Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tides Center

EIN 94-3213100 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TIDES CENTER PROVIDES SOCIAL CHANGE LEADERS COMPREHENSIVE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP - INCLUDING OPERATIONAL, GRANTMAKING, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING SUPPORT - TO PROPEL THE WORK OF COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$265.4 million
Spending
$285.1 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
912
Volunteers
749
Highest pay
$861,260, ceo

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $170.9 million spent. EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY: WITHIN OUR LARGEST AREA OF IMPACT, TIDES' FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS WORK MULTILATERALLY TO CREATE MORE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY DENIED POWER. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, HUMAN RIGHTS POLICIES, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, AND INCREASED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
  2. $6.6 million spent. EDUCATION: IN 2024, TIDES PROJECTS ENRICHED THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH AND ADULTS LIVING IN LOCAL, UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES, FOCUSING ON AREAS SUCH AS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, ARTS EDUCATION, HEALTH AND NUTRITION, FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND STEM. OTHER TIDES PROJECTS INSTITUTED A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT RANGED FROM ADVOCATING AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO OFFERING ADULT EDUCATION AND CAREER SUPPORT TO EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF THE ARTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
  3. $37.1 million spent. ENVIRONMENT: IN 2024, TIDES PROJECTS WORKED IN THE AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES. PROGRAMS WORKED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FACING LOW-INCOME, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS TO SPEARHEAD CAMPAIGNS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMAL WELFARE. TIDES PROJECTS ADVOCATED FOR A MORE JUST, CLEAN, AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES; FROM REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL MERCURY EXPOSURE TO DEVELOPING REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS, AND ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY TO SUPPORTING THE FARM-TO-SCHOOL FOOD MOVEMENT.
  4. $885,972 spent. TIDES CENTER, THROUGH ITS FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS, ENGAGES IN LOBBYING ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES AND CAUSES TO RESTORE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POWER TO COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY DENIED IT.

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 October 13, 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 January 1995.

    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 October 21, 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.