Tina Greene builds Nana’s Foundation around faith, mentorship and community

Tina Greene, founder of Nana’s Foundation, Inc., is using faith-based mentorship and community partnerships to support women across generations. Her work highlights a growing need for connection, practical resources and nonprofit collaboration as organizations face fundraising pressure.

Why it matters: - Tina Greene is building a nonprofit model centered on women helping women through mentorship, spiritual support and community connection. - Nana’s Foundation, Inc. focuses on mental health and wellness, education, vocational support and relationships. - Greene’s approach targets isolation by creating spaces where women can find guidance, resources and a sense of belonging.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Tina (Nelson) Greene, the Executive Director and Founder of Nana’s Foundation, Inc. - Greene leads a faith-based organization designed to help women discover identity, purpose and spiritual growth. - Greene also owns MawMaw’s Baked Goods, where she makes homemade baked goods from scratch. - Greene recently earned a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Regent University. - Greene’s earlier career included business administration, retail, insurance management and work in the culinary industry.

The details: - Nana’s Foundation is rooted in biblical principles, including Titus 2 and Proverbs 31. - Greene describes herself as a “connector” who brings people and resources together instead of duplicating existing services. - The foundation emphasizes mentorship, wellness, education and relationships. - Greene works with organizations, ministries and community leaders to expand access to support and services. - Greene says her leadership was shaped by her grandmother, her “second mamas,” church mothers and neighborhood mothers after her mother died when Greene was 5. - Greene says that village mentality inspired Nana’s Foundation. - Greene spent years in formal, male-dominated workplaces, often as the only woman and the only Black woman in the room. - Greene later moved into the culinary world as a personal and private chef, restaurant manager and chef for high-profile clients. - Greene says faith, trustworthiness, intentionality and honesty guide her personal and professional life. - Greene says vulnerability matters in leadership and that it is acceptable to say, “I don’t know, but let’s find out together.”

Between the lines: - Greene’s story reflects a broader nonprofit challenge: organizations can have strong missions but still struggle to secure funding and sustained attention. - Greene believes storytelling is essential for fundraising because donors need a clear picture of who is served, why the work matters and what contributions change. - Her emphasis on collaboration suggests a strategy built on partnerships rather than competition among service providers. - Greene’s focus on authenticity is also a response to years spent feeling pressure to fit into formal, male-dominated environments.

What’s next: - Greene plans to keep strengthening Nana’s Foundation through partnerships with community organizations and faith leaders. - Greene is continuing to expand support for women through mentoring, education and relationship-building. - Greene wants younger women entering the nonprofit world to stay patient, remain committed and treat social impact work as long-term work. - More information is available through Tina Greene’s Influential Women profile and Nana’s Foundation founder profile.

The bottom line: - Greene is turning lived experience, faith and community care into a nonprofit platform aimed at helping women grow with support, dignity and purpose.