The Obama Foundation has invested $2 million into the Tides Center, described as a “dark money” channel that funds progressive activist organizations with untraceable cash, according to a recently released tax document.
Federal records examined by the New York Post indicate that the Foundation donated $1 million in 2022 and another $1 million in 2023. While framed as support for “local organizations working to reduce violence in the community,” these funds made their way through a network that redirected tens of millions to the Tides Foundation.
In parallel, Tides Center has transferred nearly $20 million to the Tides Foundation, supporting a diverse range of progressive activist groups, as noted in various reports.
Parker Shayer, a researcher at the Capital Research Center, mentioned, “The Tides Network is closely aligned with a dark money group on the left, of similar scale.”
As the 2022 midterm elections approached, the Obama Foundation backed a nonprofit that, alongside $7.7 million in funding for liberal voter registration and turnout, also raised around $2.7 million to select pro-abortion candidates.
That same year, the Tides group allocated $132,000 to Wespac, a national organization supporting justice for Palestinian youth. Wespac organized a “Day of Resistance” following the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, which were described in some quarters as “the collapse of the tortured Zionist occupation.”
According to various reports, there are groups such as Jewish Voices for Peace involved in this dialogue.
Tides is also linked to the Trans Justice Funding Project, which facilitated donations for Black Lives Matter Grassroots, as reported separately.
In 2022, Tides provided bail support totaling $229,570 for cities like Chicago and Milwaukee.
Meanwhile, the Obama Foundation’s donation page notes their efforts to support college students in making a significant impact in their communities.
