Behind the Scenes with Hal Cato, CEO of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Anyone involved in Nashville’s nonprofit community at any time during the past three decades knows of Hal Cato. He has spent the overwhelming majority of his career working, serving others and truly making this city a better place for all, especially those who have been overlooked. “I know my “North Star,” says Hal. “And I can only see it when I’m helping those around me achieve a happy and hopeful life that they never thought possible.”

While Hal credits Mike Brady of TV’s Brady Bunch with his early desire to be an architect, he took a completely different route after college and founded Hands On Nashville, the nonprofit that continues to match volunteers with community needs. He was also President and CEO of Oasis Center for 10 years, and most recently, he served as CEO of Thistle Farms from 2015 until this past June. Now, Hal is the CEO of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, where he says his primary responsibility is to help set a vision for the organization — and in turn, the community — and then “work like crazy” to unite resources, people and institutions to do the greatest social good toward achieving that vision.

We caught up with Hal at the soon-to-be home of CFMT, a bustling construction site at the corner of Woodmont and Belmont boulevards. He’s as excited about the new building as he is the new position, saying, “When I look up, I see the hull of a ship, and we have built this ship that we can now take somewhere new and exciting. This is a new foundation and a new era.” Hal talked to us about what he’s most excited about in his new role, his favorite restaurant growing up and what he hopes never changes about Nashville.

What was your first experience in the nonprofit sector?

I started Hands on Nashville as a young man out of college. At the time, I had no idea what a nonprofit organization was, but I knew I wanted to do something to help the community.

What is your first order of business as the new CEO?

Listen! I can hear loud and clear our community calling this foundation into its next chapter. But first, we listen carefully if we’re going to respond strategically.

What drew you to accept this position?

I’ve spent almost my entire career serving those who’ve been marginalized, excluded and overlooked in our city. I’ve raised a lot of money and been able to see a lot of good happen. In the process, I feel like I got a PhD in how change occurs and what community should feel like. To bring that experience and perspective into Nashville’s largest foundation was a calling and an opportunity I could not ignore.

What are you most excited about in your new role?

Nashville is facing a moment of reckoning about who we are, what we value, what are our values and what is next. I think anyone who is invested in this community feels it. I also think it’s the job of our city’s anchor institutions to convene conversations, foster trust, align resources and help create a vision for who we want to be. This will be part of our new role going forward.

What was your favorite restaurant growing up? Belle Meade Cafeteria with my grandmother. Getting to select anything you wanted to eat from that long line of overcooked food was a magical experience for a kid. Everything on my tray was either fried, brown or sweet.

What “old Nashville” place or event do you miss most?

I could fill this magazine with that list, but I’ll start with Opryland, Faison’s, Mack’s Diner (the later at night, the better) and the patio of Sunset Grill. I also loved Summer Lights and the Italian Street Fair. We don’t have festivals like that anymore.