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Grants Management 

Tides offers comprehensive grants management services. From monitoring grantee reports to correspondence to fielding inquiries from the public, we oversee the grant award and maintenance process. We also provide full reporting and expert due diligence to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.

International Grantmaking

Global giving has never been so necessary—or so complex.  After the tragedy of September 11, 2001 the U.S. government established rigorous new regulations with respect to global philanthropy. Tides’ experts perform the required due diligence on international grants, as well as leaping administrative hurdles such as international wire transfers, non-profit equivalency forms and more.

Planned Giving 

Tides is about achieving positive social change not just today but in the long run. We’ve got the experience and community of expertise to ensure that your philanthropic wishes will be carried out in the years to come. We accept assets such as real estate, life insurance, retirement plan beneficiary designations and securities. Options for planned giving include bequests, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and bargain sales.   

Online Grant Management 

Tides Foundation maintains a private website for donors and Fund Advisors.  This online resource for grantmaking and fund management provides detailed fund information, and allows Fund Advisors to make grant recommendations online for new and previous grantees. TidesPartners.org maintains donors’ privacy and confidentiality, providing a discreet option for monitoring and controlling grant activity.

Personalized Philanthropic Advice

Tides assigns a Philanthropic Advisor to each Donor Advised Fund. This advisor acts as a liaison between Tides, donors and grantseekers. He or she also manages donor relationships; develops and maintains effective grantmaking programs; supervises the grant-related administrative process; and works with donors to develop strategic grantmaking objectives and criteria. Advisors analyze organizations working in various issue areas, planning and implementing other grantmaking activities, including travel and conferences, donor gatherings, and meetings with donors, colleagues and grantees.

Comprehensive Research Service 

Keeping current with relevant social issues and trends can be labor-intensive, but it’s essential for effective social change philanthropy. Tides offers donors a suite of thorough research services:

  • A docket of funding recommendations provides donors with in-depth research on specific issue areas and organizations.  Because of the comprehensive nature of this service, it is most cost-effective for larger (over $100,000) grantmaking programs.  Docket services include analysis of specific and immediate funding opportunities; development of funding guidelines and a grantmaking budget; solicitation of letters of inquiry and/or proposals from potential grantees, and more.
  • Tides’ landscape research provides donors with a general overview of an issue area before the initiation of a grantmaking program.  The report and recommendations can form the basis for ongoing programmatic advice from Tides Foundation; they can also be used by donors who wish to advise grants directly.  Landscape research can include: in-depth exploration of an issue area; discussion of trends and strategies within particular issue areas; identification of broad funding needs and opportunities within issue areas; creation of a formal report on issue research; recommendations for funding and ongoing strategic planning.
  • If you are interested in additional services not listed here, the Philanthropic Advisors assigned to any given donor advised fund can help. Tides is committed to meeting your philanthropic needs and interests, and we can coordinate site visits, facilitate advisory panels with activists and community leaders, conduct evaluations, and more.   

Collaborative Giving Opportunities 

Our donors are the driving force behind Tides Foundation Initiatives and Collective Giving funds:

  • Tides Foundation Initiatives support critical and cutting-edge issues that traditionally receive little foundation support. Our Initiatives allow like-minded people to come together to increase the impact of their philanthropy through strategic, collective grantmaking. Tides Initiatives such as Bridging the Economic Divide and Voter Action build bridges between donors and activists while providing hands-on opportunities for learning and practicing strategic grantmaking.
  • Tides Collective Giving Funds harness all of Tides’ resources to respond quickly to current events. The Relief and Reconstruction Fund, for example, has contributed to disaster relief in East Timor, tsunami-affected communities in Asia and, most recently, the Gulf Coast. Tides’ expert advisors, community of like-minded donors, and research services come together to ensure prompt, effective event-driven philanthropy.   

Cutting-Edge Knowledge Resources 

Tides’ expert advice services can provide donors with  personalized dockets of funding recommendations, face-to-face learning opportunities with philanthropic advisors, values planning sessions and landscape research. Donors also benefit from Tides’ knowledge base reports, events and community of like-minded donors. 

Access to Active and Like-Minded Community

Tides offers several opportunities to connect with a community of values-driven donors, philanthropic experts and activists. Tides Foundation Initiatives and Collective Giving Funds are examples of donor-driven collaborative giving that both use and strengthen this community. Tides events also bring our philanthropic fellowship together.