Perspectives | Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

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.

Our Contributors

Sepi Aghdaee

Sepi served as a Program Officer at the Haas, Jr. Fund
Rachel Baker

Rachel works to strengthen the field of leadership development for social change.
Cathy Cha

Cathy leads the Fund’s work to advance rights and create opportunities for all people.
Denis Chicola

Denis works to ensure that communications are at the core of the Fund’s efforts to advance rights and create opportunities.
Holly Delany Cole

Holly directs the Fund’s flagship leadership investment program, which helps grantees to build the leadership they need to reach their goals.
Matt Foreman

Matt oversees the Fund’s extensive support for the drive for equal rights and opportunities for LGBT people.
Victor Garcia
Walter J. Haas

In his leadership of the Haas, Jr. Fund, Walter J. Haas is guided by a commitment to serving the community and to creating opportunities for all people to succeed.
Ira Hirschfield

Ira oversees the Fund’s investments and leads its work on selected community partnerships.
Jennifer Kirschenbaum
Tomás D. Morales
Paula Morris

Paula has worked with the Fund’s Flexible Leadership Awards program since its inception in 2005, and was its program director until January 2015.
Beth Rayfield

Beth Rayfield is the director of institutional advancement at the Center for Community Change (CCC) and former development director at CHIRLA.
Robert Ross
Jennie Lehua Watson

Jennie leads the Fund’s work to advance rights and create opportunities for all people.
Evan Wolfson

Evan is the founder and President of Freedom to Marry, a longtime Fund partner and key player in the campaign to win marriage equality nationwide.
Linda Wood

Linda leads the Fund’s work to strengthen leaders, organizations and movements that are advancing social change.
Sylvia Yee

Sylvia served as the Fund’s Vice President of Programs

A Letter From President Cathy Cha

January 7, 2019 | by

The Haas, Jr. Fund’s new President pledges to advance a positive vision of a just and compassionate society for all.

In a letter to partners and colleagues, Cathy Cha says the Fund will work collaboratively and boldly for change.

I am honored and humbled to step into my new role as President of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Whether in the Bay Area or in other places across the country, our communities and our democracy are f…

Haas, Jr. Fund Names Cathy Cha as President

January 7, 2019 | by

A bold new chapter in the Fund’s history of collaborative, values-driven philanthropy

Appointment of former Vice President of Programs is capstone of two-year leadership transition.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Board of Directors of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund today announced that Cathy Cha has officially stepped into her new role as President of the Fund. Cha’s appointment is the capstone of a…

Moving Forward

December 6, 2018 | by

A Farewell Message From the President

President, Jennie Watson, reflects on her 18 years at the Haas, Jr. Fund including the last two years as president.

In my 18 years at the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, including the last two years as President, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the transformation that can happen when people stand up for fairness…

New Vice President of Programs

October 23, 2018 | by

Welcoming Robert Joseph to the Haas, Jr. Fund

President-elect, Cathy Cha, writes about the Fund's new Vice President of Programs, Robert Joseph.

I’m writing to share some exciting news. The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund has appointed Robert Joseph as its new Vice President of Programs. This is a role I’ve filled for the past two years as part of the Fund’…

Welcoming Robert Joseph

October 23, 2018 | by

Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund Hires New Vice President of Programs

Robert will oversee the Haas, Jr. Fund’s grantmaking and the development of program strategies.

San Francisco — The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund announced today that it has hired Robert Joseph as Vice President of Programs. Robert joins the Fund after serving in a senior leadership position with Tipping Po…

Report Card

October 18, 2018 | by

Researchers Weigh California’s Progress in Educational Opportunities

Extensive survey affirms a stubborn opportunity gap for low-income students of color and English learners.

At the Haas, Jr. Fund, we’ve been working for a decade with the San Francisco Unified School District to try and improve educational outcomes for low-income students of color. All along, we’ve known that the state g…

Voices from the Field

Hear insights, challenges and breakthroughs from our grantees’ inspiring work.

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Cal State University San Bernardino students

Dreaming Higher

Investing in California’s Future by Investing in Undocumented Students

Interview with Cal State University San Bernardino President, Tomás D. Morales, on helping undocumented students and their families navigate public higher education.

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First Person Stories

See the issues at the heart of our work through the eyes of those most closely affected.

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Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn

Future (undocumented) doctor

New once kept his undocumented status a secret from everyone outside his family. Today, he is proudly the first undocumented medical student at UCSF.

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Featured Content

Remembering Our Most Vulnerable Neighbors

Dreaming Higher

Cynthia Buiza

Cristina Jiménez

Supporting Nonprofit Fundraising Professionals

Every Voice Shines New Light

Our Contributors

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A Letter From President Cathy Cha

Haas, Jr. Fund Names Cathy Cha as President

Moving Forward

New Vice President of Programs

Welcoming Robert Joseph

Report Card

Voices from the Field

Dreaming Higher

First Person Stories

Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn