The Talent Agenda

Nonprofits employ 13.5 million people, making the sector the third-largest private workforce in the United States. During the recession, jobs at nonprofits grew by 2% while for-profit jobs declined by 4%. And nonprofits are still hiring. As we grow, nonprofits face increasingly complex management environments and endure ongoing pressure to provide more services to communities in the face of budget cuts.

In Memoriam: Jill Benderly

On January 10^th Jill Benderly, one of our nation’s leading activists in the Baltic region, passed away after a struggle with colon cancer. Benderly was a beloved employee of Tides in the early 90’s and an instrumental part of the team that has developed Tides into the organization it is today. Her death leaves a huge hole in the activist community. She will be missed.

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Oh well it's that time again in the calendar year to take a moment and think about the history of black people in the United States of America.  But this year...I want to pose some questions to you.

Don’t Get Mad, Get Even: Challenge Prosecutors, not Scapegoats

Two tragic events last Friday have prompted heated debate about torture, secrecy, freedom of information, and prosecutors run amok. But are critics assigning blame where due, or merely where convenient? And is the convenient option too charitable, letting powerful systems of oppression off the hook in favor of scapegoating only the most visible perpetrators? First (only because it’s an anniversary and was therefore predictable) was the 11th year of military detention at Guantánamo Bay, where prisoners under US control have endured torture–and in some cases, been murdered in custody while their deaths have been presented in public as suicides.

Investing for Impact

The term impact investing has been gaining brand value over the past five years. The precursors of community investing and socially responsible investing are ironically being dropped from the conversation as if to imply that impact investing is a brand new phenomenon. While there is innovation inherent in impact investing, it is important to leverage the histories – good and bad – from community development, socially responsible investing, and venture philanthropy in order to support the success, sustainability and scale of the larger social benefit marketplace.

How will you observe World Aids Day?

This Saturday, Tides will be at The National AIDS Memorial Grove, joining them in their 19th Annual World AIDS Day Observance. The National AIDS Memorial Grove, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, is a dedicated space where millions of Americans touched directly or indirectly by AIDS can gather to heal, hope, and remember. The sacred ground of this living memorial honors all who have confronted the tragic pandemic, both those who have died and those who have shared their struggle, kept the vigils, and supported each other during their final hours.

Love and Intellect in Social Change Leadership

Social innovation is a tool, but tools don’t build or fix things. People do. This idea was explored in the first post in this series, which illustrated that despite social innovation’swidely trumpeted potential to solve the world’s problems, it simply can’t. Meaningful and lasting solutions come from

Social Innovation Won’t Save the World

David Bornstein in the NY Times Fixes column recently referred to social innovation as part of a “breakthrough – maybe even a new Enlightenment.” He believes it is creating new and lasting change that is unprecedented in the social sector. But, social innovation faces an undeniable limitation: it is merely a tool. And, like any tool, its impact is determined by the vision of those who use it. Great architecture isn’t created by hammers. It’s created by architects and carpenters with highly developed vision.

Interview with Linda Lantieri of The Inner Resilience Program

The Inner Resilience Program is helping to cultivate the inner lives of students, teachers & schools by integrating social and emotional learning with contemplative practice. The program provides professional development workshops, weekend retreats, classes in stress management, as well as yoga and other contemplative practices, educational workshops for parents, and training in our K-8 curriculum: Building Resilience from the Inside Out.

Ending Modern Slavery

After stepping off the podium at the United Nations, President Obama made a special commitment – to ending modern day slavery. Not just in remote corners of the developing world. But here in this country as well. Many of the slaves today are girls. Born in this country. Hidden in plain view.