Every Voice Shines New Light

The value of an idea increases exponentially when it’s shared. From our staff, partners and grantees to the people impacted by their efforts, each perspective offers new insight into the critical issues at the heart of our work.

Perspectives by Cathy Cha

Perspectives That Match Filter Criteria

Portrait of the Haas, Jr. family Letter from the President

Reflecting on 70 Years of Impact

| by Cathy Cha

Marking our 70th Anniversary by Celebrating the Power of People

Since our founding in 1953, the Haas, Jr. Fund’s grantmaking has revolved around the people and organizations on the front lines of social and community change.

From the beginning, Evelyn and Walter Haas had a commitment to, and belief in, the power of people to drive positive change.It was the leadership and enthusiasm of people around them—people who were organizing their…

Continue Reading
Demonstrators rallying for racial justice Letter from the President

Imagine a California Where We All Belong

| by Cathy Cha

We need to keep pushing for belonging for people that historically have not had equal access

Reflecting on the good work happening across many fronts to make our state more inclusive.

When I walked into the Fannie Lou Hamer Center for the first time, I instantly felt the warmth and comfort of this community space for Black students at UC Berkeley. Tucked away in a lesser-known part of campus, it’…

Continue Reading
Scene outside of an Oakland polling place during the 2022 midterm elections Letter from the President

Beyond the Midterm Elections: Next Steps to a Stronger Democracy

| by Cathy Cha in Democracy

Year-round dedication is needed to ensure our democracy leaves no one behind

We may have avoided the worst-case scenario during the midterms, but our work is not yet done.

In the weeks since the 2022 elections, I’ve had one main response: phew. The anti-democratic nightmares we’ve all been having didn’t come true. We generally saw sanity prevail across the country with the defeat of a…

Continue Reading
Students entering campus Letter from the President

Back to School is a Time of Possibility

| by Cathy Cha in College Success

For Far Too Many Students, the New School Year is Linked to Anxiety and Concern

Through our College Success program, Haas Jr. is working to level the playing field for all higher education students.

It’s back to school time. I’ve been busy getting my two kids settled into the school year. Nervousness and butterflies are in the air, but at the same time there is a powerful sense of possibility about the year ahe…

Continue Reading
A line outside the polling place at the GCC on the Stanford campus

Philanthropy, Let’s Work Together to Reduce Barriers to Voting

| by Cathy Cha in Democracy

California isn’t immune to the challenges facing our democracy

Urgent action is needed to ensure that all voters, and especially those who continue to face real barriers to voting, are able to exercise this fundamental democratic right.

Delays in the placement of drop boxes for mail-in ballots … A failure to post sample ballots in multiple languages as required by law … Lost ballots at one polling location that might have disenfranchised as many as…

Continue Reading
Letter from the President

The Power of Community Leadership

| by Cathy Cha in Leadership

Across California, our civic and local leaders too often are not reflective of the communities they are supposed to serve.

After working in party politics at the national and state levels, James Woodson decided the real route to change lies in communities closer to the ground. “Building up grassroots leaders is how you build power, and that’s not really what political parties are made to do,” he said.

After working in party politics at the national and state levels, James Woodson decided the real route to change lies in communities closer to the ground. “Building up grassroots leaders is how you build power, and…

Continue Reading
Letter from the President

What I’m Thankful For

| by Cathy Cha in Fund News

Catalyzing this Moment for Justice and Equality

I feel a deep gratitude, for being able to emerge, however tentatively, from the isolation and separation of Covid-19, and for the shifts we’re seeing in institutional racism and the stark inequalities around us.

One of the silver linings of the pandemic has been that I’m more grateful for the everyday things in life. That my kids are attending school in person. Going trick-or-treating with my 9-year-old even with masks on.…

Continue Reading