The Power of Networks: Effecting Greater Impact in the Social Change Movement

There is a lot of talk in the air these days about networks. At a recent conference, activists discussed how the future of social change movement rests in how we network our individual efforts with one another to create more coordinated and unified action - examples of that power can be seen in the past weekend's successful efforts around Health Reform and the turn out for the Washington Immigration march. Today I'm part of a conversation with a few foundations at Monitor Institute about networks within philanthropy and...

Helping Others Be Counted

The Fair Count to Fair Share Census Initiative seeks to ensure that the census and its ensuing policies, from the count to its implications for money and representation, are conducted fairly and that the interests of people of African descent are on the agenda.

As Sam Seaborn of The West Wing White House said, "It’s not glamorous but the Census has to be taken seriously." While many of our nonprofit colleagues understand why the Census is so important, it often needs to be explained to our...

A Defining Moment for Health Philanthropy

Tom David is a Senior Strategist at Community Clinics Initiative, a project of Tides that was started in partnership with The California Endowment and has granted over $100 million to more than 90 percent of California's community clinics. David recently wrote a rousing commentary for last week's Grantmakers In Health annual meeting calling health foundations to act – now. An excerpt of the eight page article is below, or you can read the entire commentary.

From A Defining Moment for Health Philanthropy,...

Fiscal Sponsors = Fiscally Responsible

I know it probably sounds silly when I say that I'm passionate about fiscal sponsorship, but the truth is—I am! I care about how fiscally sponsored projects are treated and I care about how fiscal sponsors practice in the field. Mistakes made in the field affect all fiscal sponsors in very real ways, regardless if the errors are malicious or honest. As Tides' Intake Manager, I am often one of the first people an aggrieved project comes to for solace and guidance after it realizes it’s been cheated or mistreated by their...

Live From New York, it's the Story of Stuff

Annie Leonard has done it again with the book version of The Story of Stuff, which arrives in stores today.  It’s personal, political and provocative, and provides information on what you can do (both to change your life and the larger systems we’re all part of) to create a new, sustainable, equitable, and democratic story of stuff.

I was thrilled to receive a hand-delivered copy last week at my front door, courtesy of Annie and her 10- year-old daughter.  Tides and Story of Stuff...