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2026-2027 Advocacy Cohort Application

Tennessee Nonprofit Network, in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence of Middle Tennessee and the National Council of Nonprofits, is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Advocacy Cohort, a new 10-month program designed to support nonprofits in strengthening their advocacy capacity. This program is a learning experience that equips nonprofit professionals with the essential knowledge and skills to advocate for their missions and communities effectively.

This program pairs world-class expert training with hands-on, practical application to help your organization effectively champion its mission.

The cohort is strictly limited to 12 organizations (with 1 primary representative per organization) to ensure deep, individualized support.

Why Join the Cohort?

Expert-Led Deep Dives: Gain access to monthly 90-minute virtual sessions and three in-person convenings led by advocacy professionals.

1-on-1 Professional Coaching: Every participant is paired with a professional advocacy coach for three hours of tailored, tactical feedback.

Real-World Impact: Instead of just learning theory, you will design and execute a customized Advocacy Project tailored to your mission (e.g., a bill or regulatory change, internal policies, or an active campaign).

Ideal Candidate/Requirements:
  • Currently work at a nonprofit in Tennessee
  • Ability/Willingness to commit to a 10-month program
  • Willingness to attend all in-person and virtual sessions
  • Willingness to complete assignments between sessions

Cost:
Thanks to the generous support of the National Council of Nonprofits, the participant's fee is only $25.

If you are interested in participating in the 2026-2027 Advocacy Cohort, please apply here.

Deadline to apply is Friday, July 17th, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact the Advocacy Team at advocacy@tnnonprofits.org.

Important Dates:
*In-person session will be held at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence of Middle Tennessee (1610 54th Ave N #225, Nashville, TN 37209).
  • Application Opens: June 15th, 2026
  • Application Closes: July 17th, 2026
  • Cohort Information Session: June 16th, 2026 (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CST, Virtual)
  • Orientation: August 10th, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Advocacy Training: August 14th, 2026 (9:00 AM - 2:30 PM CST, In Person)
  • Session 1: September 10th, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Session 2: October 21st, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Session 3: November 19th, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Session 4: December 17th, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Session 5: January 21st, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Session 6: February 18th, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Advocacy Summit: Tuesday, February 23rd (All Day, In Person, TBD)
  • Nonprofit Day on the Hill: Wednesday, February 24th (All Day, In Person, State Capitol)
  • Session 7: March 18th, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Session 8: April 15th, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM CST, Virtual)
  • Graduation: May 13th, 2026 (9:00 AM - 12:30 PM CST, In Person)
Section 1: Applicant Information
1.Who is applying for Advocacy Cohort?(Required.)
2.Which part of the state do you primarily serve and work in?(Required.)
3.Race
4.What is your gender?
5.Why do you want to participate in this program?(Required.)
Section 2: Advocacy Project Idea


Please note: You do not have to be completely locked into this project yet, but it helps us understand your goals!
6.Briefly describe the advocacy project, goal, or issue your organization is interested in pursuing during this cohort. (Examples include: drafting a specific bill/regulatory change, creating internal advocacy policies, launching a public awareness campaign, etc.)
Section 3: Schedule, Commitment, & Fee Confirmation

To ensure the integrity and success of the cohort, regular participation is critical. Please review the schedule above.
7.Attendance Confirmation: I confirm that I am available to attend and actively participate in all the scheduled cohort dates, virtual modules, and in-person events listed above.(Required.)
8.Program Fee Acknowledgment: I understand that if my organization is accepted into the cohort, a program fee of $25 will be due to secure our spot.(Required.)
9.Commitment Disclaimer: Because spots in this cohort are strictly limited to 12 organizations and the program is valued at $2,300, we require a firm commitment to complete the full term. By agreeing below, your organization acknowledges that if it fails to complete the program, it will be held responsible for reimbursing the Tennessee Nonprofit Network (TNN) the full program cost of $2,300.(Required.)