Tides works in partnership with a wide array of LGBT philanthropists, foundations, activists, and organizations.

SAN FRANCISCO, October 9, 2009 — On the eve of the National Equality March in Washington, DC, Tides (www.tides.org), one of the country's leading funders of LGBT work and the fiscal sponsor of the October 10 Equality March today affirmed its steadfast support for full and equal rights for all citizens nationwide.

Thousands are expected to participate in the march and its related events on October 10th and 11th to demand full and equal protection for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. Speakers include leading gay activists David Mixner, Cleve Jones, Lieutenant Dan Choi, NAACP Board Chairman Julian Bond, and Judy Shephard, mother of Matthew Shepard, whose murder was motivated by anti-gay hate. The National Equality March is the first step toward a larger goal of creating a national movement — the 50 State Legislative Outreach Campaign — in all 435 congressional districts to demand full equality under the law.

"Tides is immensely proud to work with the National Equality March and to celebrate the momentum it is generating for securing full and equal rights for all citizens," said Tides Board Chair Melissa Bradley. "LGBT rights are human rights, and Tides is gratified to support and fund the vital efforts of so many LGBT organizations and initiatives that are working to achieve full equality."

Providing philanthropic services, infrastructure, investor introductions and strategic counsel to LGBT projects across the country and around the globe, Tides has granted more than $8 million since 2008 to LGBT issues and an additional $7.8 million to AIDS/HIV-related projects.

Working in partnership with a wide array of forward-thinking LGBT philanthropists, foundations, activists, and organizations across the country and around the globe. some Tides-supported projects include:

• National Equality March - http://equalityacrossamerica.org

• The State Equality Fund - http://www.gillfoundation.org/grants/outside-colorado/state-equality-fund

• Collin Higgins Foundation and its Youth Courage Awards - http://www.colinhiggins.org

• California Safe Schools Coalition - www.casafeschools.org

• Lavender Seniors of the East Bay - www.lavenderseniors.org  

Tides also recently featured some of the country's most notable leaders working to advance LGBT rights at its Momentum thought leader conference last month – including Kate Kendell, Bishop Gene Robinson, Sahar Shafqat, Jorge Musuli and Laura Karpman. Videos of these speakers' presentations are available at: www.momentumconference.org/speakers.

Equality Across America has organized the National Equality March, and it is a fiscally sponsored project of Tides. Fiscal sponsorship is a cost-effective way to implement new programs without establishing a new, separate nonprofit organization, and Tides fiscally sponsors over 200 nonprofit projects across the nation. As a fiscal sponsor, Tides receives charitable donations and grants on behalf of its fiscally sponsored projects. Tides also provides its projects with a comprehensive suite of back-office services, legal framework, and capacity-building support.

More information about Tides' LGBT work is available at www.tides.org, and more information about the National Equality March is at http://equalityacrossamerica.org

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Contact:

Christine Coleman
Tides
415-561-6354
ccoleman(at)tides.org

Deborah Schneider
PR & Company
415.277.6973
dschneider(at)prandcompany.com 

About Tides
Tides actively promotes change toward broadly shared economic opportunity, robust democratic processes and the opportunity to live in a healthy and sustainable environment where human rights are preserved and protected. Tides is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 and provides an array of services that amplifies the efforts of forward-thinking philanthropists, foundations, activists and organizations to make the world a better place. Tides Foundation, Tides Center and Tides Shared Spaces have collaborated with over 15,000 individuals and organizations that have touched millions of lives across the country and around the globe. With offices in San Francisco and New York City, Tides provides fiscal sponsorship for over 200 groups across the country, operates and supports green nonprofit centers and has granted more than $108 million in 2008 alone. For more information, visit www.tides.org.