Rising Tide Foundation

Case Study

Crafting a philanthropic strategy that works.

The Rising Tide Foundation is an international foundation founded in 2010 to support education, public policy, and cancer research. It aims to promote causes which increase opportunities available for individuals in need, in effect “placing the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise.”

As a newer foundation that wanted to ensure its funds were being distributed in an effective manner, the Rising Tide Foundation contacted American Philanthropic to deliver educational training to its board members and directors.

The foundation’s leadership needed to have a good grasp of the philanthropic landscape in order to craft an effective strategy and grant portfolio, and to assist their grantees in becoming self-sufficient over the long term.

American Philanthropic worked closely with foundation staff to develop a clear understanding of the issues the foundation intended to address, then delivered a presentation on best practices for strategic giving based on carefully researched case studies of several comparable foundations.

American Philanthropic is registered as “fundraising counsel,” “fundraising consultants,” or other similar designations in all states requiring this kind of registration. We did not act as a “professional fundraiser” in the case cited above, meaning, among other things, that we did not at any time solicit funds, assets, or property on our client’s behalf.