For more than 50 years, the Haas, Jr. Fund has made investments in the health and well-being of families. It also has a long history of funding efforts to help diverse people gain equality and participate fully in civic life. Following this tradition, the Haas, Jr. Fund helped launch Freedom to Marry to educate the public about how fundamental legal and economic protections for lesbians and gay men can be secured only through civil marriage. Freedom to Marry works to ensure that gay and lesbian couples share in the rights and responsibilities that come with civil marriage and helps to support loving, committed family relationships.

From 2003 to 2007, the Fund has made grants totaling $1.7 million for the project.