Crisis Response Fund Grant

The Crisis Response Fund, established by the Tides Foundation, addresses urgent needs arising from crises in the U.S. The fund aims to empower communities historically marginalized by providing swift financial support to local organizations during emergencies. It focuses on building resilience and addressing systemic inequities, particularly affecting communities of color. By prioritizing grassroots leadership, the fund ensures effective responses to crises, fostering both immediate recovery and long-term community strength.

The Crisis Response Fund moves quickly in the aftermath of US-based crises to help communities historically denied power rebuild. By responding to emergencies that threaten the progress of Tides’ priority issue areas, we fuel short-term recovery and long-term resilience.
Protect Vulnerable Communities When Crises Strike
Crises can exacerbate the inequities faced by communities of color and other marginalized groups, harming their ability to fully recover from life-changing — and often life-threatening — events. Launched in response to the deadly Maui wildfires in 2023, the Tides Foundation Crisis Response Fund rapidly shifts resources and power to proximate leaders, accelerating their efforts to serve people in crisis.
Funding Priorities
Tides defines a crisis as any event or series of events that causes human, physical, economic, social, cultural, or environmental damage to communities historically denied power and overwhelms their capacity to cope. The Crisis Response Fund is committed to resourcing communities in crisis as quickly and equitably as possible.
Crises Impacting Tides’ Issue Areas
We fund local organizations whose primary work of grassroots power-building, advocacy, policy change, strengthening community resilience, and organizing across sectors is impeded by a crisis falling within one of our issue areas — democracy, health equity, environmental justice, and women’s and immigrants’ rights.
Vetted Grantees Involved in Active Response
The Crisis Response Fund rapidly supports active crisis work by amplifying the expertise of trusted Tides grantee partners who already serve affected communities and/or are responding to an active crisis. Priority will be given to organizations led by members of the communities they serve.
Rapid Response
Every minute counts after a crisis occurs to prevent additional suffering and harm. Tides support organizations that provide rapid disaster response to affected communities.
Long-Term Resilience
The Crisis Response Fund also resources organizations working to build long-term community resilience in the face of future crises, including proximate leaders driving systems change to proactively address and reduce the frequency of crises.