The Beacon Center of Tennessee is a free market think tank. They pursue policy initiatives that empower Tennesseans to reclaim control of their lives, so that they can freely pursue their version of the American dream.
The Beacon Center is a mission-driven nonprofit with big impact. Their work directly impacts people's lives. Every time they pick an initiative -- whether it's to reform education, healthcare, employment, taxes, or criminal justice -- it is connected to real-life Tennesseans. The Beacon Center even has a wall in their office with pictures of those whose lives they are fighting to improve through better public policy.
One of the pictures on that wall is of Amanda Wilcox. In large part to the Beacon Center's efforts, Tennessee was one of the first states to pass a Right to Try law -- named for Amanda -- that allows individuals with terminal illness to try medications that aren't yet approved by the FDA. Due to the pressures of states passing Right to Try, this policy has now passed at a federal level. The Beacon Center was honored to fight such an important battle.
The Beacon Center team is small but mighty. They only have 10 full-time staff. But they are serious about their mission of empowering Tennesseans to reclaim control of their lives and are driven by a culture of success. Executive VP Stephanie Whitt says, "We punch above our weight and impact a lot of people's lives." The Beacon Center is there when you need them, and if policy changes in the legislative branch can't help their clients, they are ready to jump in and help with pro-bono legal representation with their two full-time staff attorneys.
Like many nonprofit organizations, the Beacon Center has a small, diverse staff. Everyone has their key responsibilities, but they are all ready to jump in and help. They tackle big, crazy ideas, and they know that every area -- from communications to marketing to research to litigation -- is important to the Beacon Center's mission. Even with all of the cross-group collaboration, the Beacon Center has great work-life balance. They work a traditional Monday through Friday schedule, but they also get 24 remote days every year plus 20 vacation days, as well as paid holidays. In addition, Beacon Center leadership is also very flexible in regards to scheduling when unexpected events happen. Given this culture, the Beacon Center was recently named on of Nashville's best places to work.
