Our History

Across the country and the state, including Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga, nonprofit centers help restore public confidence and increase community support in the nonprofit sector.

In the fall of 2013, a task force comprised of community leaders was formed to create the Alliance for Better Nonprofits (ABN), a nonprofit center designed to serve all nonprofits in the 25-county upper East Tennessee region.

Studies of the nation’s most effective nonprofit resource and training centers were conducted and a business model was drafted based on this research. A founding board of directors officially incorporated ABN in October 2014, and the first three staff members were hired in the spring of 2015. ABN officially opened its doors to the nonprofit sector in September 2015.

In November 2021, ABN merged with the United Way of Greater Knoxville and Volunteer East Tennessee to organize resources more efficiently and increase overall nonprofit capacity in Knoxville more collaboratively.

Today, ABN provides 400+ East Tennessee nonprofits with support to accomplish their missions and increase their impact, ensuring all East Tennesseans across diverse communities, cultures, and generations can reach their full potential.