Tides Center
Encyclopedia
Tides Center is a non-profit organization in the United States
which provides fiscal sponsorship
for progressive
groups. Tides Center is classified a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the IRS. The organization is based in San Francisco with offices in the Presidio
.
Tides Center is administratively linked to the Tides Foundation; both are part of a family of organizations linked by a commitment to promoting progressivism
.
The Tides Center provides administrative services such as payroll, benefits, insurance, and tax form 990 in exchange for a fee.
in 1976. In 1977, the Tides Foundation began working with initiative campaigns, an arrangement that was formalized into the Projects Program in 1979. In 1996, this program became Tides Center, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since 1996, Tides Center has provided fiscal sponsorship
to over 800 projects with combined revenues of over $700 million, and has worked with well over 1000 projects since the first days as the Projects Program.
Current projects of Tides Center include:
As a participant-driven network, NNFS is dedicated to improving the practices, capabilities, and awareness of fiscal sponsorship in the nonprofit sector through education and advocacy.
, 45, of Tuolumne County, was arrested following a shootout with California Highway Patrol officers on Interstate-580 in Oakland. The shootout began shortly after midnight Sunday morning when CHP officers saw his white Toyota truck speeding and weaving through traffic on westbound Interstate Highway 580 near the Grand Avenue exit. Oakland police spokesperson Jeff Thomason confirmed at Williams’ July 20 arraignment that evidence indicated Williams planned to target the San Francisco offices of the American Civil Liberties Union
of Northern California and Tides Foundation, for violence. Investigators reported Williams told them he wanted to "start a revolution by traveling to San Francisco and killing people of importance at the Tides Foundation and the ACLU."
Williams chose the Tides Foundation as a target because he believed that American billionaire philanthropist George Soros
"has the Tides Foundation and the Tides fund," which he uses "for all kinds of nefarious activities." According to multiple sources, the conspiracy theories of Glenn Beck
gave rise to his primary motivation to target the Tides Foundation.
Tides CEO Drummond Pike
stated:
With two strikes on his record for two previous bank-robbery convictions, Williams faces at least 25 years to life in prison as a three strikes
felon.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which provides fiscal sponsorship
Fiscal sponsorship
Fiscal sponsorship refers to the practice of non-profit organizations offering their legal and tax-exempt status to groups engaged in activities related to the organization's missions...
for progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
groups. Tides Center is classified a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the IRS. The organization is based in San Francisco with offices in the Presidio
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
.
Tides Center is administratively linked to the Tides Foundation; both are part of a family of organizations linked by a commitment to promoting progressivism
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
.
The Tides Center provides administrative services such as payroll, benefits, insurance, and tax form 990 in exchange for a fee.
History
The roots of Tides Center are in Tides Foundation, founded by Drummond PikeDrummond Pike
Drummond Pike is an American philanthropist, activist and social entrepreneur. He founded Tides Foundation in 1976 and served as CEO of Tides for 34 years...
in 1976. In 1977, the Tides Foundation began working with initiative campaigns, an arrangement that was formalized into the Projects Program in 1979. In 1996, this program became Tides Center, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since 1996, Tides Center has provided fiscal sponsorship
Fiscal sponsorship
Fiscal sponsorship refers to the practice of non-profit organizations offering their legal and tax-exempt status to groups engaged in activities related to the organization's missions...
to over 800 projects with combined revenues of over $700 million, and has worked with well over 1000 projects since the first days as the Projects Program.
Projects
Organizations that began as projects of Tides Center include:- Campaign to Defend the ConstitutionCampaign to Defend the ConstitutionCampaign to Defend the Constitution was an American online organization founded in September, 2005 to support the constitutional separation of church and state and to oppose what it perceived as the growing influence of the religious right. It was a project of the Tides Center, a non-profit...
- Higher Education Recruitment ConsortiumHigher Education Recruitment ConsortiumThe Higher Education Recruitment Consortium is a job-placement and recruitment organization for institutions of higher education in the United States.- About HERC :...
- People for the American WayPeople For the American WayPeople For the American Way is a progressive advocacy group in the United States. Under U.S. tax code, People For the American Way is organized as a tax-exempt 501 non-profit organization.-Purpose:...
- Pew Internet and American Life ProjectPew Research CenterThe Pew Research Center is an American think tank organization based in Washington, D.C. that provides information on issues, attitudes and trends shaping the United States and the world. The Center and its projects receive funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts. In 1990, Donald S...
- Rockridge InstituteRockridge InstituteThe Rockridge Institute was an American non-profit research and progressive think tank founded in 1997 and located in Berkeley, California from 2003 until April 30, 2008. Its stated goal was to strengthen democracy by providing intellectual support to the progressive community...
- Social Venture NetworkSocial Venture NetworkThe Social Venture Network is a network of socially responsible business leaders committed to building a just and sustainable world through socially and environmentally sustainable business. As of 2007, SVN has over 430 members in the United States....
- Urgent Action Fund
- V-DayV-DayV-Day, February 14th, is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls inspired by Eve Ensler's play, The Vagina Monologues. The movement was started in 1998 by author, playwright and activist Eve Ensler. Ensler has been quoted as saying that it was women's reactions to the...
Current projects of Tides Center include:
- Apollo AllianceApollo AllianceThe Apollo Alliance is a project organized by the Institute for America's Future and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy. The Alliance is a project of the Tides Center....
- Center for Genetics and SocietyCenter for Genetics and SocietyThe Center for Genetics and Society is a nonprofit information and public affairs organization, based in Berkeley, California, United States. It encourages responsible use and promotes the regulation of new human genetic and reproductive technologies, to confine them to what it considers...
- Children’s Partnership
- Citizendium Foundation
- Honor the Earth
- StopGlobalWarming.org
- The Opportunity Agenda
- TractionTraction (organization)Traction is a progressive non-profit organization promoting civic engagement, based in the city of Durham, North Carolina. Traction's goal is to inform, inspire and connect a growing social network of left-leaning 20- and 30-somethings...
Fiscal sponsorship
In 2003 as a part of a strategic planning initiative, Tides Center conducted a benchmarking study that led to the first gathering of fiscal sponsors to discuss fiscal sponsorship as a mechanism to support innovation in the nonprofit sector. In 2004, attendees at this gathering became known as the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors (NNFS).As a participant-driven network, NNFS is dedicated to improving the practices, capabilities, and awareness of fiscal sponsorship in the nonprofit sector through education and advocacy.
Byron Williams
In 2010, the Tides Foundation was the intended target of a lone wolf terrorist. On Sunday, July 18, 2010, Byron WilliamsByron Williams (shooter)
Byron Williams is an American responsible for the July 18, 2010 shootout with California Highway Patrol officers on I-580 in Oakland, California...
, 45, of Tuolumne County, was arrested following a shootout with California Highway Patrol officers on Interstate-580 in Oakland. The shootout began shortly after midnight Sunday morning when CHP officers saw his white Toyota truck speeding and weaving through traffic on westbound Interstate Highway 580 near the Grand Avenue exit. Oakland police spokesperson Jeff Thomason confirmed at Williams’ July 20 arraignment that evidence indicated Williams planned to target the San Francisco offices of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
of Northern California and Tides Foundation, for violence. Investigators reported Williams told them he wanted to "start a revolution by traveling to San Francisco and killing people of importance at the Tides Foundation and the ACLU."
Williams chose the Tides Foundation as a target because he believed that American billionaire philanthropist George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
"has the Tides Foundation and the Tides fund," which he uses "for all kinds of nefarious activities." According to multiple sources, the conspiracy theories of Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
gave rise to his primary motivation to target the Tides Foundation.
Tides CEO Drummond Pike
Drummond Pike
Drummond Pike is an American philanthropist, activist and social entrepreneur. He founded Tides Foundation in 1976 and served as CEO of Tides for 34 years...
stated:
- This incident serves to remind us that it should be the obligation of every American, especially those whose voices are amplified by the media, to foster civil discourseCivil discourseCivil discourse is engagement in discourse intended to enhance understanding.Kenneth J. Gergen describes civil discourse as "the language of dispassionate objectivity", and suggests that it requires respect of the other participants, such as the reader...
and dialogue among those who may disagree about public matters. One does not win an argument by inciting unbalanced people to violence. As Americans, we know we are best at solving problems when we reach broadly across boundaries for the best of ideas. Intolerance that closes our eyes defeats our aspirations.
With two strikes on his record for two previous bank-robbery convictions, Williams faces at least 25 years to life in prison as a three strikes
Three strikes law
Three strikes laws)"are statutes enacted by state governments in the United States which require the state courts to hand down a mandatory and extended period of incarceration to persons who have been convicted of a serious criminal offense on three or more separate occasions. These statutes became...
felon.