This brief examines recent shifts in the Tennessee nonprofit workforce, including employee vacancies and their impact, and recent and anticipated staffing changes.

Key Findings

• Forty-four percent of staffed Tennessee nonprofits reported employee vacancies in 2025.
• Many Tennessee nonprofits reported that employee vacancies negatively affected their ability to pursue their missions, but they were less likely than those in peer states and across the country to report this (64 percent versus 74 percent and 72 percent, respectively).
• Tennessee nonprofits were more likely than nonprofits nationwide to increase their total number of employees in early 2025 (22 percent versus 16 percent).
• As of early 2025, Tennessee nonprofits were more likely than those in peer states and across the country to anticipate hiring new staff in the next 12 months (43 percent versus 36 percent and 38 percent, respectively).

How We Did It

The data we analyze in this brief come from the Nonprofit Trends and Impacts Study, which provides nationally representative insights about nonprofit programs and services, staff and volunteers, fundraising, donations, finances, government engagement, and more.