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.
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
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

Nadine Smith

Lessons from Florida’s Defense of LGBT Rights

Equality Florida Co-founder and CEO Nadine Smith talks about the challenges facing the movement, and how her state has achieved pro-LGBT wins in a tough climate.

Nadine Smith is co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida, the state’s largest organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In this video, the Florida native recalls…

Watch the Video

Love, Unity, and Respect

August 23, 2017 | by

Let’s Show the World the Same Spirit that Restored Crissy Field

Haas, Jr. Fund Interim President Jennie Watson reflects on the meaning of Crissy Field, and expresses her hopes for a safe weekend.

As many of you have heard, there will be a Patriot Prayer rally at San Francisco’s Crissy Field on August 26th. The San Francisco event was confirmed after hate groups rained down mayhem and violence in Charlottesvi…

Members of CHIRLA and other immigrant rights coalitions gather at the break of dawn on Wilshire Boulevard and Alvarado Street to demand dignity and respect as part of the Caravana Contra el Miedo.

If You Build It They Will Come

July 27, 2017 | by

Creating a Culture of Fundraising

Does creating a culture of fundraising seem like an insurmountable task at your organization? Beth Rayfield shows us how we can overcome challenges and get on the path towards greater financial sustainability.

This article was originally published in Grassroots Institute for Funding Training As a former organizer, I believe in the saying that every worker is an organizer. As a development profession…

Meet John Govea

July 17, 2017 | in

Building Power for Change

The Fund’s New Program Director for Immigrant Rights talks about the challenges and opportunities of advancing immigrant rights in a polarized time.

John Govea joined the Haas, Jr. Fund in July 2017 to manage its Immigrant Rights program. In this video, John recalls growing up in an immigrant community in Bakersfield, California, and how it shaped his values. He…

Watch the Video

Meet Raquiba LaBrie

July 17, 2017 | in

“An Awesome Way to Return Home”

The Fund’s New Program Director for Education Equity talks about coming back to the Bay Area to lead the Fund’s work to expand opportunity for local young people.

Raquiba LaBrie joined the Haas, Jr. Fund in July 2017 to manage its Education Equity program. In this video, Raquiba reflects on growing up in East Oakland and what she learned about the importance of helping all st…

Watch the Video

Haas, Jr. Fund Welcomes Two New Program Directors

July 17, 2017 | by

Social change leaders tapped to guide the Fund’s Immigrant Rights, Education Equity programs

John Govea, Raquiba LaBrie to play key roles in the Fund’s ongoing work to advance rights and create opportunities for all people.

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund announced today that it has hired new staff leaders for its Immigrant Rights and Education Equity programs. John Govea, a former senior program officer with the Robert Wood Jo…

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