Letters from the President | Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

A sign held by a demonstrator reading "Stronger Together"

Building a “Bigger We”

September 23, 2024 | by

Why Alliances Matter

Bringing people, groups, and sectors together and finding common purpose have long been part of the Haas Jr. DNA.

Every four years, there’s feverish energy to build coalitions that can win an election. Time and again, we’re reminded that presidential elections—and all elections—come down to how you broaden your base of support…

Young athletes huddling on the basketball court with their coach

Lessons From A Successful Nonprofit Merger

August 19, 2024 | by

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Connecting with the Leaders of Positive Coaching Alliance

Mergers can be a strategic way for nonprofits to grow even stronger and have greater community impact.

Our President Cathy Cha currently serves on the board of the Positive Coaching Alliance.Compared to the for-profit sector, the nonprofit world tends to view organizational mergers through a more skeptical lens. A no…

Reflecting on 70 Years of Impact

June 28, 2023 | by

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…

Demonstrators rallying for racial justice

Imagine a California Where We All Belong

March 22, 2023 | by

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’…

Scene outside of an Oakland polling place during the 2022 midterm elections

Beyond the Midterm Elections: Next Steps to a Stronger Democracy

December 12, 2022 | by

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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…

Back to School is a Time of Possibility

October 5, 2022 | by

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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…

The Power of Community Leadership

March 28, 2022 | by

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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…

What I’m Thankful For

November 5, 2021 | by

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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.…

From the President

Perspectives That Match Filter Criteria

Building a “Bigger We”

Lessons From A Successful Nonprofit Merger

Reflecting on 70 Years of Impact

Imagine a California Where We All Belong

Beyond the Midterm Elections: Next Steps to a Stronger Democracy

Back to School is a Time of Possibility

The Power of Community Leadership

What I’m Thankful For

From the President

Perspectives That Match Filter Criteria

Building a “Bigger We”

Lessons From A Successful Nonprofit Merger

Reflecting on 70 Years of Impact

Imagine a California Where We All Belong

Beyond the Midterm Elections: Next Steps to a Stronger Democracy

Back to School is a Time of Possibility

The Power of Community Leadership

What I’m Thankful For

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