Ellen Friedman Says Farewell

After 24 amazing years of innovative partnerships, working with the world’s most cutting edge organizations and watching the organization grow from a handful of people in a downtown office to a 125 person thriving enterprise, today, June 30, 2010 is my last day at Tides.  I am leaving Tides to assume the position of Executive Director of the Compton Foundation (www.comptonfoundation.org). While I am thrilled to be joining a foundation with a deep commitment to social justice and equity, leaving Tides was not a decision I took lightly.  During my tenure, Tides has grown to occupy a unique niche in the progressive community as a trusted resource providing infrastructure for progressive work including grantmaking, fiscal sponsorship supporting innovation, and the development of nonprofit real estate. Tides’ growth is a remarkable development that has been spurred by the wisdom, creative attention, and critical partnerships with donors, activists, institutions, social entrepreneurs, and allies dedicated to social transformation. I have great confidence in the leadership and staff of Tides and know that the organization is in very good hands. It is well served by a dedicated and creative staff that daily work with our partners to accomplish change in the world that is focused on justice and equity. It has been a privilege to work with so many people who are working daily to make the world a better place for all.

I will begin my tenure with the Compton Foundation on August 16, 2010. The Compton Foundation is driven by a similar commitment as Tides, and their work in the areas of peace and security, environmental sustainability, and reproductive health and justice is widely respected. Compton is a grantmaker dedicated to listening deeply to the people in the fields in which it works and using the power of its resources to support social change. I am honored to step into this leadership role at an important time in the Compton’s history and at a time of increased need and urgency in the areas in which Compton works.

While my time at Tides is coming to a close, I look forward to continuing a partnership with the organization to support its continued growth and evolution and to sharing our ongoing work for equity, sustainability and social justice for our global society.