Democracy by Raúl Macías Local Election Official Armando Salud-Ambriz is Helping Strengthen Democracy from the Ground Up How can systems build trust with communities they serve? Strong public institutions depend on leaders who bring diverse experiences and a deep commitment to service. But leaders also need skills and networks that support them to have an impact.
Immigrant Rights by Elica Vafaie What the Birthright Citizenship Decision Reveals About Philanthropy’s Path to Protect and Defend Democracy What the Next Wins Will Take This case demonstrated the importance of strategic efforts to build broader coalitions. Photo courtesy of John Sailer
Fund News by Maliha Sadiq Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund Announces New President Former Levi Strauss Foundation Leader Daniel Lee to Guide Haas Jr.’s Closing Chapter Lee brings deep roots in the Haas family’s philanthropic legacy and 25 years of field leadership.
by Elica Vafaie Let the Games Begin The World Cup is an Opportunity to Showcase Core Values and Democratic Principles Haas Jr. partners are working to promote joy, welcome, and safety for fans, immigrant communities.
by Cathy Cha Looking Ahead in Uncertain Times The Time Has Come to Build What’s Next In 2026, the Haas, Jr. Fund is advancing our ambitions by focusing on root causes, bold ideas, greater agility, and deeper collaboration with funding and community partners to drive innovative solutions. Photo courtesy of Theo Rigby
First Person Story Matthew Vines In LGBT Equality Dismantling the religious argument against gays and lesbians How did a conservative Christian from Wichita, Kansas, become an advocate for LGBT rights? Matthew Vines was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. Throughout his youth, Matthew’s family was deeply involved in a conservative evangelical Presbyterian church. After Matthew came out as gay while attending Harva… Continue Reading
Letter from the President We Still Have Miles to Go June 24, 2013 | by Ira Hirschfield in LGBT Equality Summer 2013 Letter from the President We are at a historic time for marriage equality in this country. Now, how will we build on these victories? Today’s Supreme Court’s decisions regarding the freedom to marry are groundbreaking advances for the movement to secure equality under the law for gay and lesbian people. This remarkable – indeed, extraordinary – pr… Continue Reading
How Grantmakers Can Help Nonprofits Build Fundraising Muscle April 7, 2013 | by Linda Wood in Leadership Balancing immediate and long-term goals Foundations could and should do more to help grantees break out of chronic fundraising struggles. Here’s how. Every foundation wants to see its grantees succeed in raising the resources they need to carry out their work, so when an organization requests money to hire a fundraiser, it’s tempting to jump at the chance to help… Continue Reading
First Person Story Rachel & Felicia In LGBT Equality Six weddings later, married for the first time They jumped through legal hoops as laws affecting same-sex couples were passed and overturned - but their love and commitment remained the same. Rachel Timoner, 41, and Felicia Park-Rogers, 41, were married on June 17, 2008. Their wedding took place on the first day that it was possible for same-sex couples in California to marry. It was shortly after the st… Continue Reading
First Person Story Sara & Paloma In LGBT Equality Our big, gay, Persian wedding Across languages, cultures, and legal hurdles, Sara and Paloma celebrate love and a lifelong commitment. Sara Razavi, 33, was born in Iran and came to the United States at age 10. She grew up in Orange County, California. Paloma Wu, 30, grew up in Reno, Nevada; her father is Taiwanese and her mother’s family is from Ge… Continue Reading
It Takes Dedicated Funding to Do Leadership Development Right October 18, 2012 | by Linda Wood in Leadership General operating support is important. But does it support long-term capacity-building? In this blog guest post for the Center for Effective Philanthropy, Linda Wood describes the value of unrestricted general operating support, and why it’s not always enough. At the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, we believe strongly in the critical importance of unrestricted general operating support because it provides nonprofit leaders with the flexibility to direct spending toward… Continue Reading