Tides Foundation

The Tides Foundation, a US-based public charity founded in 1976 in San Francisco by Drummond Pike with vision from Jane Bagley Lehman, challenges traditional philanthropy by serving as a donor-advised fund and fiscal sponsor for progressive causes. Its mission centers on advancing social justice, equality, human rights, environmental sustainability, and shared prosperity, emphasizing systemic change through trust-based collaboration, movement-building, and support for initiatives facing mainstream funding barriers. Distinctive as an intermediary and incubator, Tides aligns donor resources with equity-driven strategies, prioritizing power-building in marginalized communities via cross-sector partnerships and capacity enhancement.

It funds interconnected issues like racial and gender justice, climate action, health equity, civic engagement, and advocacy for communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, low-income families, and those impacted by discrimination or poverty. Supported activities include grassroots advocacy, policy reform, coalition-building, civic campaigns, research, seed funding, and general operating support (via select programs). Notable examples encompass the Wikimedia Foundation Endowment, Sierra Club efforts, living wage campaigns, and hosted funds like the Frontline Justice Fund or READI Legal Support Fund.

Primarily US-focused (local, state, national) with some global reach for democracy and environmental justice, Tides prefers small- to mid-sized grassroots organizations without strict income limits or entity restrictions, but does not accept unsolicited applications—most grants are invitation-only or via targeted, time-limited calls. Typical awards range from £10,000 to £75,000, varying by program with no fixed deadlines or meeting frequency; check specific fund guidelines for eligibility.

Tides excludes projects misaligned with its progressive, equity ethos, avoiding generalist or top-down approaches, and stands out for incubating emergent advocacy groups, enabling flexible donor-directed giving, and driving long-term structural impact in underserved areas.