Get Off Your Assets: Fuel the Frontlines, Fund the Future

This year’s headlines have made one thing clear: our communities are being tested like never before. From escalating attacks on LGBTQ+ rights to the ongoing fight for immigrant dignity, and from intensifying climate disasters to the persistent struggle for racial justice and democracy itself, the challenges we face today demand more than words of solidarity. They demand action. 

At Tides, we know that action starts with generosity in motion. Now is the time to grant from your current donor-advised funds (DAFs) — and add new assets — so we can meet this moment together and invest in the future we all want to see. 

Why It’s Time to Move More From Your Donor Advised Fund

Across the philanthropic landscape, DAFs continue to grow, yet too many remain idle. Nationally, only 22% of DAF balances are granted out on average each year.  

Tides Foundation donors are leading the way, granting nearly triple that percentage (57%) — and we’re seeing the difference it makes. Every dollar put to work now means power in the hands of those building change, not left sitting in accounts while the clock runs out on opportunity. 

Tides Foundation Partners Are Leading With Bold Actions and Impact

As funding cuts deepen and costs soar, nonprofits and civil society groups are being stretched to their limits — just as communities need them most. With public and private funding shrinking, demand for essential services has surged, leaving many organizations struggling to keep pace. While the challenges are great, and the height of the giving season has not yet started, Tides Foundation’s leaders and impact partners have already granted over $230 million to fight our biggest battles, including:
 

Meeting Growing Community Demands: Across the country, the pressures on working families are mounting — hunger is rising, housing is increasingly out of reach, and faith-based groups are stretched thin serving those impacted by economic instability. This year, Tides Foundation donors have stepped up to answer the call, channeling over $20 million to support food banks, emergency housing efforts, disaster relief, education, and art initiatives at the heart of community resilience. 

Shifting the Narrative on Immigration: Online rhetoric targeting immigrants has been fueling policies that separate families, deny human dignity, and stall opportunity for newcomers for years. Through I-Belong, Tides Foundation supports the research-driven tools and narrative strategies nonprofits need to respond with compassion, truth, and courage — both now and for the future. This year, Tides Foundation donors directed $2.2 million to strengthen immigrant rights and the fight for human dignity.   

Advancing Climate Solutions: From devastating wildfires to relentless hurricanes, frontline communities — especially women and children — bear the disproportionate burden of climate chaos. Tides Foundation donors are rising to meet the challenge, contributing $1.8 million so far this year to both the Women’s Environmental Leadership Fund (WE LEAD) and the Frontline Justice Fund — initiatives empowering local leaders and communities to design resilient solutions, push for policy change, and take on big polluters in the courtroom and beyond. 

Building Power and Pride: LGBTQ+ communities continue to face challenges related to censorship, erasure, and access to basic rights and supportive care, with ongoing efforts to exclude LGBTQ+ topics from public spaces and critical services. This year, Tides Foundation donors have fueled progress with $6.6 million in support — standing alongside LGBTQ+ communities as one of the nation’s largest funders of equality, civil rights, and initiatives.  

Defending Democracy: Disinformation, ballot restrictions, and rollbacks of voting rights threaten the foundation of democratic participation nationwide. Through the Healthy Democracy Fund, Tides Foundation donors have invested $8.7 million to safeguard fair access to the ballot box, amplify civic engagement, and strengthen protections for vulnerable voters.

Important 2026 Update Regarding Charitable Donation Tax Deductions

“Get Off Your Assets” has always been about unlocking philanthropic potential — and this year, that call is louder than ever. As we approach year-end, don’t miss the opportunity to maximize your tax advantages while fueling real change.

Beginning in 2026, a new “floor” will apply to charitable deductions. Only donations that exceed 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) will qualify for a federal tax deduction. For example, if your AGI is $200,000, the first $1,000 given to charity would not be deductible — the deduction only applies to amounts above that threshold. This makes 2025 a critical year to bundle or accelerate your giving, ensuring every dollar donated is fully deductible under the current rules.

And remember: moving assets isn’t limited to your current DAF grants. You can: 

• Collaborate with Tides Foundation to convert underused endowments or surplus assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) into active social investments. 

• Challenge your peers and networks to match your movement, multiplying the impact across communities. 

• Ask your advisor how Tides is leading the way in strengthening the field and protecting our freedom to give, and partner with us to sustain frontline work that keeps progress and possibility alive for the future. 

When philanthropy stays static, inequality deepens. But when assets move, transformation begins. Let’s meet this moment together—boldly, urgently, and with purpose. 

If you have an account with Tides Foundation, please contact your advisor to bring your vision to life.

Contact us if you’re setting up your first DAF