Community Profit: The Potent Combination of Nonprofit Mission and Real Estate

Nashville’s thriving nonprofit sector is transforming real estate into engines of community impact! This tour explores how organizations creatively reuse their buildings and lead with new construction to power their missions, address urgent social needs, and strengthen neighborhoods. 

The journey begins at the Tennessee Justice Center, where office space doubles as a hub for families and a platform for advocacy. At the Nashville Rescue Mission Women’s Campus, see how design and operations come together to provide housing and recovery for women in crisis. The tour then visits Inspiritus’s new mixed-use housing project that demonstrates how purpose-built environments can expand nonprofit capacity and long-term outcomes. 

Next, stop at the Nashville Food Project, where kitchens, gardens, and distribution centers are intentionally designed to fuel large-scale food security efforts. Finally, experience Thistle Farms, a nationally recognized social enterprise that combines manufacturing and retail to sustain recovery and empowerment for women survivors. 

Along the way, gain insights into the real estate strategies—site selection, financing, design, and partnerships—that help nonprofits turn physical spaces into mission-driven assets for lasting community impact.