Program Related Investments: Changing Business as Usual for Philanthropy

Last week Tides attended the Mission Impact conference in Seattle, to continue to explore the best way to leverage program-related investments in Tides’ signature MRI Pooled Fund, and to learn more about the changes afoot in the philanthropic investors community. At the conference, More for Mission and PRI Makers Network announced they have joined forces to become Mission Investors Exchange, an organization dedicated to helping philanthropic investors increase the impact of their capital.

Nominate a Young Activist for the 2012 Mario Savio Young Activist Award

"To me, freedom of speech is something that represents the very dignity of what a human being is. That's what marks us off from the stones and the stars. You can speak freely. It is really the thing that marks us as just below the angels."

Predictive Philanthropy: Driving Data Towards Collective Action

Rapidly growing community needs and opportunities outpace the progress of programs and services, heightening the urgency to find ways to bring more people, money and other resources together in concert.  As such, Tides is launching predictive philanthropy, a process for driving collaborative, data-based funding decisions focused on the development of local leadership and assets.

Giving ‘til It Heals – Won’t You Be A High Impact Contributor?

It is clear that the challenges facing poor communities at home and abroad are formidable, but the strategies for success are within reach. Tides has long recognized a visionary approach to philanthropy. What is often missing is an intimate understanding of the motivations of donors and the means to turn philanthropic intention to strategic and sustainable community support. This year alone Tides has already launched two impact focused initiatives – Civic Participation Fund and (Ad)venture Philanthropy. Our goal is to re-ignite the spirit of social change giving and philanthropy at home and abroad through donor education and the creation of linkages among this growing community of well-intentioned, and potentially high-impact givers.

Documenting Disaster and Renewal

On April 20, 2010, the day BP’s oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi Gulf Coast community of Turkey Creek -- which I had been making a documentary about for almost a decade -- happened to appear on the front page of USA Today. The headline read "For Them, Earth Day Was Late In Coming," and the article described how this community settled by emancipated slaves had built alliances with environmental advocates to protect the fragile ecology and rich culture of a place threatened by urban sprawl, industrial contamination and disaster. The article quotes Derrick Evans, the main character in my film, saying,  “It shouldn’t have been so hard.” It was about to get much harder.

Engaging in Process over Product with Software for Social Change

In the last week, I experienced two completely opposite reactions, from two different partner organizations, to what was nearly the same discussion about how to proceed with the research and design of a mobile solution for a real-world human rights and internet freedom context. I wanted to reflect on these here, as I prepare to head west to Non-Profit Technology Conference in San Francisco to accept the 2012 Antonio Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest. I wish I had the chance to know Tony Pizzigati, but in lieu of that, I’ll do my best to represent the spirit in which his family honors him through this award. I also think that we would have gotten a long well, both as precocious kids hacking on neat problems at an early age, and as young adults eager to make an impact on the world.

To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe

PBS’ To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe' is the only woman-owned news analysis program on national and international TV.  The program brings thoughtful, intelligent analysis to a multi-platform audience (TV, WiFi, Web, Twitter) and covers issues not covered in depth by any other show on TV.

Dispatches from the Field | Silicon Valley, Meet Silicon Savannah

For the past week, I have participated on a learning journey in Kenya organized by London-based Leaders’ Quest on behalf of the Rockefeller Foundation. Twenty leaders from around the world joined the Quest to explore opportunities for impact investing in Africa. Participants include such diverse individuals as the domestic investment manager of China’s sovereign wealth fund, the Chairman of UK-based Sustainability, the CFO of the Rockefeller Foundation, the CEO of Bangalore-based Rural Shores, and many more.

Announcing the Civic Participation Fund

Tides is thrilled to announce the opening of it’s newest grant-making vehicle, the Civic Participation Fund, which we launch today in response to shrinking resources and growing concerns about Americans’ rightful access to their ballots in 2012.

Impact Investments in Women

We talk a lot about how impact investments help people move out of poverty. But impact investments are not just about providing a job and an income; impact investments provide dignity, self confidence, and the ability to stand on your own feet. When that investment is in women, the impact is even more profound.