Tidewell Foundation

What Tidewell Foundation does

Tidewell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable foundation headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, established to provide perpetual philanthropic support to Tidewell Hospice and other affiliate programs within the Empath Health integrated not-for-profit network. Its sole institutional beneficiary is Tidewell Hospice, which was founded around 1980 and serves as the only not-for-profit hospice across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. In 2025 the Foundation raised approximately $7.4M from nearly 3,800 donors and disbursed $6M in community impact, funding charity care, grief and bereavement services, complementary therapies, a children's grief program, a veterans program, a nurse residency program, and the Empath LIFE (PACE) elderly-care program.

The Foundation's product surface is a portfolio of programs rather than a technology platform: Tidewell Hospice (full life end-of-life care), Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center (evidence-based children's grief support), Cardiac Care Program, complementary therapies including music, massage, pet therapy, and expressive arts, the Tidewell Honors Veterans program (Level 5 We Honor Veterans Partner), the ANA-accredited Nurse Residency Program, the Wishes Fund for patient last wishes, the Humanitarian Fund for emergency non-medical relief, and the Empath LIFE PACE program. Two physical Tidewell Treasures resale shops in Sarasota and Venice generate supplementary proceeds. Public-facing channels include a WordPress site, Convio/Classy-powered online donation portal, an eNewsletter, a YouTube channel, third-party restaurant and artisan partnerships, and a recurring events calendar.

The revenue model is multi-stream charitable fundraising rather than commercial pricing. Streams include unrestricted individual donations (one-time and recurring, $25-$250 preset tiers), corporate and foundation grants (Bishop-Parker, New York Life, Selby, Truist, Gulf Coast Community Foundation), planned giving via the Legacy Society and IRA distributions, and resale-shop proceeds. Distribution is region-locked to southwest Florida, no products are sold to commercial buyers, and Tidewell Hospice operates as the primary downstream recipient of grant capital. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees and staffed by roughly 10-15 personnel across philanthropy, events, creative services, data, administration, and resale operations.

Name

Tidewell Foundation

Legal name

Tidewell Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://tidewellfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tidewell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides philanthropic support to Tidewell Hospice and Empath Health programs across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties in Florida. It funds hospice, charity care, children's grief support, complementary therapies, veterans programs, and resale shop proceeds from a diversified donor base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Nonprofit hospice support
• Philanthropic foundation services
• Charitable giving programs
• Grief support services
• Palliative care philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual donors. The donation page supports one-time gifts, monthly recurring gifts, quarterly recurring gifts, and annual recurring gifts. Donors can direct gifts to specific programs or to the areas of greatest need.
2. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Grants from corporate foundations (e.g., Bishop-Parker Foundation $350,000 grant) and community foundations supporting specific programs such as Empath LIFE, Blue Butterfly, COVID-19 response, nurse residency, and telehealth.
3. Resale Shop Proceeds: Tidewell Treasures resale shops in Sarasota and Venice sell donated furniture, clothing, electronics, collectibles, books, jewelry, and home goods. All proceeds fund the Tidewell Foundation's grant programs for charity care, complementary patient services, and grief services.
4. Planned Giving & Endowments: Legacy Society planned giving program, endowment donations, stock gifts, Donor Advised Fund contributions, and IRA charitable distributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tidewell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable foundation that provides perpetual philanthropic support to Tidewell Hospice and Empath Health affiliate programs serving four Florida counties. It raises and grants funds to sustain hospice care, charity care, complementary therapies (music, massage, pet, art), grief support, the Blue Butterfly children's grief program, the Tidewell Honors Veterans program, the Nurse Residency Program, the Wishes Fund, and the Empath LIFE (PACE) program. The Foundation also operates two Tidewell Treasures resale shops whose proceeds fund its charitable programs.

Product overview

Tidewell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that provides philanthropic support to Tidewell Hospice and Empath Health affiliate organizations. The organization operates as a unified portfolio of healthcare and support programs serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties in Florida. The core offering is Tidewell Hospice, a full life care program, supplemented by specialized programs including the Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center for children's grief support, Cardiac Care Program for end-stage heart failure patients, complementary therapies (music therapy, massage therapy, pet therapy, expressive arts), the Tidewell Honors Veterans program, Nurse Residency Program (nationally accredited), Wishes Fund for patient dreams, Empath LIFE (PACE) for elderly care, and Tidewell Treasures resale shops. All programs are designed to provide compassionate care regardless of patients' ability to pay, with grief services offered free to the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tidewell Treasures: Resale shop benefiting the Tidewell Foundation in support of Tidewell Hospice. Proceeds go to grants for charity care, complementary patient services, and free grief services.
• Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center
• Empath LIFE (PACE)
• Tidewell Honors Veterans
• Tidewell Family Grief Center

Products and services

• Tidewell Hospice Full life hospice care services for patients with advanced illness, providing home-centered, comprehensive end-of-life and palliative care across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties in Florida.
• Blue Butterfly Family Grief Center Evidence-based children's grief program helping grieving children, teens, and caregivers through professional counseling, peer-support groups, and therapeutic activities. The only program of its kind in the four-county region.
• Cardiac Care Program Specialized care for patients with end-stage heart failure, providing comprehensive cardiac support services through Tidewell Hospice.
• Charity Care Provides hospice care for patients regardless of their ability to pay, ensuring access to services for all community members facing end-of-life illness.
• Children's Services Specialized services for children including grief support and therapeutic programs tailored for young patients and their families.
• Music Therapy Therapeutic music services provided to patients as a complement to conventional medical treatment, shown to alleviate pain and stress.
• Massage Therapy Services Complementary massage therapy services for hospice patients to provide comfort and pain relief.
• Pet Therapy Animal-assisted therapy services bringing comfort and joy to patients during difficult moments of care.
• Tidewell Honors Veterans Comprehensive program celebrating veterans and providing care recognizing unique challenges in military families. A Level 5 Partner (highest level) with the national We Honor Veterans Program.
• Wishes Fund Donor-supported program that fulfills last wishes for hospice patients and their families, creating final positive memories.
• Nurse Residency Program Training program for new hospice nurses, the nation's first hospice-only residency program accredited by the American Nurses Association.
• Empath LIFE Center (PACE) Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) providing comprehensive medical and social services to seniors in the service area.
• Tidewell Treasures Resale Shops Two physical resale shop locations (Sarasota and Venice, FL) accepting donations of furniture, clothing, electronics, and home goods; all proceeds fund the Foundation's charity care, complementary patient services, and grief services.
• Grief Education and Support Services Free grief services for more than 8,000 clients annually, including adult grief services and community bereavement programs across the four-county region.
• Humanitarian Fund Emergency, non-medical financial relief for patients and families in need during difficult times of end-of-life care.
• Expressive Arts Art therapy services as part of complementary therapies for patients and families receiving hospice care.
• Tidewell Family Grief Center (Ellenton) A grief education and support services center located in Ellenton, Florida.
• Online Donation Portal Secure online donation platform via Convio/Classy supporting one-time and recurring gifts, memorial/tribute gifts, and gift designation to specific programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 3,800 donors contributed $7.4 million in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• We Honor Veterans ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Tidewell Honors Veterans Program is a Level 5 Partner (highest level) with the national We Honor Veterans Program, a collaboration between the VA and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to improve care for veterans.
• BSWANKYcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 October 2020BSWANKY, a Sarasota-based artisan handbag atelier founded by Gretchen Bauer, created the Sofita Mariposa handbag collection in partnership with the Tidewell Foundation. Fifteen percent of total sales of each Mariposa handbag and 100% of each Sapphire Mariposa keychain are donated to the Foundation to fund Blue Butterfly Family Grief Centers.
• Debbie Dannheisser ThreadscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2020Debbie Dannheisser Threads, a Sarasota-based art and clothing line, created the Tidewell Collection of high-performance art athleisure (leggings, capris, sports bras). Fifteen percent of each sale is donated to the Foundation to fund Blue Butterfly Family Grief Centers.
• PIER 22 and GROVE RestaurantsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2020PIER 22 and GROVE restaurants partnered with Tidewell Foundation to allow patrons to donate Thanksgiving meals for low-income hospice patients in Manatee County. Donated meals were pre-made and hand-delivered to patients and families.
• Morton's Gourmet MarketminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2020Morton's Gourmet Market in Sarasota partnered with the Foundation to provide shoppers the opportunity to cover Thanksgiving meals for hospice patients and families in Sarasota County through in-store donation cards and online ordering.
• Multicultural Health InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2020Tidewell served as administrator of a $342,000 Manatee County CARES grant for the Multicultural Action Team (MAT), a collective impact project partnering with MHI, UnidosNow, Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, Healthy Teens Coalition, New College of Florida, The Links Inc., and others to address COVID-19 disparities in multicultural populations.
• Sysco West Coast FloridacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2020Stratum Health System and Sysco West Coast Florida partnered to offer a grocery distribution program for Stratum/Tidewell staff, volunteers, and community partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sysco provided wholesale pricing access through a pop-up ordering and pickup program at the Lakewood Ranch administration building.
• Empath HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTidewell Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that is a member of Empath Health, a not-for-profit integrated network providing care and support to people facing chronic or advanced illness. The Foundation provides perpetual philanthropic support to Empath Health affiliates including Tidewell Hospice.
• Easterseals Ranch of Southwest FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEasterseals Ranch of Southwest Florida, where therapy horses help veterans and others heal, partnered with Tidewell Hospice to fulfill patient wishes through the Wishes Fund. An 89-year-old Marine veteran visited the ranch through this partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Empath Health: Integrated not-for-profit healthcare network and Tidewell Foundation's parent organization. Comparable as a regional nonprofit healthcare philanthropy and care-delivery platform serving overlapping populations in southwest Florida.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: Largest national membership organization for hospice and palliative care providers, advocacy, and education. Operates in the same hospice philanthropy and policy ecosystem as Tidewell Foundation.

Direct peers

• Hospice Foundation of America: National nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting hospice and grief care through education, philanthropy, and program funding. Directly comparable as a hospice-focused grantmaking and awareness organization.
• Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Foundation: Nonprofit foundation supporting home-based hospice, palliative, and community health services. Comparable as a hospice/home-health philanthropy with similar community-care mission.

Regional players

• Suncoast Hospice Foundation (Empath Health): Sister foundation within Empath Health supporting hospice care in the Tampa Bay/Pinellas region. Closest structural peer — a regional hospice foundation with overlapping parent organization.
• Hospice of the Valley Foundation (Arizona): Foundation supporting Hospice of the Valley, the largest not-for-profit hospice in Arizona. Comparable as a regional nonprofit hospice foundation with similar philanthropic mission and community-based care model.
• Community Foundation of Sarasota County: Regional community foundation operating in the same southwest Florida geography. Comparable as a competitor for charitable dollars and a peer in regional philanthropy infrastructure.
• Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Regional community foundation in southwest Florida that has previously granted funds to Tidewell. Comparable as a regional grantmaking peer and donor pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tidewellfoundation2028
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tidewell-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tidewell Foundation