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 supports the Fund’s grantmaking across programs and issues, including longtime community partnerships in the Bay Area.
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.
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
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

Daniel Torres

Director of Immigrant Integration, State of California

The son of Mexican immigrants, Daniel Torres is leading California’s efforts to ensure that the state’s 10 million immigrants are welcome and can find opportunities to thrive.

How does your life experience shape the work you do? The experience of growing up in an immigrant family and community shaped how I see my work. The values that my parents held also informed my view of world. My par…

From Inspiration to Action

June 26, 2017 | by

Summer 2017 Letter from the Interim President

The Haas, Jr. Fund continues to engaged in deep, ongoing conversations with our many partners about what we can and should be doing differently to address the challenges and the opportunities of this moment.

It was six months ago when I stepped into my current role as Interim President of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Since then, I have been inspired by the amazing upsurge of leadership and activism across this…

Teaming to Help Immigrants Become Citizens

May 30, 2017 | by

Why Five Grant Makers Came Together to Form the New Americans Campaign

Cathy Cha, Angela Cheng, Leslie Dorosin, and Geri Mannion on the five principles that are essential to successful collaborative grant-making efforts.

This article was originally published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Six years ago, five grant makers came together to form the New Americans Campaign because they believe immigrants can and do…

Stormy Night in Washington DC, Whitehouse

Philanthropy in the First 100 Days

May 3, 2017 | by

5 Questions Grant Makers Should Ask About the First 100 Days of Trump Era

Aaron Dorfman, Cathy Cha, Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, and Lateefah Simon present 5 questions philanthropy should consider in response to the current moment.

This article by Aaron Dorfman, Cathy Cha, Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, and Lateefah Simon was originally published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The end of the Trump administration’s first 100 days offers…

What Does It Take to Support Leadership and Effectiveness in Movements?

April 5, 2017 | by

Investing In The Movement Organization and The Movement

With so much at stake for the social change movements, Senior Director, Linda Wood writes about how we must listen to leaders about what they really need—and to work as hard as we can to help their organizations and their movements succeed.

This article was originally published by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. The Haas, Jr. Fund recently convened two groups of grantees working on immigrant and LGBT rights in California.…

A Grantmaker’s Reflections on Strengthening Nonprofit Fundraising

April 4, 2017 | by

Cracking the Code of Long-Term Fundraising Success

Senior Director, Linda Wood speaks to how the changes in Washington are impacting nonprofit organizations and fundraising.

This article was originally published in Advancing Philanthropy, Spring 2017. It is undeniable that the changes underway in Washington and beyond will touch every sector of society, including nonpr…

Voices from the Field

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

See all Stories

Cynthia Buiza

Executive Director, California Immigrant Policy Center

Recognizing trailblazing Asian American women who are leading and influencing social justice movements in California.

Read this Story

First Person Stories

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

See all Stories

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.

Read this Story

Cynthia Buiza

Executive Director, California Immigrant Policy Center

A Park For All

An Immigrant’s Perspective on Crissy Field

Lessons from California

Successes of California's Grass-Roots Activists Offer Lessons for All Grant Makers

Statement on Family Separation and Detention

Philanthropy Responds to Inhumane Family Separation and Detention Policies.

Cristina Jiménez

Advancing the Dream of Dignity for All Immigrants

Every Voice Shines New Light