FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is palliative care, and why is it the core component of Tautira Foundation’s mission?

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Palliative care is defined as, “specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness,” according to the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), and is, “focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family…to work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support and is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative [general] treatment.”

For us, palliative care is at the heart of our mission because we believe that healing goes beyond medicine—it’s also about dignity, comfort, and emotional well-being. Serious illness brings not only physical pain but also isolation, anxiety, and uncertainty for both patients and caregivers, impacting all aspects of life. Our work is about creating space and moments of respite to be able to fill the gaps of standard care, and achieve the best outcome for patients alongside those they love most.

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2. Why do you refer to your 501(c)3 charity as a “foundation” if you are in fact a public benefit corporation? 

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In order to differentiate between Tautira the vessel and Tautira the organization, we have decided (for the time being, at least) to do business as Tautira Foundation. We’ve learned that all 501(c)3 organizations are essentially first and foremost private foundations, and any that qualify for an exception to this status, such as a public charity, is essentially just IRS shorthand.

Additionally, in the state of California, Doing Business As (DBA) registration is only required for for-profit businesses (CA BPC § 17910). According to state law, nonprofit corporations such as charitable organizations don't need to register any of the DBAs they use (CA BPC § 19711), though it is highly recommended that a DBA be comparable to the entity’s legal name.

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3. Will your programming be for patients or caregivers? Both adults and children? 

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Tautira Foundation’s programming is currently in development, but will be open to any and all who are impacted by cancer and chronic illness, primarily catering to small groups given the limitations of our space. We are particularly interested in expanding caregiver support and doing more for adolescents who may be either patients themselves, or are burdened by a family member fighting a serious prognosis.

 

4. How do you plan to fund the first phase of this endeavor, and how do you foresee the operational costs being financially sustainable once the nonprofit is up and running?

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Our goal is to search for board members and partners who are aligned with our core values and believe strongly in our mission. We aim to fund M/V Tautira’s rebuild mostly from philanthropic dollars from private individuals, accompanied by any grants or crowdfunding support we receive from our community. Once the vessel is fully restored, we hope to collaborate with payers & providers (i.e. insurance companies and healthcare institutions/professionals) to deliver targeted care and premier experiences on the water. Additional costs for our ongoing operational expenses may be offset by annual grants and a limited amount of paid charters that compliment our primary program objectives. Families will also be able to “sponsor” eligible loved ones who wish to participate in our offerings.

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5. How is M/V Tautira different from other charter boats? 

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Our team believes in creating intentional, healing spaces comparable to the comfort of your own home. We don’t believe a vessel that just went out for a public sunset cruise or hosted a private party can turn around and offer anything close to the level of experience we are striving for. Not only will the restoration provide a chance to reconfigure interior spaces for this specific use, but the vessel will stand as a testament to overcoming the odds and act as a symbol of hope and healing to everyone who is welcomed aboard.

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6. Why restore this vessel instead of building a new one? 

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M/V Tautira is a very stout, though simple and straightforward, custom design. The advice we’ve received from boat builders and shipwrights in the greater Port Townsend, Washington area is that it would likely cost the same to rebuild her as it would to build a new boat from scratch (with slight modifications, using her existing lines and natural wear-and-tear condition will help inform her reconstruction plan to be even better than when she splashed in 1930).

We also feel that the history of the vessel is extremely important to our nonprofit’s story and what we’re hoping to emulate through our branding; we hope that those who resonate with the idea of relaxing with loved ones in places like the South Pacific will find solitude and comfort aboard Tautira.

 

7. Where would the restoration take place, and how long would it take? What is unique about this restoration project?

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Once appropriate funding has been secured, the vessel will likely be transported up to the Pacific Northwest where she was originally built, logistics handled by a professional shipping company. The restoration itself is estimated to take approximately 2+ years; once complete, the vessel will return down the coast to the San Francisco Bay Area under her own power. 

M/V Tautira’s history is also relatable - metaphorically speaking - for cancer patients in that the boat serves as a primary example of resilience and what overcoming the odds can look like, having been a place of solitude and respite for our founder and her late partner. It’s not every day a boat that is nearly 100 years old gets another chance at life, and rebuilding a classic to its original state (or better), using the material from its region of origin, is an opportunity to construct a space that is insatiably special.

 

8. Will your future participants be required to have previous boating experience? 

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No previous experience will be necessary to embark on our programs either at the dock or out on the water. In fact, we hope the water-based aspect of our outpatient programs will be the “icing on the cake” for many who may otherwise not have access to the healing powers of San Francisco Bay.

For patients actively undergoing treatment, or who may be experiencing nausea as a side effect to medication (and thus may be extra prone to motion sickness), we recommend consulting with your oncologist/medical team to see if our offerings would be more appropriate for you at a later date; as a rule of thumb, we recommend consider holding off on our programs until any symptoms of nausea have passed.

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9. What safety measures do you plan to incorporate into your programs? 

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It is TBD as to whether or not the US Coast Guard will require us to have a Certificate of Inspection (COI) to operate up; regardless, our staff and board members may explore this regardless in light of any liability concerns. Either way, M/V Tautira will operate with the utmost safety in mind, with ADA considerations taken into account during her restoration and in regards to her homeport berth and/or boarding logistics at any guest docks.

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10. Will you offer end of life services on the boat?

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While this option is certainly not for everyone, our values are rooted in the power of informative choice for those facing the unimaginable. The End of Life Option Act (EOLA) is a California law that went into effect on June 9, 2016, and was updated on January 1, 2022. This law allows individuals who have a serious, life-limiting illness (with a prognosis of six months or less) to request prescription medications from their doctor to end their life. This practice is also known as medical aid in dying (MAID), and it’s important to note that participation in the act is completely voluntary.

Initially, Tautira Foundation will not be in a position to offer this aspect of end of life support, but may facilitate living wakes and celebrations of life. MAID continues to be a highly controversial topic; however, we are interested in the value this can bring patients and families in moments of extreme crisis and stress. In time, and in accordance with California state law, we hope to create a safe, responsible option for individuals or families who request support in carrying out their final wishes. For more information on California’s EOLA and legislative history, please visit the California Department of Health website.

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11. Will patients be allowed to take prescription drugs onboard? What about psychedelics?

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While this has been an ongoing discussion with the US Coast Guard, we are hopeful patients will be able to bring their own prescription drugs onboard so long as they can prove proof of prescription accompanied by a letter from their doctor. 

Although psychedelics for palliative care use are active in clinical trials, they are currently illegal and henceforth prohibited at this time. This could change in the future for therapeutic services while at the dock/at anchor, and alongside medically licensed professionals, as it is an area of integrated care for those with terminal illness - that we plan to monitor.

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12. I know a patient/caregiver/family who could benefit from your programs, what is the best way to refer them to your organization?

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Thank you for your interest in helping us spread the word! Please feel free to encourage them to follow us on our social channels for now, and direct them to our website. Anyone interested in participating in our future programming may contact us preemptively expressing their interest. Once we have an application process in place, they will be able to apply to specific program dates, presuming they meet certain requirements for sponsorship.

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13. Will those who participate in your programs be required to pay a fee?

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We hope to provide our trips at no cost to patients and caregivers who have been impacted by cancer and terminal illness; acceptance into our programs will be based on availability.

We plan to offer additional paid, private charters such as: mini fundraisers, living wakes, ash scatterings, intimate acoustic concerts, etc. to offset a portion of our ongoing operational costs.

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14. How can someone get involved? Are you hiring?

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While we appreciate any and all interest to join our organization, we are not currently hiring at this time. In the interim, we welcome you to send an email to info(at)tautira.org to express any specific interest you may have for future consideration; same applies to any organizations working in the palliative care and integrated wellness space currently serving the Bay Area who may wish to work together to expand community-based, outpatient care. Once our project has met initial fundraising goals, we will be embarking on a multi-year boat restoration and may also have volunteer opportunities available and/or paid opportunities at that time.

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15. If I make a donation, is it tax deductible?

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“Tautira" is a registered nonprofit organization currently recognized as a public benefit corporation (e.g. charity); although this could change, depending on the source of our collective donations in the months and years ahead. 

We received federal tax exemption in September 2024 under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section S01(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions they make to us under IRC Section 170, which deems us qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522 (EIN # 99-4002674).

However, the State of California Franchise Tax Board is experiencing extreme multi-month processing delays; our application for state income tax-exemption has been filed and is currently pending.