The Tar Sands Campaign: >400 Payments via Tides to 100 Organizations in Canada, USA & Europe

Since 2009, The Tides Foundation and Tides Canada Foundation have granted at least $40 million to organizations involved in anti-pipeline activism in the U.S., Canada and in Europe. Of that $40 million, at least $25 million was explicitly for anti-pipeline activity while $15 million went to the same organizations for general, related or unspecified purposes. 

Below, here are excerpts of the U.S. tax returns showing more than 400 payments to 100 environmental and First Nations organizations that have been funded as part of the anti-pipeline Tar Sands Campaign.

Note: For 2014 and 2016, the excerpts provided are from a list of grants published by the Tides Foundation. These lists do not include the stated purpose for which the funds were granted. As such, it cannot be assumed that the payments made in 2014 and 2016 were necessarily for the Tar Sands Campaign.

1. 840450 Ltd. Fort Chipewayan, Alberta:

• $45,000 (2012)
• $10,000 (2012)
• $55,000 (2013)
• $75,00 (2015)
• $18,864 (2016)
  

2.  Alberta Environment Network Society, Edmonton, Alberta:

• Alberta Environment Network Society US$16,196 (2017)

3.  Association Quebecois de Luttre Contre la Pollution Atmosphérique

• $47,724 (2015)
  

4.  Beaver Lake Cree Nation

• $28,319 (2015)
  
• $31,643 (2016)
  

5.    Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society

• $12,000 (2009)
• $24,000 (2016)

6.  Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (via the Polaris Institute):

• $15,000 (2013)
• $11,452 (2014)
  
• $26,431 (2015)

7.  Canadian Climate Action Network (initially paid via the Sierra Club of Canada)

• $60,o4oo (2010)
• $50,000 (2011)
• $19,344 (2015)
  
• $39,023 (2016)
  
• $59,830(2017) 

8.  Centre for Policy Alternatives

• $9,236 (2014)

9.  Conservation Council of New Brunswick

• $22,969 (2015)
  
• $11,708 (2016)
  

10.  Conservation for Responsible Economic Development (CRED)

• $27,195 (2015)
  

11.  Council of Canadians

• $10,693 (2014)
• $27,946 (2015)
  
• $31,643 (2016)
  

12. DeSmogBlog Society - NOTE: This was for "opposition research-based journalism and distribution" and was paid via the Sustainable Markets Foundation.

• $75,000 (2014)
  

13. DI Foundation - NOTE: This grant was made via Tides Canada Foundation

• $117,436 (2016)
  

14.    Driftwood Foundation

• $27,000 (2009)

15.    Dogwood Initiative:

• $40,654 (2008) paid via Tides Canada Foundation
• $46,639 (2009) paid via Tides Canada Foundation
• $65,000 (2010)
• $150,000 (2011)
• $75,000 (2012)
• $75,000 (2013)
• $201,752 (2014)
• $142,279 (2016)
  
• $163 763 (2017)

16.  Ducks Unlimited Canada

Note: These payments were for the Athabasca Watershed Water Quality Research Project. These payments were for "research to document the extent of polycyclic hydrocarbon being released from Alberta tar sands operation and in support of the Taku NGO campaign."  Given the description of the purposes for which these funds were paid, it seems to me that these funds were granted as part of the Tar Sands Campaign. However, other than these payments, I have seen no evidence that Ducks Unlimited Canada is explicitly involved in the Tar Sands Campaign.

• $191,773 (2009) paid via Tides Canada Foundation
  
• NOTE: Tides Canada also paid Ducks Unlimited Canada $US-200,000 in 2008 for the same project. 

17.    Ecojustice

• $50,000 (2009)
• $150,000 (2010)
  
• $150,000 (2011)
  
• $120,000 (2012)
• $93,309 (2014)
  
• $82,071 (2015)
  
• $122,727 (2016)
  
• $47 840 (2017)

18.  Ecology Action Centre

• $12,495 (2014)
• $34,155 (2015)
  
• $33,460 (2016)
  

19.  Ecology Ottawa

• $29,016 (2015)
• $63,657 (2016)
  
• $15 920 (2017)

20.  Environmental Defence Canada Inc.:

• $105,000 (2008) paid via Tides Canada Foundation
  
• $205,000 (2009)
• $250,000 (2010)
  
• $250,000 (2011)
  
• $185,000 (2012)
• $212,500 (2013)
• $152,826 (2014)
  
• $116,063 (2015)
  
• $50,619 (2016)
  
• $36,465 (2017)

21.  Equiterre

• $60,000 (2009)
• $80,000 (2010)
  
• $50,000 (2011)
  
• $45,000 (2012)
  
• $75,000 (2013)
  
• $67,968 (2014)
• $76,563 (2015)
  
• $86,103 (2016)
  
• $39 799 (2017)

22.  Forest Ethics Advocacy

• $783,603 (2009) - NOTE: This payment was made via Tides Canada Foundation
  
• $76,565 (2015)
  
• $58,607 (2016)
  

23.  Georgia Strait Alliance

• $25,861 (2014)
• $11,606 (2015)
  
• $16,681 (2016)
  

24.    Gitga'at First Nation

• $15,000 (2015)
  

25.  Global Forest Watch Canada:

• $48,000 (2012)

26.  Great Bear Rainforest Initiative (formerly The Turning Point Initiative)

• $27,000 (2009)
• $100,000 (2010)
  
• $50,000 (2011)
  
• $62,500 (2012)
  
• $67,500 (2013)
  
• $25,000 (2013)
• $61,835 (2014)
  
• $23,213 (2015)
  
• $20,899 (2016)
  

27.  Greenpeace Canada

• $186,000 (2009)
• $200,000 (2010)
  
• $250,000 (2011)
  
• $250,000 (2012)
  
• $100,000 (2013)
  
• $90,000 (2013)
• $73,926 (2014)
  
• $129,357 (2015)
  
• $ 46,634 (2016)
  

28.  Idle No More

• $75,000 (2014)
• $75,000 (2015)
  

29. Indigenous Climate Action

• US$19 900 (2017)

30. Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign (paid through the Polaris Institute)

• $9,750 (2008) paid through Tides Canada Foundation
  
• $40,000 (2013)

31. The Institute for New Economics Public Research - Note: These grants were made by Tides Canada Foundation

• $46,639 (2009)
  
• $88,902 (2010)
  
• $136,368 (2011)
  

32.  Iron and Earth

• $31,150 (2016)
  

33.  Keepers of the Athabasca:

• $40,000 (2010)
• $20,000 (2011)
  
• $50,000 (2012)
• $30,896 (2015)
  
• $52,225 (2016)
  
• $20 711 (2017)

34.  Ktunaxa Nation Council Society

• $52,225 (2016)

35.  Leadnow

• $78,546 (2014)
• $59,041 (2016)
  

36.  LI - The Leadership Institute - "Hollyhock"

• $198,966 (2016)
  

37.  Living Oceans Society:

• $60,000 (2010)
• $120,000 (2011)
  
• $35,000 (2012)
  
• $36,000 (2013)
• $23,101 (2014)
• $19,344 (2015)
• $59,041 (2016)
  

38.  Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition

• $19,344 (2015)
  
• $34,041 (2016)
  
• $12,00 (2017)

39.  Northwest Institute for Bioregional Research Society:

• $72,628 (2010)
• $75,000 (2011)
  
• $35,000 (2012)
• $35,000 (2013)
• $27,704 (2014)
  

40.  Pembina Foundation for Environmental Research

• $159,949 (2011) paid to the Pembina Foundation

41. Pembina Institute:

• $91,188 (2011)
  
• $145,000 (2012)
  
• $225,000 (2013)
  
• $91,640 (2014)
  
• $95,706 (2015)
  
• $125,059 (2016)
  
• $59 699 (2017)

42.  Pipe Up Association:

• $17,500 (2013)
• $13,763 (2014)
  
• $11,546 (2015)
  
• $7,816 (2016)
  

43.  Quebec Environmental Law Centre:

• $38,282 (2015)
  

44. Raincoast Conservation Society

• $20,000 (2010)
• $10,000 (2013)
  
• $15,000 (2013)
  
• $15,000 (2014)

45.  Respecting Aboriginal and Environmental Law (RAVEN) - for the Pull Together Campaign

• $20,000 (2015)
  
• $27,00 (2016)

46.  Saik'Uz First Nation - for the Yinka Dene Alliance

• $30,626 (2015)
  

47. Salal Foundation - NOTE: This grant was made by Tides Canada Foundation

• $6,763 (2013)
  

48.  Sierra Club of British Columbia Foundation:

• $25,000 (2012)
• $30,000 (2013)
  
• $42,562 (2014)
  
• $88,319 (2015)
  
• $67,938 (2016)
  

49.  Sierra Club of Canada Foundation:

• $7,450 (2008)
  
• $110,000 (2009) 
• $75,000 (2010)
  
• $120,ooo (2011)
  
• $30,000 (2012)
  
• $30,000 (2013)
  
• $29,102 (2014)
  
• $12,000 (2016)
  

50.  Sisu Society:

• $90,000 (2012)
• $60,ooo (2012)
  
• $30,000 (2012)
  
• $25,000 (2013)
  
• $378,857 (2014)
  
• $975,355 (2015)
• $201,848 (2016)
  
• $248 952 (2017)

51. Tides Canada Foundation

• $515,000 (2016)
  

52.  Tides Canada Initiative Society

• $202,608 (2008) (specifically for the "Tar Sands Education Campaign")
• $87,713 (2014)

53. Transition Initiative Kenora

• $19,310 (2015)
  
• $51,597 (2016)
  

54.  Tsleil-Waututh First Nation & Tsleil-Waututh Four Directions

• $79,369 (2014)
• $57,423 (2015)
  
• $54,186 (2016)
  
• $79 965 (2017)

55.  T. Buck Suzuki Foundation

• $30,000 (2010)
• $35,000 (2011)
  
• $17,500 (2012)
  
• $18,500 (2013)
  
• $13,490 (2014)
  
• $11,660 (2015)
  

56. Tanker Free B.C. Society

• $40,000 (2012)
• $27,034 (2015)
  
• $33,408 (2016)
  

57. Tyee Society

• $15,000 (2010)

58.  Water Matters Society of Alberta

• $22,500 (2009)
• $60,000 (2010)
  
• $75,000 (2011)
  
• $25,000 (2012)
  

59. West Coast Environmental Law Research Foundation

• $50,000 (2010)
• $75,000 (2011)
  
• $21,000 (2012)
  
• $46,500 (2013)
  
• $50,140 (2014)
  
• $41,727 (2015)
  
• $67,787 (2016)
  
• $31 900 (2017)

60.  Western Canada Wilderness Committee

• $30,000 (2012)
• $10,000 (2014)
  
• $15,000 (2015)
  
• $15,000 (2016)
  

61.  World Wildlife Fund Canada

• $160,000 (2009)

62.  European Federation of Transport & the Environment:

• $75,000 (2011)
• $60,000 (2012)
  
• $60,000 (2013)
  

63.  Friends of the Earth Europe

• $75,000 (2011)
• $45,000 (2012)
  
• $70,000 (2013)

64.  350.org

• $50,000 (2012)
• $170,000 (2013)
  
• $139,800 (2014)
  
• $25,000 (2015) &  $25,000 for Maine 350.0rg) & $10,000 for Toronto 350.org
  
• $66,260 (2016) &  $45,000 for Maine 350.org
  

65.  Backbone

• $25,000 (2013)

66.  Bold Nebraska

• $10,000 (2013)
• $75,000 (2014)
  
• $50,000 (2015)
  
• $  5,000 (2016)
  
• $110,000 (2017)

67.  Boreal Songbird Initiative

• $285,000 (2009)
• $345,000 (2011)

68.  Corporate Ethics International

• $  750,000 (2009)
• $1,450,000 (2010)
• $1,480,000 (2011)
  

69.  Center for Energy Matters

• $25,000 (2010)
• $175,000 (2011)
  

70.  Ceres Inc.

• $100,000 (2009)
• $100,000 (2010)
  
• $100,000 (2011)
  

71. Earth Island Institute:

• $90,000 (2009)
• $75,000 (2010)
  
• $70,000 (2012)
  
• $50,000 (2013)
• $12,000 (2014)
  

72. Earthjustice

• $86,550 (2009)
• $100,000 (2010)
  
• $50,000 (2011)
  
• $40,000 (2012)
  
• $37,126 (2013)
  
• $101,250 (2013)
  
• $416,977 (2014)
• $659,818 (2016)
  

73.  Earthworks

• $100,000 (2009)
• $50,000 (2010)
  
• $60,000 (2011)
  
• $42,000 (2012)
  
• $25,000 (2013)
  
• $40,000 (2014)
  
• $281,000 (2016)
  

74.  Environment America Research & Policy, Washington DC:

• $25,000 (2010)

75. Environmental Law & Policy Center, Chicago IL:

• $60,000 (2009)
• $60,000 (2010)

76.  Environment Maine Research & Policy, Portland Maine:

• $10,000 (2012)
• $15,000 (2013)

77.  Friends of the Earth:

• $160,000 (2009)
• $50,000 (2010)
  
• $25,000 (2011)
  
• $25,000 (2012)
  
• $36,335 (2014)

78.  ForestEthics (now STAND):

• $250,000 (2008)
• $100,000 (2008)
  
• $10,000 (2008)
  
• $286,000 (2009)
  
• $150,000 (2010)
  
• $100,000 (2011)
  
• $185,000 (2012)
  
• $155,000 (2013)
  
• $209,135 (2014)
  
• $76,579 (2015)
• $19,923 (2016)
  
• $39 799 (2017)

79.  Fresh Energy

• $120,000 (2009)

80.  Indigenous Environmental Network

• $115,000 (2009)
• $140,000 (2010)
  
• $150,000 (2011)
  
• $115,000 (2012)
  
• $93,000 (2013)
• $30,000 (2015)
  
• $53,000 (2016)
  
• $137 628 (2017)

81.  Honor The Earth

• $20,000 (2015)
  
• $63,000 (2016)
  
• $10 000 (2017)

82.  League of Conservation Voters

• $60,000 (2011)
• $85,000 (2012)
  
• $99,500 (2016)
  

83.  Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Saint Paul, Minnesota:

• $40,000 (2009)
• $20,000 (2010)
  

84. MN350

• • $50 000 (2017)

85.  Nebraska Easement Action Team, Hastings, Nebraska:

• $10,000 (2012)
• $26,354 (2016)
  

86. Nebraska Farmers Union, Lincoln, Nebraska:

• $10,000 (2012)

87. Natural Resources Defense Council, New York NY:

• $200,000 (2009)
• $65,000 (2010)
  
• $200,000 (2010)
  
• $349,475 (2011)
  
• $165,000 (2012)
  
• $150,000 (2013)
  
• $100,000 (2014)
  
• $50,000 (2015)
  
• $518,750 (2016) plus $250,000 for the NRDC Action Fund
  

88. New Venture Fund, Washington DC:

• $329,600 (2011)
• $380,000 (2016)
  

89. Nextwave Foundation

• $977,118 (2011) NOTE: This was for purchase of shares in Hollyhock
• $119,274 (2015)
  

90.  National Wildlife Federation, Washington DC:

• $100,000 (2010)
• $313,000 (2011)
• $75,000 (2012)
  
• $50,000 (2013)
  
• $50,000 (2014)
  
• $48,000 (2015)
  
• $25,000 (2016)
  

91.  Oil Change International:

• $30,000 (2009)
• $25,000 (2010)
  
• $50,000 (2011)
  
• $70,500 (2012)
  
• $60,000 (2013)
  
• $50,000 (2014)
  
• $30,000 (2015) and $20,000
  

92.  Plains Justice:

• $75,000 (2009)
• $75,000 (2010)

93.  Polaris Institute:

• $55,000 (2009)
• $75,000 (2010)
  
• $25,000 (2011)

94. Progress Now:

• $50,000 (2012)
  
• $80,ooo (2013)
  

95. Public Citizen:

• $20,000 (2010)
• $50,000 (2011)
• $12,000 (2012)
  
• $22,000 (2014)
  
• $62,359 (2016)
  

96.  Rainforest Action Network

• $225,000 (2009)
• $ 50,000 (2010)
  
• $ 50,000 (2011)
  
• $ 50,403 (2012)
  
• $ 95,000 (2013)
  
• $ 49,554 (2014)
• $ 24,139 (2016)
  

97. Riverkeeper

• $50,000 (2015) & $15,000
• $480,000 (2016)
  

98.  Sierra Club Foundation

• $200,000 (2009)
• $420,000 (2010)
• $600,000 (2011) & $25,000 (2011)
• $170,000 (2012)
• $165,000 (2013)
• $105,000 (2014)
  
• $25,000 (2015)
  
• $271,000 (2016)
  
• $50,000 (2017)

99.    SumOfUs

• $358,750 (2014) NOTE: The purpose for which these funds were paid is not stated.
• $443,302 (2016)

100.   Sustainable Markets Foundation

• $247,429 (2014) NOTE: The purpose for which these funds were paid is not stated.

101.  Texas Fund for Energy & Environment

• $10,000 (2012)
  

102.  Tides Center' Global Community Monitor

• $75,000 (2009)
• $63,0000 (2010)
• $10,000 (2011)
• $10,000 (2011)
• $10,000 (2012)

103. Western Organization of Resource Councils, Billings Montana:

• $175,000 (2009)
• $200,000 (2010)
• $50,000 (2011)
• $120,000 (2012)
• $30,000 (2012)

104.  UK Tar Sands Network (Platform, London):

• $60,000 (2010)
• $125,000 (2011)
• $15,000 (2012)
• $12,000 (2013)
• $30,000 (2013)
• $15,500 (2014)