart of Tennessee. Home to animals from every corner of the globe, the Zoo inspires wonder while working tirelessly to protect endangered species and habitats both locally and worldwide. Through immersive exhibits, hands-on experiences, and powerful education programs, Nashville Zoo connects people of all ages to wildlife and empowers them to take part in building a future where both animals and people can thrive.
What We Do: At Nashville Zoo, we bring conservation to life. From breeding programs that safeguard endangered species to fieldwork that protects wild habitats, our work extends far beyond the Zoo’s gates. We provide unforgettable educational experiences that spark curiosity in children, families, and lifelong learners, while our community outreach programs make wildlife conservation accessible to all. Every encounter—whether feeding a giraffe, exploring behind the scenes, or attending a special event—offers guests the chance to be part of something bigger: a global effort to save wildlife and preserve our planet for generations to come.
Why We're Important: Nashville Zoo plays a vital role as a conservation hub and a community resource. In a rapidly changing world, it provides a safe haven for threatened species, a living classroom for future generations, and a source of inspiration that brings people closer to the natural world. Beyond conservation and education, the Zoo is a powerful economic engine, attracting over a million visitors each year and contributing significantly to the region’s tourism and local economy. By protecting wildlife, enriching our community, and fueling economic growth, Nashville Zoo helps ensure the wonders of the natural world remain part of our shared future.
How We Serve the Community: Nashville Zoo serves the community by creating spaces where people can gather,
learn, and celebrate. Through school partnerships, outreach programs, and family-friendly experiences, we provide opportunities for connection that extend far beyond a traditional zoo visit. Our signature events—like Call of the Wild, Sunset Safari, Boo at the Zoo, and Zoolumination— bring thousands together each year, offering both family and adult entertainment with purpose while supporting conservation. This is only possible as a result of the generosity of our donors and partners, whose support ensures the Zoo remains a vibrant resource where education, conservation, and community come together.
How You Can Help: You can play an essential role in Nashville Zoo’s mission. Every ticket purchased, membership renewed, or donation made directly supports the care of our animals, the protection of endangered species, the growth of the Zoo, and the educational programs that inspire future conservationists. Volunteers and corporate partners also make a lasting difference by giving their time, talents, and resources to help us grow. Whether you choose to attend a special event, become a Zoo member, or invest in education or our conservation efforts, your support helps ensure that wildlife and wild places will thrive for generations to come.
Nashville Zoo
3777 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, TN 37211
615.833.1534
Website: NashvilleZoo.org
Facebook: NashvilleZoo
Instagram: @NashvilleZoo
X: @NashvilleZoo
Threads: @NashvilleZoo
Executive Director: Rick Schwartz
Chief Philanthropy Officer: Beth Bush
abbush@NashvilleZoo.org
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC (NMAAM)
Who We Are: The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is the sole museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy, artistry, and influence of African Americans on music and culture. Conceived in 2002 and opened in Nashville in 2021, NMAAM tells the story of American history and culture through the lens of music. Our mission is to educate, preserve, and inspire by honoring the artists, innovators, and communities whose creative expressions continue to shape the sound and soul of the world.
What We Do: NMAAM brings our mission to life through immersive galleries and dynamic programs that explore more than fifty genres and subgenres of African American music. Visitors receive an RFID wristband to curate playlists and media throughout their journey, blending technology with storytelling. From interactive exhibits and live performances to educational workshops and virtual learning, every experience connects history, innovation, and community. Whether guests are discovering their rhythm in the R&B gallery or exploring gospel's spiritual roots, NMAAM invites all to celebrate, learn, and be inspired through the power of music.
Why We're Important: NMAAM exists to ensure that the creativity and contributions of African Americans are not confined to memory but continue to inform the present and shape the future. History is a time-binding force, linking generations through knowledge. By preserving and presenting this legacy, NMAAM affirms that music is both archive and prophecy: a record of struggle, triumph, and innovation that defines America and abroad. In safeguarding these stories, we safeguard the nation's soul and empower tomorrow's creators to build on that rhythm of resilience.
How We Serve the Community: NMAAM serves as both a cultural anchor and an educational resource for
the community. Through free admission programs for students, faith-based partnerships, and dynamic public events, the museum provides access to experiences that uplift and educate. Our collaborations with schools, churches, and local organizations transform music into a shared language of belonging and pride. Beyond our walls, NMAAM's outreach and digital platforms extend these lessons nationwide: bridging generations, inspiring creativity, and preserving heritage. Every initiative strengthens the connection between culture and community.
How You Can Help: Supporting the National Museum of African American Music is an act of preservation and participation. Every contribution, from membership and sponsorship to in-kind gifts and volunteer service, sustains exhibitions, programs, and the free educational access that keeps this legacy alive. Your involvement ensures that future generations can learn, listen, and create within the continuum of musical excellence. Together, we compose a living harmony: one built on generosity, knowledge, and time itself so that the soundtrack of our culture never fades, but keeps evolving in collective chorus. We invite you to learn more at www.nmaam.org.
National Museum of African American Music
510 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203
615.663.1823
Website: nmaam.org
Facebook: @theNMAAM
Instagram: @theNMAAM
Executive Director: Bill Jeffries bjeffries@nmaam.org
Board Chair: Stacey Garrett Koju
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
Who We Are: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit with a mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Since 1978, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee has protected over 450,000 acres across the state, helping to create or expand 36 state natural areas and parks, 22 state Wildlife Management Areas, five national parks and forest service lands, four national wildlife refuges, and 16 TNC preserves.
What We Do: Our science-based conservation work in Tennessee—from land protection and wetland restoration to sustainable agriculture and prescribed fire—is deeply interconnected and delivers direct climate benefits. These include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased natural carbon sequestration, and enhanced resiliency of both natural systems and human communities. With a vast network of partners and supporters, we are working throughout Tennessee to protect and restore natural environments that support biodiversity and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Why We’re Important: Tennessee is the most biologically diverse and cave-rich inland state in the U.S., and it lies within the heart of the Appalachian region—a global hotspot for biodiversity. The Appalachians contain the last and least fragmented forests in the eastern U.S., serving as a crucial migratory corridor for species movement at a continental scale. Our extensive conservation efforts and partnerships, built over four decades, have equipped The Nature Conservancy with the expertise to take on increasingly ambitious and complex projects across this ecologically vital landscape.
How We Serve The Community: In Tennessee and beyond, we work alongside communities to build resilience to climate change, engage residents in local conservation opportunities, and inspire thousands to see nature as a part of their own
well-being. For example, our Cumberland Forest Project has protected over 250,000 acres in the Appalachians, generates new jobs, and provides opportunities for ecotourism, recreation, and sustainable forest management. In West Tennessee, we’re restoring and reconnecting floodplains to alleviate the impacts of catastrophic floods on communities. And we are restoring resilient forests across the Appalachians that help clean the air, filter water, harbor diverse wildlife, and support local economies.
How You Can Help: Every acre we protect, every river mile restored, and every species brought back from the brink begins with our supporters. There are many ways you can join us:
• Make a financial gift to The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee.
• Explore the places we protect by visiting our state’s preserves and natural areas.
• Speak up for nature by contacting your elected officials or signing a pledge to take action.
The Nature Conservancy
2 Maryland Farms, Suite 150 Brentwood, TN 37027
615.383.9909
Website: nature.org/tennessee
Facebook: @natureconservancytennessee
Instagram: @TN_nature
LinkedIn: nature.org/linkedinTN
State Director, Tennessee: Laurel Creech laurel.creech@tnc.org
Director of Philanthropy: Brian Scales brian.scales@tnc.org
Board Chair/President: Christy Smith
THE NEXT DOOR RECOVERY
Who We Are: In 2004, a group of women envisioned using an empty building in downtown Nashville to deliver hope and healing to the local community. Their vision became a reality when The Next Door Recovery (TNDR) opened its doors to provide transitional living to women coming out of incarceration. Today, TNDR has evolved to a residential addiction treatment facility and is one of the only organizations in the Southeast providing a full continuum of affordable, gender-specific treatment for women in a faith-based environment that offers priority admissions to pregnant women. Our environment nurtures faith and recovery through compassion and unconditional acceptance.
What We Do: The Next Door Recovery is dedicated to walking alongside women struggling with addiction and empowering them for lifetime recovery. We believe there is a beautiful, fulfilling life beyond addiction and are committed to helping women discover, embrace, and build upon it. Our services are tailored to meet each woman's unique needs, offering a continuum of evidence-based substance use and mental health treatment services. These services include Medically Monitored Detox, Residential Treatment, Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs in person and virtual, Recovery Care Clinic (RCC) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services, and Alumni Aftercare.
Why We're Important: The Next Door Recovery prioritizes pregnant women, offering prenatal care, programming on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, newborn care, parenting classes, and postpartum support. With an on-site Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Doula, we provide specialized care throughout recovery. Our genderspecific approach addresses the unique psychological and physiological challenges women face in addiction recovery, ensuring comprehensive support. Research shows that children with parents with substance use disorders are four times more likely to develop similar issues. We believe that transforming one woman's life can have a profoundly positive impact on future generations. With 84% of our clients being mothers, breaking the cycle of addiction changes their children's futures.
How We Serve the Community: The opioid epidemic has severely impacted our local community, with Tennessee ranking 3rd among states in overdose deaths. Many women we serve have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, or having a parent who was absent, addicted, a victim of violence, or incarcerated. On average, our clients have faced seven out of ten possible ACEs. The Next Door Recovery integrates 12-step programming, faith, and evidence-based practices in our treatment model to address the needs of the whole woman—mind, body, and spirit. To date, we have treated over 17,000 women, preparing them for lifetime recovery.
How You Can Help: Approximately 95% of our clients are uninsured or underinsured. To provide a full continuum of quality treatment to all clients, we must cover the difference between the payments we receive from insurance and state grants. On average, only 55% of our costs are covered by these funds. This is where we need your help. Your donation enables us to provide the same high level of care to every client, regardless of her insurance status or resources. The Next Door Recovery also offers volunteer opportunities for individuals or groups upon request. To donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.thenextdoorrecovery.org.
The Next Door Recovery
402 22nd Avenue North Nashville, TN 37203
615.251.8805
Website: info@thenextdoor.org
Facebook: @TNDNashville
Instagram: @tndrnashville
Executive Directors: Rachel Morris and Amanda Dunlap, LPC-MHSP rachel.morris@thenextdoor.org amanda.dunlap@thenextdoor.org
Director of Development: Susan Weathersby susan.weathersby@thenextdoor.org
Board Chair: Katie Keckley
ONE GENERATION AWAY
Who We Are: Imagine putting your child to bed hungry because you have no food, or having to choose between gas to get to work or buying food. This is the reality for 40% of families in our state. One Generation Away (OneGenAway) is a Franklin-based 501(c) 3 nonprofit that has been feeding bellies and souls since 2013. Founded by Chris and Elaine Whitney after the couple experienced food insecurity firsthand, OneGenAway has grown into a multi-state movement dedicated to eliminating food insecurity by distributing healthy food to those in need while upholding the dignity of every child, family, and senior citizen served. We believe hunger can be wiped out when communities come together to love one another through service. Our team is driven by a belief that no one should have to choose between food and other critical needs, such as utilities and rent.
What We Do: OneGenAway addresses food insecurity through three main initiatives:
• Mobile Pantry Distributions provide grocery carts full of fresh food to anyone in need—no questions asked. These distributions take place weekly (122 in 2025) across Tennessee, Alabama, and surrounding states. Each distribution feeds approximately 300 families.
• Doorstep Pantry delivers nutritious groceries directly to Williamson County families and senior citizens facing transportation barriers, ensuring reliable and dignified access to food. Our goal is for this program to expand to other areas.
• Disa ster Relief Program mobilizes quickly to provide emergency food supplies to communities impacted by natural disasters (currently in East TN, Asheville, NC, and Pikeville, KY).
Why We're Important: Food insecurity remains one of the most pressing challenges facing families in Tennessee. According to the Vanderbilt Child Health Poll, over 40% of Tennessee families with children report experiencing food insecurity. In Middle Tennessee alone, about 34% of families with children are food insecure (in many communities, that translates to 1 in 3 children going hungry). Thousands of households struggle to put meals on the table, while, in the meantime, a third of U.S. food is wasted across the country each year. About 13% of the food OneGenAway shares is
high-quality, rescued food that reaches a hungry family's table on the same day. With a no-questions-asked model, anyone who shows up receives food without judgment, helping people not only survive but feel seen and valued. By consistently showing up, OneGenAway is strengthening communities and spreading hope.
How We Serve the Community: Our 2025 goal is to share more than 10 million healthy meals with families and senior citizens, totalling over 12 million pounds of food.
How You Can Help: We can't end hunger without you! We rely on the support of our generous donors, volunteers, and community partners. Every $1 donated provides five meals.
• Donate: www.onegenaway.com/donate
• Volunteers are the heart of the organization. Individuals and groups can serve at OneGenAway's Mobile Pantries each Saturday—no registration is required; just show up and lend a hand. The time commitment is 7:30 am to 10:30 am. Volunteers can also join weekday efforts at the OneGenAway warehouse in Franklin, Tennessee.
• Businesses, churches, and schools can also partner with OneGenAway for sponsorships, food drives, or group volunteer opportunities. To learn more about each of these opportunities, visit onegenaway.com.
One Generation Away (OneGenAway)
320 Premier Court, Suite 218 Franklin, TN 37067
844.642.4673 onegenaway.com
Facebook: @onegenaway
Instagram: @onegenaway
Founder & CEO: Chris Whitney chris@onegenaway.com
Founder & Chief Development Officer: Elaine Whitney elaine@onegenaway.com
Board Chair: Neal Headden, Community President at First Citizens National Bank
OWL’S HILL NATURE SANCTUARY
Who We Are: We provide a protected sanctuary for native wildlife and their habitats while connecting people with nature. Our sanctuary and our programming inspire exploration and lifelong environmental conservation. Our vision is to help create a world that values and protects nature. We foster enduring conservation through direct experiences on our 300-acre sanctuary and in our Nature Comes Calling outreach programs.
What We Do: For more than 30 years, Owl's Hill has been connecting people to nature and providing a space where visitors can unplug to recharge. Through our public and school programming, camps, and conservation and research, we reach more than 10,000 people each year. Volunteers and a small, dedicated staff make this possible. A Day Pass to Owl's Hill offers access to almost five miles of uncrowded trails that provide glimpses of the more than 2,000 flora and fauna that call Owl's Hill home. We offer more than 100 programs throughout the year and welcome you to join us.
Why We're Important: Researchers are assembling a growing body of evidence that strongly suggests the importance of nature to children's health and their ability to learn. While the trend in America is clearly tilted toward indoor digital time, there are vast benefits in motivating children (and adults) to be outdoors. Some of these benefits include building confidence, promoting creativity, learning responsibility, exercising, reducing stress, and developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the environment. Owl's Hill provides these opportunities for visitors through structured programs and unstructured visits to our sanctuary.
How We Serve the Community: Owl's Hill is a special place for visitors of all ages, classes, genders, and abilities to
explore the great outdoors, learn about our native wildlife, and connect with nature. We engage a diverse constituency with year-round school and public programming, scout programs, workshops, lectures, hiking trails, Tennessee Naturalist training, outreach programs, and volunteer opportunities. Our donor-funded Open Gate program offers discounts to Title I schools, and our work with Metro Nashville Public Schools exposes urban students to the natural world.
How You Can Help: Join us in our work. We accept gifts— large or small—of time, talent, or treasure to support our work. We love unrestricted gifts to our annual fund, and you can donate at www.owlshill.org/donate. We have volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, and corporations. Visit www.owlshill.org/volunteer. To honor or memorialize someone who loves nature, tribute or memorial gifts can be given to Owl's Hill. We also have corporate and individual event sponsorships available.
Director of Development: Alison Gower alison@owlshill.org
Board Chair: Dane Andersen
PARK CENTER NASHVILLE
Who We Are: At Park Center, individuals facing mental health and substance use issues have found a welcoming community of hope and support since 1984. Park Center provides pathways to independence through rehabilitation services, outpatient treatment, homeless outreach, supported housing, employment services, and more. From two main service locations and more than 25 Nashville-area housing properties, Park Center's 100+ team members help individuals reclaim hope, live, and work in the heart of their communities.
What We Do: At Park Center, we bring our mission to life by providing housing, employment, substance use recovery, and mental health services for individuals facing serious mental illness and substance use challenges. Through personcentered support and radical acceptance, we help people reclaim hope, develop self-sufficiency, and build meaningful lives in their communities. Our programs include supportive housing, employment services, peer-led recovery services, homeless outreach, and transitional support for young adults. Every day, we empower people to overcome barriers, make informed choices, and achieve lasting independence, because we believe everyone deserves a safe place to live, a purpose, and a path forward.
Why We're Important: Park Center is a lifeline for individuals in Middle Tennessee living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and housing instability. We provide meaningful support for a population that too often goes unnoticed. We’re the largest provider of housing for individuals living with mental illness in Middle Tennessee and operate the nation’s top SOAR program, helping members with disabilities secure vital SSI/SSDI benefits. Our work reduces homelessness, hospitalizations, and incarceration, creating a ripple effect of stability and healing across families and neighborhoods. Supporting Park Center is more than charity; it's a strategic investment in a stronger, more resilient Nashville. When those on the margins are empowered to thrive, our entire community becomes safer, healthier, and more compassionate.
How We Serve the Community: Park Center strengthens the community by helping individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders achieve stability, which reduces homelessness, hospitalizations, and incarceration. By providing supportive housing, employment services, and recovery support, we help people move from crisis to contribution. Our work improves public health, enhances workforce participation, and fosters safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. Last year alone, Park Center supported 843 individuals within at least one of our seven service programs. We believe that when individuals thrive, families are supported and communities become stronger, more resilient, and more compassionate.
How You Can Help: You can support Park Center through volunteering, financial contributions, or in-kind donations. Volunteers help by mentoring, leading wellness activities, or assisting with projects like painting, landscaping, and Welcome Home Kit assembly. Financial gifts, one-time or recurring, sustain essential housing, employment, and recovery programs. In-kind donations such as toiletries, sleeping bags, gift cards, and Welcome Home Kits meet immediate needs. You can also give through employer matching or donor-advised funds. To learn more about how you can give back, please visit the "Get Involved" section of our website or contact our development team at 615.981.6162.
Park Center Nashville 1935 21st Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212
Who We Are: PENCIL (Public Education Needs Community Involvement & Leadership) is Nashville's business connector to Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). We link community resources to our schools to help young people achieve academic success and prepare for life. We envision a world where access and opportunities are equitable for all students to have a successful future. For more than 40 years, PENCIL has worked closely with MNPS leaders to develop and execute the initiatives and programs that they determine necessary for student success.
What We Do: The sole purpose behind PENCIL's mission, vision, and programming is to address the inequities among MNPS schools and those faced by students in the classroom, from tangible supplies to more personal engagement with mentors and meaningful workforce development. We engage businesses, higher education, and community organizations as Partners in ways that bridge resource gaps and positively impact student academic achievement. While PENCIL programs serve all MNPS students, they are of particular benefit to students who lack financial means and schools that lack sufficient community resources.
Why We're Important: A thriving public education system enables our community to prosper, and students deserve dedicated funding and support. That is where PENCIL steps in. In 2024-25, PENCIL's total community investment was $5.93 million, which includes $1.1 million in grants to/for MNPS and 33,000-plus volunteer hours. Our 634 Partners supported school staff and impacted student success. The DG PENCIL Box, our free educator resource center, distributed almost $3 million in product. Our STEAM Lending Library brought high-quality resources to 20,000-plus students. PENCIL provided reading support to 1,640 students in grades K-3 under the TN Department of Education Connected Literacy Grant.
How We Serve the Community: PENCIL is the premier nonprofit linking the time, talent, and treasure of our community to deliver critically needed programs and services to our public school students and educators, including:
• Experiential learning opportunities for high school students that provide career exposure;
• Free school supplies so MNPS students and educators have the basic tools they need;
• Hands-on learning for all students to inspire and nurture their interest in STEAM subjects
• Small group literacy tutoring for our youngest readers in grades K-5; and
• An online platform where community members can sign up to volunteer in Metro schools.
How You Can Help: If you want to make an investment in our city's young people, please visit PENCILforSchools.org. We welcome caring volunteers to encourage our youngest learners by being a Lunch or Reading Buddy, stock the shelves of our free educator resource center, share career insights with eager teenagers, host school supply drives, and more. We accept donations to support our programs as well as for our endowment fund, which will ensure PENCIL can link resources to MNPS forever.
PENCIL
7199 Cockrill Bend Boulevard Nashville, TN 37209
615.988.4928
Website: pencilforschools.org
Facebook: @pencil4schools
Instagram: @pencil4schools
President & CEO: Christiane Buggs cbuggs@pencil615.org
Who We Are: Half of U.S. high school graduates earn a postsecondary degree or credential. But in Metro Nashville, only one in four does. Persist Nashville, founded by a Nashville high school principal and a college counselor, set out to change that by leveraging technology to provide college persistence coaching at scale to low-income and firstgeneration college students.
What We Do: With a mission to double Nashville's college graduation rate, Persist empowers students to earn their degrees. Since launching in 2019, Persist students have achieved an 87% success rate, and more than 499 have earned a postsecondary degree or credential. Persist empowers college students across their postsecondary journey with targeted programs that support enrollment, retention, and career transition.
Why We're Important: Our work transforms statistics into success stories. Students who overcome barriers to earn their college degrees place their families on a trajectory of economic mobility. By investing in Persist, you create lasting economic and social impact in Nashville.
How We Serve the Community: Persist ensures MNPS students have the support they need to reach their full potential. We connect recent high school graduates with trained coaches who guide them through college, career, and life decisions. Leveraging personalized check-ins, workshops, and partnerships with local organizations, we
help students navigate financial, academic, and personal barriers that often derail college success.
Our impact doesn't stop at graduation! Persist equips students with the skills and confidence to become careerready adults who give back to their communities. By helping students persist, we strengthen families, grow Nashville's workforce, and create a more equitable, educated, and thriving city for all.
How You Can Help: At Persist Nashville, every dollar truly makes a difference. It costs just $770 a year to provide a student with one-on-one coaching, resources, and the encouragement needed to persist through college and into a meaningful career.
Your support directly transforms lives and strengthens our city's future. Visit givebutter.com/persist-nashvilleinc to give today. As a small but mighty team of five, we also welcome volunteers, community partners, and board members who share our passion for educational equity.
Persist Nashville
301 Plus Park Boulevard, Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37217
Website: persistcoaching.org
Facebook: @PersistNash
Instagram: @persistnashville
Threads: @persistnashville
Executive Director: Jennifer Hill jennifer@persistcoaching.org
PINSON HOSPITAL HOSPITALITY HOUSE
Who We Are: PHHH is an independent, IRS-approved 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. We are a 30-room medical housing facility in Nashville, helping critically ill patients and their families who live out of town with low-cost overnight lodging and other supportive services. Guests must have a referral from their social worker to stay at PHHH and must pass a background check. The most frequent medical issues seen at PHHH in 2024 include heart transplants (both adult and pediatric), stem cell transplants, cancer treatment (both adult and pediatric), micro-preemie babies, high-risk pregnancies, pregnancies with pending post-birth surgeries, trauma, and severe burns.
What We Do: PHHH helps patients and/or their families with overnight lodging and other supportive services. We have a 30,000-square-foot building in Nashville, with private rooms, lovely lounge areas, a large ADA-compliant commercial kitchen, a library, and laundry facilities. Meals are often provided when volunteers can supply them, and snacks and other food items are always available. We are open 24/7/365 with a nightly waiting list of 70-80 families.
Why We're Important: PHHH has provided overnight lodging in Nashville for 50 years. Opened in 1974, PHHH has provided services for over 670,000 nights, helping families in medical crisis from all 95 counties in TN, all 50 states, and 41 foreign countries. The medically homeless situation in Nashville is dire, and statistics tell us there are approximately 1,200 medically homeless people in Nashville nightly. The need for medical housing continues to rise with the flood of new state residents,
increased tourism, and a first-class hospital system that draws patients from all over the world.
How We Serve the Community: PHHH serves any critically ill patient or caregiver of any age with any lifethreatening diagnosis, mainly in the four categories of cancer, transplants, pediatrics (including NICU), and trauma. Most of our guests have income that falls below the US poverty line, with annual income of less than $21,000, so low-cost rates are vital ($35/night). Guests must live over 50 miles outside Nashville and may stay for an unlimited time as long as their patient is receiving medical treatment at least 3x/week. 80% of our families have their patients staying with them at PHHH. In 2023, we served 868 families and 1,743 individuals.
How You Can Help: Revenue comes from three main streams: overnight room rates, fundraising events, corporate sponsorships, and grant funding from private foundations. PHHH receives no state or federal funding. To donate, please go to our website at hhhnashville.org.
Pinson Hospital Hospitality House 214 Reidhurst Avenue Nashville, TN 37203
615.329.0477
Website: hhhnashville.org
Executive Director: Angie Stiff
Director of Development: Shannon Day
THE RAHM FOUNDATION
Who We Are: Dr. Christina Rahm founded The Rahm Foundation to promote greater educational and career opportunities for women, children, and minority populations while providing a better environment and outcomes for animals. Through her foundation, she and her team are committed to building brighter futures for those who have fewer opportunities–one project at a time.
What We Do: The Rahm Foundation, established in 2007 by Dr. Christina Rahm, champions equitable opportunities through mentorship, scholarships, and environmental initiatives. It empowers marginalized individuals—especially women, children, and single-parent families—with tailored mentorship, supporting over 30 mentees and awarding more than 15 scholarships. The foundation also drives environmental improvement via research, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable practices, and has donated over $500,000 to community art, health, athletic, and environmental causes. By collaborating with partners and leveraging generous giving, it aims to build a fairer, healthier world.
Why We're Important: The Rahm Foundation is vital because it bridges gaps in opportunity and equity for marginalized groups—particularly women, children, and single-parent families—through mentorship, scholarships, and environmental action. It empowers individuals to flourish personally and professionally, nurtures academic growth, and stewards environmental preservation to ensure a healthier planet. Its collaborative initiatives—supporting mental health, environmental projects, and education both locally and globally—amplify impact and resilience across communities.
How We Serve the Community: The Rahm Foundation serves communities by empowering underserved individuals.
It offers scholarships, professional guidance, and leadership development, helping people build sustainable futures. The foundation funds and participates in community projects spanning the arts, athletics, health, and wellness. Its environmental work includes supporting research, restoration efforts, and sustainability programs aimed at protecting ecosystems. By partnering with local and global organizations, the foundation amplifies resources and impact, fostering opportunities that break cycles of poverty and inequity. Its holistic approach strengthens communities socially, economically, and environmentally for long-term positive change.
How You Can Help: Individuals can support the Rahm Foundation through several meaningful ways: volunteering as mentors in its personalized one-on-one mentorship program—helping mentees navigate education, career paths, and personal development; donating items via its article-donation projects, such as clothing or furniture, to uplift households in need; contributing monetary donations to fund scholarships, environmental efforts, healthcare education, and global partnerships (e.g. with TN Voices, environmental nonprofits, and the Treasured Foundation); and advocating or partnering with the foundation to amplify its mission and resource reach.
The Rahm Foundation
393 Nichol Mill, Suite 250 Franklin, TN 37067
615.944.6878
Website: therahmfoundation.com
Instagram: @rahmfoundation
Executive Director: Dr. Christina Rahm drc@drchristinarahm.com
SADDLE UP!
Who We Are: Saddle Up!’s mission is to impact the lives of children and young adults with disabilities by providing opportunities to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational and recreational experiences with horses. We bring that mission to life by providing eight year-round programs on our 34-acre farm near Franklin, TN. What
What We Do: For 35 years, Saddle Up! has used the power of the horse to transform the lives of children and youth with a wide range of intellectual and physical disabilities. Saddle Up! operates with a small administrative and equine care staff and a dedicated group of part-time PATH-certified instructors and physical, occupational and speech therapists. Saddle Up! depends on more than 500 active volunteers providing over 15,000 hours of services annually. At Saddle Up!, our eight distinct programs make a profound lifelong impact on the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and mental abilities of our riders.
Why We're Important: Serving more than 350 participants each year, Saddle Up! provides a unique service. Our programming begins at age two, and riders can stay in Saddle Up! programs through age 25. Providing services across 23 years of life, and working with over 50 diagnosed disabilities, the breadth of our services is unique in our community. Each equine-assisted therapy, instruction, and recreation plan is uniquely tailored to the rider’s individual needs and goals, whether physical, cognitive, social, or emotional. Saddle Up! serves children and young adults who often do not respond to other types of therapy and cannot participate in traditional sports.
How We Serve the Community: Beyond the riders who are part of our eight mounted programs, Saddle Up! partners with community nonprofits serving individuals who are differently abled, neurodiverse, or at risk to offer Equine Assisted Learning opportunities to their participants. Through our "From the Ground Up" program, we maximize
our resources and share our facilities, experienced staff, and dedicated volunteers with schools, churches, and other nonprofits throughout Middle Tennessee.
How You Can Help: Saddle Up! is pleased to receive tax-deductible monetary gifts to be applied to our annual operating costs, which include the cost of programs, horse care and feeding, and facility and farm maintenance. Saddle Up!'s direct cost to provide a one-hour adaptive riding lesson is $219, yet no Saddle Up! family pays more than $35 per lesson. Over 30% of our riders receive financial aid. Your generous support addresses that gap.
• Join the Saddle Up! Hoofing Society, a community of donors who provide a significant foundation of giving each year with gifts of $1,000 or more.
• Donors may also choose to designate funds for financial aid, tack and equipment purchases, or other specific program expenses. We also depend upon the equine community for donations or free lease arrangements for suitable horses.
• The Pegasus Society includes those who have chosen to leave a legacy to the work of Saddle Up! and the children and young adults we serve. Please consider this gift to secure the future of Saddle Up! for hundreds of riders to come.
• Donations at saddleupnashville.org/how-you-can-help
Saddle Up!
1549 Old Hillsboro Road Franklin, TN, 37069-9136
615.794.1150
saddleupnashville.org
Facebook: SaddleUpNashville
Instagram: @saddleupnashville
Executive Director: Audrey Kidd
akidd@saddleupnashville.org
Board Chair: Brian Hubbard
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Who We Are: Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee opened its doors in 1978 as a central distribution center for companies, groups, and individuals who wished to help provide food to people experiencing food insecurity in Middle Tennessee. Today, we work with more than 600 Partners to distribute millions of pounds of food each year across our 46-county service area, and we've diverted 30.1 million pounds of quality food from landfills.
What We Do: Second Harvest looks beyond immediate needs to long-term transformation for both neighbors and our community. By providing food for today, food for tomorrow, and food for a lifetime, we not only meet urgent hunger needs but also reduce waste, empower people, and strengthen communities. Our services create stability, improve overall health, and foster resilience, so everyone has a chance to thrive.
Why We're Important: Second Harvest Food Bank does more than distribute food—it's an essential part of our work, but not the whole story. We believe in meeting people where they are, with compassion and acceptance, so they can access the resources they depend on. We build relationships, engage with our community, and advocate for change. Through strategic partnerships with other organizations, we connect our neighbors to services that support the whole person. We know a future without food insecurity is possible and are working diligently toward it—because everyone deserves consistent access to the nourishment they need to thrive.
How We Serve the Community: We are an integrated part of our community and the overall food system, partnering
with others to minimize food waste and help people access what they need to thrive. We receive donations of surplus food from individuals, grocery stores, manufacturers, distributors, and farmers to divert quality items from landfills and repurpose them for people experiencing food insecurity.
How You Can Help: You can make a difference by joining our mission to nourish and empower people so they can thrive. There are many ways to get involved — volunteer your time at one of our distribution centers or Mobile Pantries, attend one of our annual signature events, or make a donation of food or funds to help us continue our work across Middle and West Tennessee. You can also become an advocate for hunger relief by staying informed, sharing our mission with others, and engaging with us on social media or through our email list to help spread awareness and inspire change.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee 331 Great Circle Road Nashville, TN 37228
615.329.3491
Website: secondharvestmidtn.org
Facebook: @2harvestmidtn
Instagram: @2harvestmidtn
X: @2harvestmidtn
President & CEO: Nancy Keil
Board Chair: Neal Headden, Community President, First Citizens National Bank
Board Chair: Drew Berg
STARS
Who We Are: STARS is celebrating 40 years of hope, health, and connection! Established in 1984, the mission of STARS is to help young people pursue their unlimited potential by providing hope, health, and connection. This is achieved through innovative programs that center on prevention, intervention, treatment, and training. STARS offers schoolbased mental health services, substance misuse treatment, and community-based prevention and intervention.
What We Do: Our services are delivered in schools and community sites. Our mental health therapists and counselors provide individual and group therapy to K-12 students who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideation, and more. We offer free treatment services for young people aged 13-18 dealing with alcohol and drug abuse, as well as vaping. We also provide training and community-based prevention and treatment services to address the opioid epidemic and other health-related issues. These services focus on educating the faith and business communities, as well as the unhoused community, on overdose prevention.
Why We're Important: STARS helps over 100,000 youth each year by offering access to prevention, intervention, and treatment services in schools and communities. Our programs in 200-plus schools are absolutely free to the children, youth, and families we serve. Because these resources are embedded in schools, significant barriers to care (transportation, equitable access, financial resources, etc.) are immediately removed. Our substance abuse treatment services and community outreach programs have proven to save lives on a consistent basis. These services are accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
How We Serve the Community: We coordinate and collaborate with multiple school systems (10 districts in 8 counties) to support, care for, and treat mental health issues impacting young people. We provide overdose prevention training, the distribution of the life-saving Naloxone, and help for those seeking substance abuse treatment. In the past 12 months, STARS provided 473 trainings to 3,926 youth and 11,073 adults across the US, addressing bullying, opioid response, restorative practices, substance misuse, youth voice, and more.
How You Can Help: Donations to STARS can be made at www.starsnashville.org or mailed to our office address.
• $20 allows a student to participate in a prevention activity
• $125 allows a student to receive support to address a serious mental health crisis episode
• $350 allows a student to receive individual/group counseling services for an entire school year
• $1000 allows a student to receive mental health therapy for an entire semester
STARS
1704 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37203
Who We Are: Studio Tenn Theatre Company is a professional regional theatre company and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Middle Tennessee that exists to captivate and inspire with Broadway-quality musicals, plays, and concerts while educating the next generation to create and delight in the experience of live theatre. Studio Tenn is one of the most celebrated and well-attended theatre companies in the southeast, with last season seeing a remarkable 49% increase in patrons and students across all performances and programs.
What We Do: From our home at Turner Theater inside the Factory at Franklin, we bring world-class productions to our community. The 2025–26 season features Dracula, White Christmas, Deathtrap, Boeing Boeing, and Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Tony Award nominee Adam Pascal. Beyond the stage, we invest in the next generation through classes, camps, and outreach programs designed to ignite creativity and ensure the transformative power of the arts continues to thrive in Middle Tennessee.
Why We're Important: Theatre has the power to connect, challenge, and reflect the world around us. As a nonprofit, we bring this power to life by prioritizing access, education, and engagement through our professional productions on stage and dynamic educational programs off stage. For many audience members, Studio Tenn is their first experience with live theatre, and for local talent—including students from surrounding universities—our productions provide them with their first taste of professional work.
How We Serve the Community: Everyone deserves the chance to experience the magic of theatre. We work to remove barriers that can limit access to the arts. We offer ticket discounts to students, military members, veterans, and educators; give away 50 tickets annually to other nonprofits to support their causes; and provide sensoryfriendly and ASL-interpreted performances, ensuring theatre is welcoming for all. We also invest in the next
generation through our internship program, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at professional theatre. During our 15th season, we:
• Welcomed 23,400+ audience members.
• Increased our educational programming by 185%.
• Supported more than 210 artists & creatives.
How You Can Help: Studio Tenn exists thanks to the generosity of our community. Every ticket purchased, every story shared, and every dollar donated keeps the magic of theatre alive in Middle Tennessee. Get involved:
• Join us for a show & experience the power of live theatre.
• Spread the word—share your experience & invite a friend!
• Support financially with a one-time or recurring gift online at studiotenn.org/donate or by mailing a check to 2000 Mallory Lane, Suite 130-624, Franklin, TN 37067.
• Partner with us through a corporate sponsorship. Contact our Director of Development, Rachel Jones, at racheljones@studiotenn.com to learn more.
Artistic Director: Patrick Cassidy patrickcassidy@studiotenn.com
Director of Development: Rachel Jones racheljones@studiotenn.com
Interim Executive Director and Board Chair: Tony McAlister
TENNESSEE BREAST CANCER COALITION
Who We Are: At the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition (TBCC), our mission is simple but powerful: to stand as the leading advocate and resource for Tennesseans facing breast cancer. Through direct assistance, education, and legislative action, we work to ensure that no one faces this disease alone.
What We Do: Our cornerstone program, the Emergency Access Fund (EAF), provides crucial financial assistance to breast cancer patients across Tennessee. The fund helps cover essential living and medical expenses — including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, insurance premiums, and medical bills. Since its founding, the EAF has distributed nearly $1.4 million in aid to approximately 1,700 families, offering hope and stability when it’s needed most.
Why It Matters: A breast cancer diagnosis impacts far more than health — it touches every part of a person’s life and their loved ones’ lives. TBCC understands that maintaining stability during treatment is vital. The Emergency Access Fund offers immediate relief, helping patients avoid eviction, keep the lights on, and focus on healing rather than financial strain.
How We Serve Tennessee: The EAF provides one-time financial grants of up to $1,000 to Tennessee residents currently in active breast cancer treatment. Assistance helps
offset the financial challenges that come with lost wages and mounting medical costs, covering expenses like housing, utilities, insurance, and even specialized medical supplies such as lymphedema garments.
How You Can Make a Difference: TBCC relies on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community partners. Your support directly fuels our mission — whether through one-time or recurring donations, corporate sponsorships, or participation in our signature fundraising events like the Celebration of Life Golf Classic and Whiskey, Wine & Cider Night. Every contribution makes a tangible impact on the lives of Tennessee families facing breast cancer.
Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition 1451 Elm Hill Pike #108 Nashville, TN 37210
615.377.8777
Website: tbcc.org
Facebook: @Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition
Instagram: @tnbreastcancer
President: Jeanna McWilliams
Executive Director: Anne Smith anne@tbcc.org
TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (TPAC)
Who We Are: TPAC is where the arts and community live. We champion excellence in performance and education, support the work of our resident companies and community partners, and provide an inclusive home where everyone can share meaningful experiences that inspire, connect, and strengthen Tennessee's cultural and economic vitality. As the proud home of Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Nashville Repertory Theatre, TPAC celebrates the excellence of its resident companies while creating space for stories and voices that reflect the richness of the community.
What We Do: Each year, TPAC comes alive as thousands gather to experience the joy and connection of live performance. From the excitement of its Broadway series to the beauty of its dance series and the wonder of its family performances, TPAC creates unforgettable moments that inspire audiences of all ages. Since opening its doors in 1980, more than 14 million audience members and 2 million students and educators have been inspired through performances, education programs, and community engagement. Every experience at TPAC reflects its belief that the arts are for everyone and are essential to an inspired, connected, and thriving Tennessee.
Why We're Important: As a cornerstone of Tennessee's cultural landscape, TPAC champions excellence in the performing arts and arts education while serving as an inclusive home for creativity and community. Each season, TPAC presents world-class performances that inspire and connect audiences, while our nationally recognized education programs empower lifelong learning and open doors to the arts for students across the state. Through meaningful partnerships with schools, community organizations, and businesses, TPAC advances the arts, enriching lives, strengthening communities, and contributing to the cultural and economic vitality of our region.
How We Serve the Community: TPAC champions excellence in the performing arts while creating meaningful opportunities for all to experience and engage with the arts. TPAC's nationally recognized education
programs reach students across Tennessee at little or no cost, including Season for Young People performances, Disney Musicals in Schools residencies, and the Spotlight Awards celebrating high school theatre. Through the Arts Access program in partnership with Amazon, TPAC works with nonprofits, schools, senior centers, and community organizations to provide subsidized tickets, ensuring that audiences of all ages and backgrounds can share in the transformative power of the arts.
How You Can Help: TPAC thrives because of the generosity of our community. Every gift matters. Whether it's rounding up a ticket purchase, supporting a program, or contributing to the "Be Bold. Build TPAC." capital campaign or joining a giving society, every gift helps us inspire audiences, elevate diverse voices, and create meaningful experiences in the arts. For more than 40 years, TPAC has been a cultural cornerstone in Nashville, and it's the support of donors, partners, and our community that allows our mission to grow and reach even further.
Vice President of Leadership Giving: Diana Pelham dpelham@tpac.org
Vice President, Capital Campaign: Sara Pomeroy spomeroy@tpac.org
Vice President of Marketing and Communications: Caroline Mullins, cmullins@tpac.org
Board Chair/President: Melvin Malone
TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM FOUNDATION
Who We Are: The Tennessee State Museum Foundation offers nonprofit fundraising support for the mission of the Tennessee State Museum to procure, preserve, exhibit, and interpret objects which relate to the social, political, economic, and cultural history of Tennessee and Tennesseans, and to provide access to educational and cultural programs and exhibitions for the people of the state.
What We Do: Funds raised by the Tennessee State Museum Foundation help support the mission of the State Museum, but more specifically collection preservation by providing a resource for the State Museum to sustain a complete and wide-ranging collection; educational enrichment by making it possible to provide programs for all school groups without the cost of admission and underwriting workshops for teachers at a reduced fee; public outreach by supporting the Museum's efforts to engage a broad population throughout the statewide with on-site programs and attendance at events throughout Tennessee.
Why We’re Important: Private support for the Tennessee State Museum Foundation plays a critical role in advancing the Tennessee State Museum's education and community development, creating lasting opportunities for every citizen of the great State of Tennessee. The Foundation is the primary source of funding to augment Museum activities and further enhance the Museum’s ability to carry out their mission.
How We Serve the Community: All Tennessee State Museum learning opportunities meet the requirements of the Tennessee Department of Education’s Curriculum
Standards. From guided tours and hands-on history programs to first-person interpretation and other museum programs, the Tennessee State Museum animates history and makes the past accessible to all learners. The Tennessee State Museum Foundation's support makes it possible to provide programs for all school groups without the cost of admission and helps underwrites workshops for teachers at a reduced fee. The Museum's award-winning traveling trunk--a museum in-a-box--are available for schools in all 95 counties.
How You Can Help: Support the Tennessee State Museum through a direct monetary donation to the Tennessee State Museum Foundation; through sponsorship of select exhibitions and programs; by attending "A Tennessee Waltz" at the State Capitol in September (contact Nancy Russell at nancy.russell@tn.gov for more info); and by shopping at the Museum Store. Most importantly, by visiting the State Museum exhibitions and programs.
Tennessee State Museum
1000 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard Nashville, TN 37243
615.741.2692
Website: TNMuseum.org
Facebook: @Tennessee State Museum
Instagram: @tnstatemuseum
X: @tnstatemuseum
Executive Director: Ashley Howell
Board Chair: Tom Smith
UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE
Who We Are: United Way's mission is to unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual, and family thrives.
What We Do: With over a century of service, we're known for bringing together a network of resources with individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government decision-makers to develop, fund, and scale solutions that address our community's most pressing problems at their roots.
Why We're Important: We are trusted and effective. Charity Navigator has awarded us a 4 Star rating, and we have a Gold Transparency Level with Candid. Our average overhead ratio over the last five years is 9.1%.
How We Serve the Community: We partner with 180+ local nonprofit organizations working across our nine-county service area to ensure no one lives in poverty, all kids learn and succeed, everyone's basic needs are met, and families are healthy and strong. In addition to funding programs with local nonprofits, United Way supports and collaborates on initiatives that further our mission, such as the Financial Empowerment Center, VITA Free Tax Prep, Imagination Library, and 211. We are a proud member of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), a coalition of community organizations working to match nonprofit and volunteer support with the most pressing needs of survivors.
How You Can Help: We offer ways to get involved, give back, and engage with your community through special events, volunteer opportunities, affinity groups, workplace campaigns, and more. United Way's Tocqueville Society Alpha Chapter is an alliance of community and business leaders who work collectively to address our community's most pressing needs by investing in the work of United Way. First envisioned in 1981 by Dr. Thomas F. Frist Jr., the Tocqueville Society has evolved into a global network of like-minded leaders. Since its inception, members have invested $10+ billion in United Way's work worldwide and over $175 million in Nashville.
United Way of Greater Nashville
250 Venture Circle
Nashville, TN 37228
615.255.8501
Website: unitedwaygreaternashville.org
Facebook: @UWNashville
Instagram: @UWNashville
X: @UWNashville
President & CEO: Erica Mitchell
Chief Development Officer: Courtney Barlar
Board Chair: Lee Blank
YOUTH ENCOURAGEMENT SERVICES
Who We Are: The mission of Youth Encouragement Services (YES) is to enrich the lives of Nashville's youth by providing opportunities that encourage them to reach their full potential spiritually, academically, socially, and physically through daily programming in a Christcentered community.
What We Do: Youth Encouragement Services (YES) provides a safe and supportive environment where kids from South Nashville's underserved communities can thrive. Through after-school programs, literacy interventions, summer camps, mentoring, and enrichment activities, YES helps youth build academic skills, develop character, and gain confidence for a brighter future. By meeting basic needs and fostering strong relationships, YES empowers young people to reach their full potential—from the moment they enter school through their transition to adulthood.
Why We're Important: Youth Encouragement Services (YES) is vital to the fabric of Nashville because it provides opportunity where it's needed most. While many children face barriers that limit their potential, YES offers access to quality after-school care, mentorship, and enrichment programs that open doors to academic success and personal growth. For more than 70 years, YES has been a steady presence for families in South Nashville, helping youth overcome obstacles and envision a brighter future. Supporting YES isn't just charitable—it's an investment in the next generation of leaders who will strengthen our community for years to come.
How We Serve the Community: Youth Encouragement Services (YES) is vital to Nashville because it provides opportunity where it's needed most. Many children face barriers that limit their ability to dream, but YES offers hope and community. Through quality after-school care, mentorship, and enrichment programs, students gain the tools for lifelong success and a place where they belong. For nearly 70 years, YES has been a steady presence for families in South Nashville, helping youth overcome
obstacles and envision brighter futures. Supporting YES isn't just charitable—it's an investment in the next generation of leaders who will strengthen our community for years to come.
How You Can Help: You can make a lasting impact by supporting Youth Encouragement Services (YES) and the children we serve. Volunteers are needed to mentor students, help with after-school activities, and assist at community events. In-kind donations such as school supplies, snacks, and holiday gifts also make a meaningful difference. Monetary contributions directly fund programs that provide hope, education, and opportunity for Nashville youth. Whether you give your time, resources, or financial support, every act of generosity helps YES continue its 70-year mission to empower the next generation.
Each December, Youth Encouragement Services (YES) hosts the annual YES Christmas Store, a heartwarming event dedicated to bringing holiday cheer to families in South Nashville. This festive initiative allows parents from YES and partner agencies to "shop" for free, selecting toys, clothing, books, and household items for their children. With the support of generous sponsors and volunteers, the store aims to provide a joyful and dignified shopping experience, ensuring that every child has gifts to unwrap on Christmas morning. The event fosters a sense of community and compassion, embodying the spirit of giving. Toy drives, donations, and volunteers are welcome!
May Hands On Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards (United Way of Greater Nashville)
May
Warner Parks Spring Luncheon (Friends of Warner Parks)
May Hellbender on the River (Cumberland River Compact)
JUNE
1 Rock 'n Jock Celebrity Softball Game (Folds of Honor)
2 Stars for Second Harvest (Second Harvest)
8 Golf Outing (Faith Family Medical Center)
27 One Night Only (Studio TENN)
June Root Nashville Tree Ordering (through 8/31) (Cumberland River Compact)
June Music in the Meadow (Owl's Hill)
June Tom Murphy Golf Classic (Interfaith Dental)
June Midsummer Night (Nashville Shakespeare Festival)
JULY
17-19
30, 31 + 8/1
Lemonade Challenge Weekend (Isaiah 117 House)
L'ete du Vin (Nashville Wine Auction)
July-August College Con (Persist Nashville)
July Stuff the Bus (United Way of Greater Nashville)
July-August
AUGUST
15
16
17
24
Reading Role Model Sign-up-Reading is Fundamental (Book'em)
Free Dental Day at Northfield Church in Gallatin (Hope Smiles)
Broadway Brunch (Nashville REP)
30th Annual Celebration of Life Golf Classic (TBCC)
Freedom Invitational Golf Tournament (Folds of Honor)
27 Public Schools Hall of Fame (Nashville Public Education Foundation)
August First Day of School (United Way of Greater Nashville)
August Back to School Breakfast (PENCIL)
August Annual Veterans Exhibition and Boots & BBQ for Healing Arts (Monthaven Arts)
August Sunrise to Success First Gen Breakfast (Persist Nashville)
August Salsa for Scholarships (ECE)
August Shakespeare in the Park (Nashville Shakespeare Festival)
SEPTEMBER
12 30th Annual Chukkers for Charity (Saddle Up!)
12 American Brain Foundation Gala (American Brain Foundation)
17 Cause for Paws (Nashville Humane Association)
18 Sunset Safari (Nashville Zoo)
Society CHARITY CALENDAR
26 Tennessee Waltz (Tennessee State Museum)
September Fall Benefit Luncheon (The Next Door Recovery)
September Songwriter's Night (Gilda's Club)
September 19th Annual Golf Classic (Gilda's Club)
September Annual Dinner (FrankTown Open Hearts)
September Hummingbird Happy Hour (Friends of Warner Parks)
September Dinner in the Forest (Owl's Hill)
September Picnic for the Parks (Nashville Parks Foundation)
September Shakespeare in the Park (Nashville Shakespeare Festival)
September Annual Breakfast Celebration and Fundraiser (Book'em)
OCTOBER
17 25th Anniversary Gala (Faith Family Medical Center)
18 Dog Day Festival (Nashville Humane Association)
22 Whiskey, Wine, Mocktails and More! (TBCC)
October The Golden Hour : Moments that Matter (Nashville Zoo)
October Young Leaders Society "Networking Over Nashville" (United Way of Greater Nashville)
October Hands On Nashville Volunteer Week (United Way of Greater Nashville)
October Music in the Meadow (Owl's Hill)
October Story Behind the Smiles Breakfast-Nashville (Interfaith Dental)
October Principal For a Day (PENCIL)
October Farm to Table(aux) (STARS)
October Blue Ribbon Teacher Award Ceremony (Nashville Public Education Foundation)
October Patrons' Luncheon (Pinson Hospital Hospitality House)
October Light the Night (Blood Cancer United)
October Branching Out Fashion Show & Tea Party (Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee)
October Nashville Praise Symphony Concert (Nashville Rescue Mission)
NOVEMBER
November 9th Annual Songwriters' Night (The Next Door Recovery)
November Recital Performance (MOVE Inclusive Dance)
November Girl's Night Out (Faithfully Restored)
November Flying Monkey Marathon & Half Marathon (Friends of Warner Parks)
November Literary Award Gala (Nashville Public Library Foundation)
November Leaders United Holiday Party (United Way of Greater Nashville)
November Story Behind the Smiles Dinner-Murfreesboro (Interfaith Dental)
November Tracy Lawrence Mission: Possible Turkey Fry & Concert (Nashville Rescue Mission)
November Great Thanksgiving Banquet & Life Recovery Celebration (Nashville Rescue Mission)
November-December Reading Role Model Sign-up-Ready for Reading (Book'em)
November-February 2027 Zoolumination Lantern Festival (Nashville Zoo)
DECEMBER
13 YES Christmas Store (Youth Encouragement Services)
December Christmas Shopping with the FrankTown Kids (FrankTown Open Hearts)
December Merry Monthaven Christmas (Monthaven Arts)
December Sparkling Settings (Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee)
SPRING
Society CHARITY CALENDAR
Sparkle for Smiles (Jiselle Lauren Foundation)
Songwriters' Night (FrankTown Open Hearts)
Employment & Internship Fair (Persist Nashville)
SUMMER
Stands for Smiles (Jiselle Lauren Foundation)
Closet Sale Fundraiser (Rahm Foundation)
FALL
Scramble for Smiles (Jiselle Lauren Foundation)
3rd Annual Somm Showdown (Nashville Wine Auction)
Golf Tournament (Isaiah 117 House)
Sunday in the Park (Friends of Warner Parks)
Employment & Internship Fair (Persist Nashville)
Shakespeare Education Experience Tour (Nashville Shakespeare Festival)
Impact Awards (Goodwill Industries)
May-September Full Moon Pickin' Parties (Friend of Warner Parks)
ONGOING
Scholarship Programs (Rahm Foundation)
Mentorship Programs (Rahm Foundation)
Community Giveback Initiatives (Rahm Foundation)
Partnership Events (Rahm Foundation)
The listings on this calendar serve as a snapshot of the many fundraisers and special events hosted by Sophisticated Giving’s partner organizations to support their vital missions. For the most up-to-date details and confirmed dates, please refer to Sophisticated Living’s Society Calendar as event dates approach.
