To implement and champion new approaches to funding that center power with, and provide resources directly to, local communities, small-scale fishers and fish workers, Indigenous Peoples, and the groups that legitimately serve them. With more appropriate and equitable resourcing, actors across scales can build the rights recognition and conditions that ensure tenure security.
Supporting Peoples and Communities to experience Secure Tenure and Recognized Rights
Turning Tides is a re-granting facility that moves flexible, multi-year funding directly to Indigenous Peoples, small-scale fishers, local communities, and the groups that legitimately serve them. Working across local, national, regional, and global levels, we support partners building the conditions for secure tenure and the full recognition of rights — foundational to agency and self-determination. Our work is grounded in trust, accountability, long-term partnership, and sustained consultation with those we serve.
Our Vision
Local communities, small-scale fishers and fish workers, and Indigenous Peoples fully experience their tenure, and associated rights and agency in the allocation, use, conservation, management and development of coastal lands, shorelines, oceans, lakes, rivers, and associated resources – toward better environmental and societal outcomes.
Our Values
Our values were shaped by our partners, our Steering Committee, and emerging practices of liberatory and other progressive philanthropy. They are foundational to who we are, and guide every decision, interaction, and relationship.
Center power with partners (i.e., Fisher peoples, Indigenous Peoples, and their communities and allies)
Prioritize and plan for self-determination and independence
Foster solidarity and protect civic spaces
Prioritize transparency and accountability
Base our work on trust, responsiveness, and service
Uphold lived experience and diverse knowledge
Commit to humility and reflexivity
Our Goal
Strategy to 2030
See our Strategy to 2030, which outlines our multi-scale and geographic approach, including the challenges we aim to address, risk mitigation strategies, milestones, and projected budget through 2030.
Turning Tides 2025 Annual Report
Learn more about Turning Tides' accomplishments, initiatives, and organizational growth throughout the year. The upcoming report highlights our dedication to accountability and sustainable impact.
Where Do Turning Tides’ Partners Work?
We have developed action plans for Latin America and Africa: Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Regional movement building, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Continent-wide support.
We are also in the exploration and engagement phase – India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh.
Our 2022–2024 pilot phase shaped how we work today. Some of those relationships have continued; others have informed the partnerships now underway. "Partner Piloting" were based in: Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Honduras, Senegal.
The Turning Tides Team
Meet the Turning Tides team — people from across the globe with combined experience in progressive philanthropy, human rights, gender equity, environmental governance, community organizing, Indigenous affairs, equity law, and environmental justice.
Our Funders
We are also supported by three anonymous donors: names are available upon request. If you are interested in becoming a funder of Turning Tides, we would welcome the conversation.
Connect With UsThe Genesis of Turning Tides
Turning Tides emerged from the Marine Tenure Initiative (2022–2024), which was designed to understand how philanthropy could better support Indigenous Peoples, small-scale fishers, and coastal communities seeking tenure security and rights recognition.
Governed by a Steering Committee with deep expertise in human rights and coastal tenure, the Initiative undertook comprehensive scoping research, conducted over 100 hours of consultations across five regions, and implemented a piloting phase with seven local organizations. This deliberate process revealed the substantial capacity and readiness of grassroots groups historically overlooked by traditional funding mechanisms, alongside the urgent need for approaches that genuinely center rights-holders in decision-making.
These insights informed our values around trust-based partnerships, flexible processes, and support beyond financial grants.
With $33 million committed from six aligned funders, Turning Tides launched in June 2024 as an institution purpose-built to support rights recognition and tenure security — enabling community agency for more effective and self-determined climate action, environmental stewardship, and development.
Learn more about Turning Tides
Join us to fund Indigenous Peoples, fishers, and coastal defenders —or join collaborative efforts toward a sea change in how frontline communities are funded and supported