Annual Report 2000 Justice Is at the Heart of Progressive Social Movements and the Philanthropy That Supports Them

1976-2001 25 YEARS OF B RINGING P EOPLE T OGETHER F OR P OSITIVE S OCIAL C HANGE A NNUAL R EPORT 2000 For 25 years, Tides Foundation has had one focus: Bringing People Together In the name of positive social change. When stripped down to its essentials, Tides is a collection of partnerships With both our donors and our grantees. Without them, nothing happens. Together, important work is supported— Substantive efforts to make the world a better place. This network of partnerships itself is undergoing change, As a Tides community emerges working in increasingly collaborative ways To address environmental and social problems. Still, it is the aggregate numbers that startle one: 1 In 2000 alone, Tides made grants of $56 million. We want to thank you, all of our past, present and future partners. To believe in change seems so essential just now. To work for change, as we do here at Tides, is simply an honor. Drummond Pike President Peace Justice Sustainability 2 O UR V ISION The Tides Family of Organizations actively promotes change toward a healthy society— one founded on principles of social justice, equal economic opportunity, a robust democratic process, and environmental sustainability. We believe healthy societies rely fundamentally upon respect for human rights, the vitality of communities and a celebration of diversity. O UR M ISSION Tides Foundation partners with donors to increase and organize resources for social change. We facilitate effective grantmaking programs, 3 create opportunities for learning, and build community among donors and grantees. O UR M ETHOD We strengthen community-based nonprofit organizations and the progressive movement by providing an innovative and cost-effective framework for your philanthropy. We bring together People, Resources and Vision through Tides Donor Advised Funds, Tides Initiatives, Funding Collaboratives, Gatherings and Learning Opportunities, Foundation Management Services, Comprehensive and Flexible Program Services, and much more. Tides Foundation: Annual Report 2000 Justice is at the heart of progressive social movements and the philanthropy that supports them. It makes sense of our commitment to the seemingly disparate causes that make up the progressive agenda. 4 L OVE AND J USTICE: THAT W HICH B INDS U S T OGETHER I DELISSE M ALAVÉ, E XECUTIVE D IRECTOR I define justice differently now than I did years I experience justice as ago. When I was younger, justice was a goal— an expression of com- the end that justified the means. Yet even munity, of connection though I thought of it as an end or a goal, I still and of our enduring defined it more reactively than proactively. As responsibility to each a young Puerto Rican woman, I angrily named other. It flows from our injustice—be it racism, imperialism, poverty or shared humanity, from sexism—with a clarity that I did not bring to life living through each explaining what I meant by justice. of us, to paraphrase the poet Roger Keyes. My anger wasn’t misplaced—and I still Grounded in our every relationship, justice is appreciate the necessity and power of about power and decision-making—about breaking oppressive silences. But I no longer politics. In a democracy, justice is meaningful privilege the ends as I once did. While justice participation and a “full membership” in is a core democratic ideal, it is most society that extends well beyond the right to essentially a practice. Practicing justice is vote. It requires a delicate balance between like carefully practicing the piano or dancing; the demands of equality and liberty, between 5 it is an exercise in learning, a gradual process the group and the individual. of deepening understanding and increasing skill. A Unifying Dialogue But justice, like democracy, is a fluid concept Caring for justice is at the heart of that is defined differently by political progressive social movements and the theorists and activists from one end of the philanthropy that supports them. It makes political spectrum to the other. The flags of sense of our commitment to the seemingly justice and democracy are frequently waved in disparate causes that make up the progressive opposition to progressive causes. So how agenda—from economic justice to global can we use justice to serve as a unifying warming, from affirmative action to vision, a rallying cry to pull together the reproductive rights, from access to health care disparate elements of the progressive agenda? to education reform, to name just a few. A compelling political vision provides a Maintaining a Relationship with Justice coherent framework for political reasoning I first came across the expression caring for while appealing to our ethics, feelings and justice as the title of a book. What does caring spirit. Rather than a “unifying vision,” perhaps for justice mean? To be passionate about reflecting on justice should serve as a justice? To attend to justice carefully, the way “unifying dialogue”—one that leads us, like the we attend to loved ones and nurture children? practice of justice, to deeper understanding To take care of justice? I soon realized how and greater collective strength to effect much this simple expression captures. It change. alludes both to the feelings and the actions continued on page 7 that justice inspires. Tides Foundation: Annual Report 2000 As responsive grantmakers, we have the opportunity to listen honestly and ask hard questions of society and ourselves. And we have the responsibility, now and always, to move money to those groups and movements that are working to create a more democratic and just society. 6 L OVE AND J USTICE: THAT W HICH B INDS U S T OGETHER continued from page 5 The free and open dialogue I imagine would Love. That frequently relegated player in all of touch on some of the ideas I have already this reminds us of our roots: philanthropy— raised—democracy, equality, liberty, participat- the love of mankind. In this context, love and ion, politics—as well as many, many others. compassion (for humankind) are not just Justice and the politics of difference, for emotional responses but ethical activities. example, stirs great emotion across the Contemporary progressive philanthropy is political spectrum, frequently dividing the both ethical and political in actively electorate while unifying many of us in our underwriting social movements and causes. determination for equal participation. Yet one Funders do not drive the movements, but we of the attributes we usually ascribe to justice participate in them through the grantmaking is impartiality. In the face of the marginal- relationship. ization, exploitation and violence that plague some groups, do we override notions of equal Our Practice of Justice treatment in favor of equal participation? I would say yes. But whether or not you would It is through this relationship, through the agree with me, a vital and necessary dialogue practice of philanthropy, that funders best lies within that question. participate in unifying dialogues. Forging 7 theories in the absence of practice is usually a mistake. Discussions and conversations Interlocking Values within organizations, between organizations Then, there is the question of the relationship and their constituencies, and between sister between justice and the economic order. In organizations are necessarily grounded in Democratic Justice, Ian Shapiro writes of the day-to-day realities. With grants,we can create dangers of the unthinking “tendency to equate the space to nurture and encourage these democracy and freedom with markets and situated dialogues as well as fund the work capitalism,” particularly with the fall of itself. Grants can free organizations in a very socialist systems. Is justice pro-market? Can real way to take the time to reflect, study, progressives fashion a unifying vision without analyze, argue, and sharpen their approaches unity on an alternative to the postindustrial to their work. globalized capitalist system? What emerges from these discussions will And what of the connections between justice shape the organizations’ agendas and and other fundamental values of sustainability activities and, in turn, our grantmaking and peace? They are interlocking values; programs. sustainability is justice for the people with whom we share the planet now, as well as for As responsive grantmakers, we have the those that will in the future. As for peace, as opportunity to listen honestly and ask hard well as I know anything I know that there is no questions of society and ourselves. And we peace without justice. Delving into these have the responsibility, now and always, to human values, we may also be willing to move money to those groups and movements express our sense that there is no justice that are working to create a more democratic without compassion, without love. and just society. Tides Foundation: Annual Report 2000 8 “I wanted a philanthropic partner with expertise—not just in the mechanics of making grants but in strategic, progressive philanthropy. I needed a trusted partner with whom I could grow and develop.” T IDES: A PLACE TO G ROW Q UINN D ELANEY, C HAIR,TIDES F OUNDATION B OARD OF D IRECTORS As Tides Foundation celebrates 25 years of increase the impact of their grantmaking cutting edge philanthropy, I am proud and while creating vital links within our broader happy to be a part of the Tides family. It was community (see page 11). These opportunities Tides’ reputation for social change philan- to share resources, share experiences and 9 thropy which first attracted me and my share expertise in respectful and effective husband to create a donor advised fund here forums are what make Tides Foundation a ten years ago. It was important for us to find special place—a place where individual a partner with whom we could grow as grantmakers, institutional funders, family philanthropists and which supported our foundations, dedicated staff and grassroots progressive values.

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