Drummond Pike

Activist, Athlete, Blogger, Change agent, Investor, Philanthropist, Social entrepreneur

Drummond Pike founded Tides in 1976 and was the chief executive officer of the Tides network of organizations, which includes Tides Foundation, Tides Center and Tides Shared Spaces from1976 through November, 2010. Pike was responsible for the entire Tides enterprise; and through his leadership, Tides has helped increase the capacity and effectiveness of thousands of social change organizations. Awarded as an Outstanding Foundation Professional, Pike helped pioneer effective use of donor advised funds in philanthropy and has supported grassroots and public interest organizations through environmental and social change philanthropy throughout his career. Since retiring from Tides, he has been a Principal with Equilibrium Capital, a private equity firm focused on the emerging sustainable economy, and later a Director of Ultra Capital with a similar focus. He currently serves on the investment committee for the J.L. Greene Foundation in New York City. Over the years Tides has worked in partnership with forward-thinking philanthropists, foundations, activists, and organizations across the country and around the globe. Pike established the Tides vision of a world of broadly shared economic opportunity, robust democratic processes, and the opportunity to live in a healthy and sustainable environment where human rights are preserved and protected. Tides works with people who confront issues like global warming, AIDS treatment and prevention, economic disparity, workers’ rights and much more. Tides provides fiscal sponsorship for over 200 nonprofit projects across the country, launches and operates green nonprofit centers and has granted hundreds of millions annually over recent decades. Prior to founding Tides, Pike served as executive director of the Shalan Foundation, an organization dedicated to economic change and environmental sustainability. He also co-founded and served as associate director for the Youth Project in Washington, D.C. Pike’s entrepreneurialism has led to the founding of several other organizations as well. He was among the original founders of Working Assets, a telecommunications company dedicated to progressive philanthropy and political activism. He also helped to found Tides Canada, a sister organization to Tides in the U.S., and Groundspring.org, a nonprofit technology service provider which merged with Network for Good in 2005. Pike’s extensive public service work includes membership on the Board of Directors for many organizations. Past Directorships include: Social Venture Network, Sierra Fund, and America’s Charities. Current Directorships include: Tides Canada, Endswell Foundation, Environmental Working Group, Island Press, Working Assets, Democracy Alliance, Network for Good, Sage Centre, Threshold Foundation, and Charity Projects Entertainment Fund. Pike majored in Political Science at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he became involved in the anti-war movement of the late 1960’s. He was selected as campus representative to the Board of Regents during his senior year in 1969, and graduated with Honors from UC Santa Cruz in 1970. Pike continued his education at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Political Science. A fourth generation Californian, Pike resides with his family in Mill Valley, California. In addition to his work at Tides, Pike was a licensed commercial river guide in the Grand Canyon and is an amateur wine maker. He is also an avid runner and squash player.

ESTATE TAX: how it supports social mobility, reinvesting in the infrastructure that benefits all entrepreneurs, and lessens the burdens of other taxation. IMPACT INVESTING in sustainability.

donor advised funds, fiscal sponsorship, Impact Investing - Private Equity, owning a vineyard, river rafting

2014 will be my seventh TED. Like others, I have had to rethink many things since joining the community. I continue to be drawn to the expansive, disturbing, and enlightened learning experience that is TED for many reasons, but chief among them is the opportunity to meet people outside my world who are doing such amazing work. Having now stepped down from Tides after nearly 35 years, I'm exploring the field of impact investing in the emerging sustainable economy - we simply have to learn how to live with the resources we have in a much more intelligent way. Smartly designed, the private sector can lead the way.

Making wine...in my basement...and growing Cabernet Sauvignon in the Alexander Valley.