Tides Foundation
Tides Foundation (EIN 51-0198509) is a San Francisco-based public charity that advances social justice by providing grantmaking, donor-advised and collective action funds, and fiscal sponsorship to community-led organizations. The organization publishes guidance on opening funds and grant reporting and describes its philanthropic and fiscal sponsorship services on its site.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A community-led nonprofit or fiscally sponsored project working on social justice, healthy communities, civic engagement, education, or environmental sustainability with capacity for grant reporting and a program that can operate at local, state, or national scale.
Good Fit
- • Programmatic alignment with equity, human rights, community health, education, or sustainable environment work.
- • Ability to receive funding through fiscal sponsorship or as a registered charity.
- • Capacity for grant management and reporting.
- • Projects with state or multi-state reach (the funder operates nationally).
- • Track record or partners that demonstrate community leadership and accountability.
Geography
Observed giving in the latest year reached recipients in 53 distinct states/territories, with only 25% of dollars staying in California and 75% going out of state, indicating a national footprint.
Recipient Variety
The latest filing shows about 2,097 distinct recipients in one year and a broad mix of mission areas, with roughly 1,000 returning recipients and more than 1,000 new grantees, demonstrating a large and diverse recipient set.
New Applicants
Direct behavioral evidence supports entry by unfamiliar applicants: 52% of 2024 recipients were new to the portfolio, and public contact points (website and a grants email plus mailing address) exist even though no formal online application instructions were posted.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
