A group of Tides staff sporting "Infrastructure is Sexy" schwag. Photo: Robert Miller

Whether our work is community organizing, policy advocacy, or direct social services, our focus in the nonprofit sector is on achieving impact. But, what about all the important work that happens behind the scenes? At Tides, we know that "infrastructure" work is fundamental to social change—it's the lifeblood of the nonprofit sector. It consists of the systems that serve organizations, foundations, and activists; structures that enable the work to happen; and networks to share ideas and information.

Nonprofits are promoting shovel-ready capital projects, taking advantage of stimulus funds and drastic drops in commercial real estate prices, and finding new opportunities and innovative strategies to improve their infrastructure, share administrative operations and avoid redundancies. In this economy, we think that's downright sexy.

Sharing People, Space & Systems

• REPORT BACK - Building Opportunities Conference Hosted by Tides: Last week leaders from the nonprofit, philanthropic, private, and public sectors came together in Washington D.C. to experience the largest event in North America dedicated to creating and managing shared workspace, administrative services, technology and programs for the nonprofit sector. The conference presented collaborative tools and models to help nonprofit organizations reduce costs, gain greater efficiencies, and enhance community programs.  As the social change sector searches for strategies to weather difficult economic times, the need for this forum has increased and participants requested changing this bi-annual conference into an annual event.
• SHARED SPACES: Nonprofit centers, as well as their funders and investors are stimulating the economy, increasing access to social services, and creating lasting social change in their communities. Many nonprofit centers are also green buildings which lower operating costs and help the environment. Planting a Seed, a guide from the NonprofitCenters Network showcases successful nonprofit centers across North America.
• INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY: The Nonprofit Quarterly's recent Study on Nonprofit and Philanthropic Infrastructure (PDF): 'As a tool for the sector, infrastructure facilitates collaboration, saves money for donors and activists, makes work more efficient, leverages assets, and builds connections across nonprofit, corporate, and public sectors.'
• SHARED SERVICES STUDY: Tides has evolved from operating independent businesses with coordinated shared services into an integrated enterprise. As part of this effort, we recently completed research into shared service models run by organizations who serve internal business units. The goal is to run the whole organization more effectively. Download the executive summary of Tides' Shared Services Benchmarking Study (PDF).
• IN THE MEDIA: From the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Joining Forces in the 'Back Office': Collaborative effort by charities combines groups' administrative operations, (subscription required)

Strong Infrastructure Makes a Difference

Philanthropists and nonprofits who have streamlined their own infrastructure and who focus on improving collaboration and infrastructure in the communities they serve have a big impact.

• At Tides Momentum 2008 Conference, Gihan Perera, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Miami Workers' Center, discussed how civic infrastructure has been handed over from public to private interests, and how to reverse that trend. Known as Right to the City, the movement to connect urban development to green jobs, better schools, and affordable housing is emerging in urban centers all over the country. It is a unifying vision for activists and donors across the country focused on collaboration and participatory democracy that seeks to unify our cities and develop meaningful urban communities.
• Federal funds are coming from Washington for energy efficiency improvements, weatherization, and plant retooling. Now that the federal government has embraced America's transition to a clean energy economy, Tides project Apollo Alliance is redoubling its efforts to ensure that the new economy creates widely shared opportunities. Their goal is to develop high quality green-collar jobs that pay well, provide benefits, and can turn into rewarding careers in the clean energy sector.
• Tides project GLUE (Great Lakes Urban Exchange) is a coalition of young leaders who are devoted to the revitalization of older industrial cities in the Great Lakes "rustbelt." GLUE is a forum to exchange stories, ideas, and best practices between otherwise isolated cities, and they invite activists, policy makers, and advocates to Great Lakes Metros: A Time of Opportunity, June 18-19, 2009 in Buffalo, NY. This summit will focus on the stimulus bill, future allocations, and other federal support to promote sustainable and equitable cities in the region. 
• IN THE MEDIA: Wall Street Journal, Family Charities Shift Assets to Donor Funds—Givers Gain Cost, Tax Benefits But Sacrifice Some Control; Leaving Paperwork to Others. Donor advised funds, which Tides provides, enable flexible grantmaking without the expense and hassle of setting up your own foundation.
• FILM: Ready-made infrastructure for mission-related investments, including investing in social change media, is an innovative and unique way to create social change.
  
  Amreeka, supported by a Tides donor, documents the life of a Palestinian immigrant and her teenage son who arrive in rural Illinois to escape a life of oppression only to encounter the fallout from the war in Iraq. The film, which was just picked up by National Geographic for national distribution, "reaffirms social realism's validity as humanistic art with an educational frisson" (from a feature in the New York Times).

Join Us!  USAction Celebration to Honor Ellen Friedman
June 18, 6-8pm
San Francisco
USAction is honoring Ellen Friedman, Executive Vice President of Tides, as part of their 10th Anniversary celebration. Please join us! Register here.

State Equality Fund
LOI deadline: 5/29. Grantmaking fund of Tides furthers equal opportunity for people at state and local levels regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. > More info

Mario Savio Young Activist Award
Nomination deadline: 6/30. Presented to young person(s) with a deep commitment to human rights, social justice & proven ability to transform commitment into action.  > More info