Trinity Community Commons

What Trinity Community Commons does

Trinity Community Commons (TCC) is a 501(c)(3) neighborhood nonprofit founded in 2013 by Nate Paulk, operating a community hub on a historic church property at 204 E. Trinity Lane in East Nashville's 37207 ZIP code. Its core programs are a free weekly Tuesday community dinner (serving 20-50 neighbors per session), a Thursday afternoon mini farmers market (serving 243 neighborhood customers and generating $5,250 for 10 local vendors in 2023), community gardens, and bi-weekly community cafe nights. TCC's model reframes participation by making every neighbor simultaneously host, guest, contributor, and recipient rather than separating volunteers from aid recipients — an approach the organization labels "radical hospitality."

TCC is currently executing a multi-year redevelopment of its sanctuary and grounds, partnered with Nelson Community Partners and Safe Haven Family Shelter to build 22 permanent supportive housing units (2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom) on the property, with construction scheduled Fall 2026 to Fall 2027. A separate Teaching & Commissary Kitchen partnership with The Nashville Food Project will add workforce training and food entrepreneurship programming. Zoning approval was secured from the Board of Zoning Appeals on August 7, 2025. The organization also coordinates with Open Table Nashville (housing navigation and foot clinic), Shower the People (mobile showers), Walk Bike Nashville, and Rebuilding Together Nashville to deliver integrated services.

The business model is donor-funded rather than commercial. Operating revenue is sourced from individual donations (TCC offers a $1,000 matching donation campaign), membership dues with a minimum $5/month recurring donation or 4 hours/month volunteer commitment, Thursday farmers market vendor proceeds, clothing sales (Clothes For A Cause), and grants. The organization employs 1-10 staff, led by Executive Director Zach Lykins (since June 2023) and Community Engagement lead India Pungarcher (since 2025), with a 7-member Board of Directors. No proprietary technology, software products, or AI/ML capabilities are referenced.

Name

Trinity Community Commons

Legal name

Trinity Community Commons

Website

https://trinitycommunitycommons.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trinity Community Commons is an East Nashville nonprofit operating a community hub from a historic church property, hosting weekly shared meals, a Thursday farmers market, community gardens, and developing 22 units of permanent supportive housing for families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services / Nonprofit Community Development

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC)

Keywords

• Community gathering programs
• Affordable housing development
• Community meal services
• Neighborhood nonprofit services
• Community garden operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization relies heavily on individual donations from neighbors, supporters, and community members. Donations support weekly community dinners, events, property redevelopment, and affordable housing construction. A matching donation campaign offered $1,000 in matching funds.
2. Membership Dues: TCC membership requires minimum $5/month recurring donation OR volunteer 4 hrs/month. Members receive perks including discounted facility rentals, annual appreciation meals, and community recognition.
3. Farmers Market Revenue: Thursday afternoon farmers markets generate revenue for 10+ neighborhood makers, bakers, and growers. The market generated $5,250 in revenue for vendors in 2023. Some market proceeds support neighbors in need through micro-loans and emergency assistance.
4. Clothing Sales: Clothing sales and swaps (Clothes For A Cause events) generate funds supporting TCC operations and other local non-profits. Quality used clothing is donated and curated for sale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Trinity Community Commons is a neighborhood nonprofit operating a community hub on a historic East Nashville church property. It runs free weekly community dinners, a Thursday farmers market, community gardens, and community cafe nights to foster relationships across economic and housing status. The organization is also developing 22 units of permanent supportive housing and a teaching kitchen through a multi-year redevelopment project.

Product overview

Trinity Community Commons operates as a neighborhood nonprofit offering community-building programs rather than a technology product. Its core offerings include weekly community dinners, a farmers market, community garden, and cafe nights, which serve to connect neighbors across economic backgrounds through shared meals and activities. The organization is also developing affordable housing (22 units) and planned kitchen facilities in partnership with local organizations, representing community infrastructure rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekly Community Dinners Free weekly potluck-style community dinners held every Tuesday from 5-7pm, designed to connect neighbors through shared meals and foster authentic relationships across economic and housing-status divides. Open to all neighbors in East Nashville.
• Mini Farmers Market Thursday afternoon farmers market (3:30-5:30pm) offering fresh local produce, homemade goods, soaps, pickles, teas, and seedlings from neighborhood makers, bakers, and growers. Revenue supports vendors, TCC operations, and neighbor assistance.
• Community Garden Neighbor-led community garden producing fresh vegetables and herbs for community meals, with garden beds built collaboratively by volunteers.
• Community Cafe Nights Free community crafting and connection events held every other Friday evening featuring open mics, live music, karaoke, dance parties, and skill-sharing classes.
• TCC Membership Program Monthly donation program ($5/month minimum) or volunteer commitment (4 hours/month) offering members discounted venue rentals, annual appreciation meals, and recognition as supporters of the community.
• Outdoor Community Gathering Space Community-built outdoor space on the front lawn of the property featuring market stands, garden beds, shaded areas, tables and benches, little libraries, and a community message board.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-50 neighbors served weekly at community dinners; 243 market customers in 2023; 100 new neighbors welcomed annually; $5,250 generated for 10 local vendors; $1,375 in direct neighbor assistance

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Nelson Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Primary development partner for the property redevelopment project. Nelson Community Partners is working with TCC to revitalize the historic sanctuary into a community gathering space and build 22 affordable housing units on the property.
• Safe Haven Family SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nashville's leading service provider to families experiencing homelessness. Partnering to build 22 homes (2, 3, and 4-bedroom units) of Permanent Supportive Housing for families at TCC.
• The Nashville Food ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to create a Teaching & Commissary Kitchen as part of TCC's redevelopment. Also provides fresh food donations for weekly community dinners and supports workforce training.
• The Nashville Food ProjectcoreOthersProvides fresh food for weekly community dinners. TCC operates as a food distribution site in partnership with this organization.
• Open Table NashvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJourneys alongside neighbors to find housing, provides expertise, and operates a foot clinic at TCC. Advocates for structural changes to housing systems. Has helped neighbors like Chris find housing through coordinated entry system.
• Shower the PeoplesecondaryOthersProvides mobile showers and hygiene kits at TCC community dinners during spring, summer, and fall months.
• Community Resource CentersecondaryOthersSupplies hygiene and cleaning supplies available for any neighbor in need at TCC.
• Walk Bike NashvillesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreates opportunities for people to move safely through the city by foot, bicycle, and transit. Focuses on the dangerous Dickerson Pike corridor near TCC. Holds events and advocates for safer streets.
• Bike FunsecondaryOthersEmpowers people to bike with confidence and joy. Provides perennial flowers and support for TCC community garden projects.
• Rebuilding Together NashvillesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestores, rebuilds, and performs essential repairs at homes of area residents. Focus area includes Dickerson Pike. Helps preserve affordable homeownership so neighbors can remain in communities.
• Daybreak ArtssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides creative resources to people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Artists create works at TCC and can sell their pieces. Helps artists build economic resources to reclaim housing and community access.
• Transformation Life CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks upstream with youth in underserved communities to develop literacy, leadership, and health/wellness skills.
• Civic Design CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLed by Nia Smith, Civic Design facilitated the May 2023 community design process for the outdoor gathering space. Inspired and encouraged the design vision for 'creating sanctuary for all.'
• Root NashvillesecondaryOthersPartnered with TCC in November 2023 for tree planting activities on the property.
• Cumberland River CompactminorOthersEnvironmental partner that participated in tree planting at TCC in November 2023.
• Dryden StudiosecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign partner involved in developing plans to revitalize the historic sanctuary and property.
• Tennessee Kitchen GardensminorOthersProvided veggie and herb starts for the community garden (Abi Tapia & Sarah Ruzic).
• Gardens of BabylonminorOthersDonated recycled pallets for building trash and compost bays at TCC.
• Brooklyn Heights Community GardenminorOthersProvided veggie and herb starts for TCC's community garden.
• Bates Nursery & Garden CenterminorOthersNursery partner supporting TCC's garden and landscaping projects.
• K&C Fence Co.minorOthersBuilt a fence in April 2024 to welcome neighbors and separate the front lawn from car parking and traffic.
• Paper and Pipes (JJ Galipeau)minorOthersNeighbor woodworker who built the trellis and contributed to multiple community builds. Restored salvaged wood from fire-damaged pews into a coffee table for TCC.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Room In The Inn: Nashville-based nonprofit providing meals, shelter, and services to neighbors experiencing homelessness. Operates a congregate-meal and third-space model highly comparable to TCC's Tuesday dinners and community hub concept.
• Safe Haven Family Shelter: Nashville's leading service provider to families experiencing homelessness and TCC's core development partner on the 22-unit permanent supportive housing project. Operates a closely aligned mission of housing stabilization and family support in the same metro.
• Open Table Nashville: Partners with TCC on housing navigation, operates a foot clinic at TCC's community dinners, and journeys alongside unhoused neighbors. Highly comparable direct service + advocacy mission in the same neighborhood.
• The Nashville Food Project: Provides fresh food for TCC's weekly community dinners and partners on TCC's planned Teaching & Commissary Kitchen. Both organizations address food insecurity through community-based distribution models in Nashville.
• Martha O'Bryan Center: Long-standing Nashville anti-poverty nonprofit offering family services, education, and community programming from a neighborhood hub. Comparable integrated service + community gathering model serving low-income Nashville families.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville: Builds affordable homeownership and rental housing in Middle Tennessee, overlapping with TCC's 22-unit affordable housing development mission. Relevant peer for development structure, volunteer engagement, and homeowner/resident services.
• Rebuilding Together Nashville: Restores and repairs homes of low-income residents in the Dickerson Pike focus area, an active TCC partner. Comparable neighborhood-based housing preservation mission with a volunteer-driven service model.

Broad incumbents

• Nashville Rescue Mission: Large, established Nashville faith-based nonprofit serving neighbors experiencing homelessness and food insecurity through meals, shelter, and recovery programs. Comparable mission at significantly larger scale and longer operating history.
• Catholic Charities of Tennessee: Regional faith-rooted social services organization offering food, housing, and refugee services across Tennessee. Operates an integrated community service model comparable to TCC but at much broader geographic and programmatic scale.

Emerging players

• Walk Bike Nashville: Active TCC partner focused on pedestrian and cyclist safety in the Dickerson Pike corridor. Mission-adjacent community health and safety organization with overlapping neighborhood-level advocacy work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/trinitycommunitycommons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trinity-community-commons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trinity Community Commons