Tides Center is an institution that provides fiscal sponsorship for progressive groups like the Opportunity Agenda. They make an effort to make greatest use of their finances within the limits of the law.
It is administratively linked to but separate from the Tides Foundation. Tides Center and Tides Foundation are part of a family of organizations linked by a commitment to social change, innovation, and responsible stewardship of resources.
Tides Center is classified a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the IRS.
Among hundreds of charitable foundations, the Heinz Endowments, of which Teresa Heinz Kerry is Chair, contributed $8 million to Tides Center, mainly for community projects in southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Heinz Endowments also gave a total $230,000 to Tides Foundation from 1994 to 1998, but has not given grants to Tides Foundation since.
Tides Center handles administrative functions such as payroll, benefits, insurance, and tax form 990 in exchange for a 9% fee, which is taken out of grant monies.
People for the American Way is among the organizations that began as projects of the Tides Center., and the Citizendium Foundation are current projects of Tides Center.