Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP)

Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP) is an environmentalist organization that advocates training “a new generation of ‘grassroots leadership” to promote left-of-center climate policy. It also provides community services such as a book club, art activism projects, and leadership development programs. 1

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Environmental Policy
Website: www.taptn.org
Formation:

2021

Location: Nashville, TN View on map
Tax ID: 03-0475220
Most Recent Filing: 2021
Budget (2021): Assets: $12,444 Revenue: $32,730 Expenses: $25,090

Contents

    Background

    The Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP) is a nonprofit group founded in 2021 to develop a “prosperous, sustainable economy that benefits all Tennesseans” through training “a new generation of ‘grassroots leadership” meant to promote left-of-center environmentalist policies within the state. According to its website, a key focus of its advocacy is through promoting “climate justice.” 1

    Programs and Initiatives

    According to its website, Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP) hosts an “Art and Activism Project” led by Neil Levin, TAP’s former executive director, that hosts events such as live concerts featuring songs by Joe Hill, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The site also promoted the Nashville branch of Black Lives Matter’s street mural. 2

    TAP also hosts a Book Club, via an online book shop, featuring books on environmental and social justice including Emerald Cities by Joan Fitzgerald and Power Trip by Amanda Little. 3

    According to the “About” page for Climate Nashville (CN) website, Dan Joranko, who is listed as a member of TAP’s board of directors, is listed as the group’s person of contact and lists TAP as a “convening organization” under Partners. Other listed CNC partners include Sierra Club‘s Beyond Coal Campaign and Middle TN Group, the Tennessee Environmental Council, Nashville Peace & Justice Center, American Muslim Advisory Council, and Nashville Home Energy Solutions. 4

    Activities

    Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP) collaborates with Sierra Club in multiple activities including Climate Nashville a coalition which publicly criticized Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s privatization as a “corporate power grab” and membership in the Southeast Climate & Energy Network (SCEN) that promoted the Green New Deal (GND) while advocating ending “new dirty energy projects.” 5 6

    In March 2024, the TAP Facebook page released a statement praising the unveiling of a new mural in San Pedro, CA dedicated Joe Hill and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) as well as the 1923 “major general strike and subsequent repression of workers.” 7 Earlier, in February 2023 their Facebook page promotes a “Joe Hill Road Show” taking place on March 1 in Memphis, TN to teach attendees “the story of labor activist and songwriter Joe Hill and the early U.S labor movement.” 8

    Financials

    According to its latest tax filing from 2021, Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP) reported a revenue of $32,715, expenses of $25,090, and net assets of $12,444. 9

    Leadership

    According to its latest 2021 tax return, Grayce Gadson is listed as chairperson and director of Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP) while her LinkedIn profile states she served as president of the group from December 2019 to September 2021. She is also listed as the IPS Supervisor for Dismas House of Nashville’s Individual Placement and Support program for “people diagnosed with mental illness. Gadson became “a core member of the local Black Lives Matter” in 2014 according to the Nashville Scene’s July 14, 2020, edition and has previously been listed as a member, organizer and spokesperson for Black Lives Matter (BLM) Nashville. 10 11 12

    Darrel Bouldin is listed as a board member for TAP. Bouldin previously worked as a regional organizer at Bread for the World, was on the LGBT Advisory Board of the Democratic Party National Committee, and a delegate for the 2012 and 2016 Democratic Party National Convention. Bouldin also founded the New Leaders Council Nashville and is board member of Emerging ChangeMakers Network. 13

    Emily Richardson is also listed as a board member for TAP. Richardson was previously with several environmentalist groups including the Sierra Club and Transition Nashville. In addition, as of 2026 she works for New Product Development at Music City Metals. 13

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2021 $12,444 $32,730 $25,090 View
    2020 $4,804 $18,035 $15,507 View
    2019 $2,276 $18,689 $18,842 View
    2018 $2,596 $24,867 $25,415 View
    2017 $3,143 $21,731 $22,169 View

    Prior year filings: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $159,977
    • Number of Grants: 13
    • Number of Funders: 7

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “About: Tap-Tennessee.” TAP. Accessed February 6, 2026. https://www.taptn.org/about.
    2. “Art & Activism: TAP-Tennessee.” TAP. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.taptn.org/events.
    3. “Bookshop: Tap-Tennessee.” tap. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.taptn.org/bookshop.
    4. “About.” Climate Nashville. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.climatenashville.org/about
    5. “Host of Organizations Strongly Oppose Privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority: Public Power Belongs to the People.” Sierra Club, July 18, 2025. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2025/07/host-organizations-strongly-oppose-privatization-tennessee-valley-authority
    6. “SCGND.” Southeast Climate &. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.scen-us.org/scgnd.
    7. “Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP): Nashville TN.” Facebook. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeAllianceForProgress.
    8. [1] “Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP): Nashville TN.” Facebook. Accessed February 6, 2026. https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeAllianceForProgress.
    9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Tennessee Alliance for Progress. 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/30475220/202202709349200805/full
    10. Basham, Bailey. “Online Activism Has Made Social Movements More Accessible.” Nashville Scene, January 5, 2022. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/online-activism-has-made-social-movements-more-accessible/article_d9f20c0e-01e2-5e25-9cc6-128007a1240b.html.
    11. Terada, Natalie Allison and Souichi. “Black Lives Matter Demands Police Oversight Board in Friday Night Rally.” The Tennessean, July 14, 2018. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/07/13/nashville-black-lives-matter-hold-rally-police-oversight-board/783259002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115736e1188xxv115736d–63–b–63–&gca-ft=145&gca-ds=sophi.
    12. Ciccarone, Erica, and Photo: Erica Ciccarone. “Black Lives Matter Rallies for Community Oversight Board.” Nashville Scene, May 4, 2021. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithinthewind/black-lives-matter-rallies-for-community-oversight-board/article_5243e21c-67e1-5dbb-b822-f111bfedaaf8.html.
    13. “Board of Directors: TAP-Tennessee.” tap. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.taptn.org/board-of-directors