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Tides Inc

EIN 20-8581158 · State College, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair57 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE GRIEVING INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES BY PROVIDING A HEALTHY AND COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT SYSTEM SO THAT NO ONE HAS TO GRIEVE ALONE.

Income
$280,678
Spending
$212,513
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
2
Volunteers
31
Highest pay
$63,162, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $129,585 spent. TIDES IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE GRIEF SUPPORT TO CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. WE BELIEVE GRIEF IS A NATURAL, DEEPLY PERSONAL PROCESS UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL, AND OUR COMMITMENT IS TO OFFER A NON-JUDGMENTAL, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CAN FIND HEALING IN THEIR OWN TIME. TIDES BRINGS TOGETHER THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING BY HOSTING COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL-BASED PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE UPON REQUEST, DELIVERING CRISIS RESPONSE SUPPORT, AND OFFERING A VARIETY OF RESOURCES TO BRING HOPE AND COMFORT TO FAMILIES. OUR VISION IS TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY WHERE NO ONE HAS TO NAVIGATE GRIEF ALONE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O
  2. AS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN OUR COUNTY SOLELY DEDICATED TO GRIEF SUPPORT AFTER A DEATH, TIDES OFFERS THREE CORE PROGRAMS. TIDES NIGHT PROGRAMMING PROVIDES BIWEEKLY GATHERINGS WHERE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES FIND LONG-TERM PEER SUPPORT IN A CARING COMMUNITY. THROUGH COMMUNITY CRISIS SUPPORT, TIDES RESPONDS TO URGENT NEEDS FOLLOWING A DEATH, OFFERING IMMEDIATE SUPPORT TO THOSE AFFECTED. OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMMING PROVIDES GRIEF SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN CENTRE COUNTY SCHOOLS, CREATING SAFE SPACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN PROCESS LOSS WITH PEERS. THESE VITAL PROGRAMS ARE EXPANDING EACH YEAR. PARTICIPATION IN TIDES NIGHTS HAS GROWN FROM AN AVERAGE OF 115 PARTICIPANTS TO 165 IN 2023 AND 140 IN 2024. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, OUR CRISIS SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS REACHED OVER 500 INDIVIDUALS. SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2022, OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMS HAVE SERVED CLOSE TO 500 STUDENTS ACROSS FIVE CENTRE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A GRIEF SUPPORT SYSTEM TO CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE NEED FOR OUR SERVICES LOCALLY IS EVEN GREATER THAN THE NUMBER WECURRENTLY SERVE. EACH YEAR, CENTRE COUNTY EXPERIENCES AN AVERAGE OF 900 DEATHS, ACCORDING TO THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. WHILE NOT EVERYONE WILL SEEK SUPPORT, WE AIM TO REACH MORE GRIEVING INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. TIDES OFFERS ALL SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE, ENSURING THAT ANYONE WHO NEEDS GRIEF SUPPORT HAS ACCESS, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.