About Us
Today’s plans
Tomorrow’s impact.
Help is Our Goal
Who We Serve
Since 1938, thousands of Tennessee Baptists church members and leaders have turned to the Tennessee Baptist Foundation to help bless the next generation.
Individuals
Through for faith-based estate planning and planned giving church members acknowledge the needs of their families, as well as their own church, association and other Baptist institutions by placing a portion of their estates in trust to meet these needs.
Churches and Associations
Through investment and financing services, the TBF helps our Baptist churches, associations and institutions build strong bridges to the future. Partnering with both Tennessee Baptist church members and institutions, we strive to advance the Church by investing in its people and helping them fulfill the Great Commission.
Who We Are
We are the Tennessee Baptist Foundation.
We are a 501(c)3 corporation chartered by the State of Tennessee and directed by a 15-member Board of Trustees elected by The Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Our Staff
Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer
Tod Tanner, Ed.D.
ttanner@tnbaptist.org
Board of Trustees 2023-2024
The Board of Trustees for the Tennessee Baptist Foundation are elected by the Convention and charged with giving oversight to the integrity and work of the Foundation. Each trustee is an active member of his or her local Baptist church. Because the Foundation is a financial institution its board members are heavily weighted from various financial backgrounds. Our trustees do a marvelous job blending and balancing the spiritual nature of our task with sound financial policies and practices.
Trustees
The Foundation needs qualified and competent people to help promote its work with Tennessee Baptists, ensure accountability to Tennessee Baptists, establish and oversee policies by which the Foundation operates and monitor the investment and management of funds entrusted to the Foundation’s care. Trustees are expected to:
- Attend orientation planned by The Tennessee Baptist Convention as well as an orientation session planned by the Foundation.
- Attend the Annual Trustee’s Meeting in December, Semi Annual Meeting in May, as well as any other meeting which might be necessary.
- Support the work and ministry of the Foundation with their prayers, time, and expertise.
- Serving as a Foundation trustee is both an honor and a sacred trust. The counsel and faithful service of the trustees greatly strengthens the Foundation’s work. The confidence, support and friendship of those we serve are essential to the Foundation’s ministry and progress.
Why We Exist
Our Purpose
The Tennessee Baptist Foundation is an institution of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the charitable giving arm of Tennessee Baptists. The TBF has been connecting church members to Baptist institutions, agencies and causes since 1938.
It’s purpose is to assist Tennessee Baptists, churches and the Convention to lay a strong foundation under those institutions, causes and agencies supported by the churches of The Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Partners
As a proud partnering organization of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention we extend our appreciation to all the institutions working toward our common goals.
Trustees
Richard Carnes is a member of Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, TN. He has served as a TBF Trustee since 2023. He is married to Karen and they have two married sons, Jay and Chip, along with several grandchildren. Richard recently retired as President & CEO of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation after serving for several years. He is a Certified Financial Planner and also worked for PNC Bank as Senior Portfolio Manager. He was active in the Kentucky Baptist Convention and after coming to Tennessee, he is serving at Brentwood Baptist Church in their Senior Adult ministry. He has also been a deacon in his local church in the past.
Corey Bingham is a member of First Baptist Church, Lexington, TN. He has served as a TBF trustee since 2023. He is married to Whitney and they have two sons, Preston and Cooper. Corey is a Senior Relationship Manager for Carroll Bank & Trust. Corey has served his church as deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Stewardship Committee Chairman and also served on the Beech River Baptist Association Board. He is active in coaching his sons in youth football, basketball and baseball.
Donna Willis is a long-time member of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, TN. She has served as a TBF trustee since 2024. She is a Certified Public Accountant with Rodefer Moss and Co, PLLC. She has served her church in the Children, Youth, and Singles ministries. She has also been Chair of the Finance Committee, member of the Minister Search team and has been on numerous mission trips with Forest Hills Baptist. She has served her community with the Be the People Project and Hope House International.
Nathan Velasquez is the Pastor of Lavergne Community Church, Lavergne, TN. Lavergne Community Church has five different people groups meeting in their facility each week. He is married to Karina and they have two children, Gabriela and Nathaly. Nathan is from Venezuela and was a Certified Public Accountant there. After a Call to Ministry, Nathan got his Doctorate in Theology. He was involved with Venezuela Baptist Convention and now has served in Tennessee as part of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and been President of the Hispanic Fellowship.
Bob Alvey is a member of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN. He has served as a TBF Trustee for 6 years. He is married to Amy and has two children Meredith and Rob. Bob is a retired engineer from the Procter & Gamble Company, and currently owns a manufacturing consulting company. Bob enjoys serving on the TBF Trustee Board because of its mission to do Kingdom work through its commitment to scholarships and special projects to serve people and be a witness for Christ.
Joe Brasher has been a member of Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson, for the last four years after serving the previous 30 years at First Baptist Church, Sharon. He has served as TBF Trustee for five years. He is married to Phyllis and they have three children; Betsy, Cindy, and Joseph; and two grandchildren. Joe retired from banking, trust, and investment management in 2014. He serves as a TBF Trustee because of the opportunity that service allows for him to utilize his professional skills and experiences to benefit TBF beneficiaries and support the growth of TBF’s service across Tennessee.
Laura Byrd is a member of West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, TN. She has served as a TBF Trustee for 4 years. She is married to Charles and has three children: Margaret Anne, Holloway, and Grace. Laura is a Vice President for Commercial Bank & Trust in Jackson, TN. She has been involved with several community organizations in Jackson and served in her church on the Finance Committee and as a Wednesday night teacher and counselor for elementary church camps. She enjoys serving on the TBF Trustee Board and is the secretary of the Trustees serving on the Executive Committee, Loan Committee and Special projects Committee. Her hobbies include reading, spending time with family, and trips to Disney World.
Dennis R. Culbreth is the Director of Missions for the Hamilton County Baptist Association in Chattanooga, TN. He and his wife are members of Stuart Heights Baptist Church in Chattanooga. He has served on the TBF Board for two years. He is married to Marybeth and they have three children: Andrew, Matthew, and Grace. All three kids are married and they have three grandchildren. Dennis enjoys being a part of the TBF because of the Kingdom impact it continues to have in providing scholarships and meeting the financial needs of our Southern Baptist Churches.
Joe Day has served for seven years as a board member of the TBF. He has been married to his wife, Kay, for over 30 years, and they have two adult children: a son, Ethan; who is a Marine Corps officer stationed in California; and a daughter, Bethany; who is an SICU Nurse at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. Joe is a retired US Naval Submarine Officer (24 years), and is an ordained minister who has served churches in Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee. He served as a Church Business Administrator for 18 years. He is currently an active member of the First Baptist Church in Cleveland, TN. He enjoys serving as a Board Member because of the broad range of ministries that are supported by the Tennessee Baptist Foundation.
My name is Bobby Hancock, and I am humbly honored to be serving my second TBF term. In 1971, God allowed the greatest person, next to Jesus, to enter my life and heart. Her name is Vickie, and on February 7, 2021, we have been married for 50 years! God richly blessed us with two children. Leslie is our adopted daughter (one week old), and she has two children, Zayne and Aly. Then God blessed us with Lacey. She is our special needs daughter, and always says “I love my life!” If everyone loved Jesus like Lacey loves Jesus, what a wonderful world.
Phil Jones is a member of The Gathering @ 840 in Franklin, TN. He has served as a TBF Trustee for four years. He is married to Donna and has two children, Janice and Derek. Phil is a retired church administrator and served in several churches in Tennessee: First Baptist Church of Hendersonville; Judson Baptist Church, Nashville; and The Gathering @ 840 Franklin, TN. Phil enjoys serving on the TBF Trustee Board because of its mission to do Kingdom work through its commitment to scholarships and special projects to serve people and be a witness for Christ. He is a native of Louisiana and his hobbies include golf and carpentry.
Chad Keaton is a member of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville, where he serves as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher. Chad also enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and coaching Upward basketball. He has served as a TBF Trustee for 17 years. Chad is married to Lisa and has two children, Clay and Emily. He serves as a Wealth Management Advisor for Northwestern Mutual.
Chris R. Pass Sr. is a Southern Baptist Pastor at Grandview Baptist Church. He has been married 38 years to his best friend and wife Cydney. They have one son, Christopher, a wonderful daughter in law, Amy, both whom are graduates of U.T. Chris is on his first year of service with the TBF Board of Trustees and enjoys serving because the organization allows him to experience firsthand the efforts of the TBF to encourage and teach great stewardship for our future generations and God’s kingdom.
Tracy Russell, along with his wife Bedelia and two teenage daughters, are active members of Cookeville First Baptist Church. Tracy works as a Certified Financial Planner professional at One Investment of Tennessee, helping individuals reach their individual and family financial goals. Tracy is in his second year of service with the TBF Board of Trustees and finds great joy in seeing the positive financial impact to numerous Baptist entities and individuals, made available by the generosity and stewardship of fellow believers.
