Tides Advocacy Adds Four Philanthropy and Social Justice Leaders to Its Board of Directors
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- As it builds on its longstanding commitment toward racial justice and moves to advance a pro-Black agenda in philanthropy, Tides Advocacy announced today that four nationally recognized philanthropy and social justice leaders have joined its board of directors.
“We are thrilled to have these powerful leaders on our board as we work to transform Tides Advocacy into a pro-Black organization, with a deep commitment and love for Black resistance and liberation across our governance, leadership, voice and policies,” said Romilda Avila, CEO of Tides Advocacy. “Whether through building political power for communities of color or advocating for philanthropy to support organizing led by Black people and people of color, these leaders are pushing for a more just and equitable world.”
“On behalf of the whole board, I am honored to welcome these leaders,” said Shareen Punian, Tides Advocacy Board Chair and Co-Founder of Democracy Lab. “Each new board member brings broad experience in social and racial justice. Tides Advocacy is in a period of growth and transformational change, and their leadership will be instrumental in our commitment to better serve and structurally reflect our grantees and partners.”
Nicole Boucher is a Vice President of Way to Win, and Senior Advisor to its c3 effort, Way to Rise, working on the larger landscape of partnerships to strengthen and create the infrastructure needed to win elections, advance transformative policy and build lasting power. Prior to Way to Win, Nicole was the co-executive director of the California Donor Table, where she worked with a broad base of funders, political donors, labor leaders, practitioners and state and local community leaders to invest in and support the civic engagement and electoral priorities of California’s new majority communities. As a queer, multiracial Pacific Islander and first-generation high school and college graduate, she has a deep commitment to equity, and brings over 15 years’ of local, state and national experience leading racial, economic and climate justice organizations.
“I am thrilled to join the board of an organization that is committed to political power-building across communities of color,” said Nicole Boucher. “Along with Tides Advocacy leadership and my colleagues on the Board, I look forward to continuing to support the Black- and people of color-led movements that are winning electoral, cultural and policy victories around the country.”
William Cordery is a donor advisor and consultant with Leverage Philanthropic Partners and Principal of Freedom Futures. He has held several roles in the field of philanthropy – from working at large national private grantmaking institutions to managing fundraising efforts for large, international nonprofit organizations. Over his career, Will has developed and implemented multi-million-dollar grantmaking and fundraising portfolios. Will’s grantmaking has helped to move multi-issue agendas, including racial justice, voter engagement, public education, health equity, LGBTQI human rights and criminal justice reform. He formerly worked with Marguerite Casey Foundation, Surdna Foundation and Wellspring Philanthropic Fund.
“For far too long, Black, Indigenous and people of color-led movements have been grossly under-resourced as they worked to dismantle oppressive systems,” said William Cordery. “The last year, however, demonstrated the power and possibility when these movements have increased support and trust from philanthropy. Tides Advocacy is committed to ensuring that its practices, funding partnerships and operations reflect a powerful pro-Black agenda, and I look forward to working with other Board members and our peers in philanthropy to mobilize support to the movements that are courageously leading the way.”
Janiece Evans-Page is Chief Executive Officer of Tides. Prior to joining Tides in 2021, she served as the inaugural Chief Sustainability and Diversity Officer for Fossil Group. She launched Fossil Group’s global philanthropy practice and was head of the Fossil Foundation. She led the strategic modernization of Fossil Group’s global philanthropic investment portfolio and was the architect of the organization’s signature initiative empowering youth through innovative partnerships with social entrepreneurs. Under Janiece’s leadership, the Fossil Foundation has impacted the lives of more than one million underserved young people around the globe. During her 20-plus year career at Hewlett-Packard Co., her accomplishments included the transformation of HP’s $20 million philanthropy portfolio. In 2018, she was honored by Ebony Magazine as one of its Power 100 awardees in the “Women Up” category. Janiece was recently honored as one of the most “Powerful Women of the Bay Area” for 2021.
“Philanthropy and advocacy must go hand in hand in eradicating systemic racism and bringing about the change and justice that our communities so desperately need,” said Janiece Evans-Page. “I am proud to be among Tides Advocacy’s Board members and look forward to working alongside them and the organization’s leadership in elevating Tides Advocacy’s bold agenda and creating a world where social justice is not the exception, but the unequivocal rule.”
Kaci Patterson is the owner of Social Good Solutions (SGS), a boutique consulting practice bridging ideas with social change. In addition to building multimillion-dollar grantmaking portfolios in the United States and abroad, Kaci pioneered capacity building programs, professional development and organizational initiatives that served networks of more than 1,000 civil society leaders and public officials. She serves as the lead consultant organizing philanthropic engagement for the Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative in her role as Senior Director the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment; has served as the Chief Strategist for the Black Equity Initiative since its launch in 2017 and is the Founder and Chief Architect of the Black Equity Collective (2021). She also co-founded the BLACC (Building Leaders and Cultivating Change) Fund, a giving circle at Liberty Hill Foundation supporting grassroots social activism. Kaci has been recognized by the California Community Foundation and Empowerment Congress (2016), Liberty Hill Foundation (2017) and Los Angeles Community Action Network (2019) for her work in advancing community-driven social change.
“Philanthropy must listen to, support and follow the organizers and communities that are transforming our world from the ground up,” said Kaci Patterson. “I am excited to be on the board of an organization that is committed to a Black- and people of color-led agenda for our collective liberation.”
About Tides Advocacy:
Tides Advocacy is a team of political, legal and financial experts that identify, connect, and fuel movements for social justice and the health of the country’s democracy. Founded in 1997, Tides Advocacy leverages its extensive network and design solutions to make advocacy accessible to social change innovators in all sectors. With a network of over 85 fiscally sponsored 501(c)(4) projects and funds across the United States, Tides Advocacy supports advocates and donors to strengthen community voice and achieve lasting policy change. For more information: TidesAdvocacy.org