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Non-profit

Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

Website:

www.haasjr.org
Location:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Tax ID:

94-6068932
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)-PF

Budget (2015):

Revenue: $8,501,166
Expenses: $29,872,327
Assets: $463,785,830
Formation:

1953, tax exempt status in 1954
Type:

Non-Profit, left-of-center grantmaking organization
President/CEO:

Cathy Cha

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is a private foundation that provides grants primarily to left-of-center activist groups, with a focus on supporting liberal expansionist immigration policy, LGBT interests, education, and organizations in the San Francisco Bay area. 1

Walter Haas, who made his fortune as CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., 2 and his wife Evelyn, a prominent conservationist and museum curator in the San Francisco area, founded the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund in 1953. 3 To date, the Fund has awarded more than $600 million in grants, including nearly $24 million in 2018. 4

The Fund also manages the Haas Leadership Initiatives,5 a program fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center. 6

Grantmaking

Immigration

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is a prominent supporter of the New Americans Campaign, a project of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) designed to aid more immigrants in obtaining American citizenship. 7 The Fund has granted nearly $2 million to this project,8 which also sees funding from groups like the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Open Society Foundations (OSF), and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. 9

LGBT Rights

The Fund provides grants to organizations that support litigation against the Supreme Court to increase the legal privileges of LGBT people. 10 Haas Fund support for LGBT interests includes annual contributions of $200,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and large contributions to other groups like GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. 11

People

Founders

Walter A. Haas, Jr. co-founded the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund with his wife, Evelyn. Haas spent his career at Levi Strauss & Co., rising to work as CEO, president, and chairman of the board. During his lif, Haas Jr. formerly served on the boards of the left-wing Ford Foundation and the National Park Foundation. As part of his philanthropy, Haas purchased the then-struggling Oakland Athletics in 1980. 12

Evelyn D. Haas co-founded the Fund, and was a prominent conservationist and museum curator in the San Francisco area. She served on the board and fundraised extensively for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Symphony. She was also a leading voice in raising funds for the San Francisco Chronicle’s annual Season of Sharing Fund. 13

Staff and Officers

Cathy Cha is president and a former vice president of programs at the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Cha is a former program officer at the Hyams Foundation, and has worked in collaboration with other groups like the Carnegie Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the Grove Foundation. Cha serves on the board of Coaching Corps, and has previously served on the boards of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR), and the Asian Pacific Environmental Network. 14

Derek Tynes is the director of talent and culture at the Fund, and has served in senior human resources roles at the Glide Foundation and the Tides Center. 15

Gil Aurellano is an executive assistant at the Fund. He formerly worked for the Aspen Institute, and is a co-founder of the Asian and Pacific Islander Partnership for Health. 16

Ira Hirschfield is president emeritus of the Fund, having served as president from 1992 to 2016. He is a former director of philanthropy for Rockefeller Family and Associates and former executive vice president of the Levi Strauss Foundation. Hirschfield co-founded and formerly served as president of the F.B. Heron Foundation. He also has served on the boards of the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. 17

Linda Woods is the senior director of the Tides Center-funded Haas Leadership Initiatives. 18

Matt Foreman is the senior program director of Gay and Lesbian Rights at the Fund. Foreman is the former executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and former co-chair of the Civil Marriage Collaborative, a campaign group for state recognition of same-sex marriages. 19

Monica Pressley is the CFO of the Fund, and is the former CFO of the San Francisco Foundation. 20

Raquiba LaBrie is the program director of Equality Education, and formerly managed grantmaking programs at the Open Society Foundations. 21

Robert Joseph is the Vice President of Programs, a former a program officer with the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, and currently serves on the board of SPUR Oakland. 22

Several employees of the Tides Center work with the Fund as part of the Haas Leadership Initiatives, a program that is fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center. These people include Chana Fitton, Luigi Fu, Rachel Baker,23 and Holly Delany Cole, a former program officer at the New York Community Trust, and current board member of the New York Foundation. 24

Board of Directors

Betsy Haas Eisenhardt joined the board in 1992, with a focus on the Fund’s support of children and families. Eisenhardt serves on the board of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and formerly served on the board of the Levi Strauss Foundation. 25

Elise Haas focuses her philanthropy on liberal expansionist immigration policy, and responsible for the establishment of the Haas Dreamer’s Resource Center at University of California, Berkeley. Elise Haas sits on the boards of the Levi Strauss Foundation and Define American, as well as on the Leadership Council of Immigrants Rising. 26

Jesse Eisenhardt is a filmmaker whose clients include Facebook, Yahoo, YouTube, Meals on Wheels, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, among others. 27

Robert J. Haas joined the board in 1992. Haas is the former CEO of Levi Strauss and Co., and was named chairman emeritus of the company’s board in 2008. Haas is a former trustee of the Brookings Institution and the Ford Foundation, and formerly sat on the National Advisory Committee of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. 28

Walter A. Haas III formerly worked in global marketing at Levi Strauss. He is a founding board member of Populace, a left-of-center think tank, and an ad hoc member of the communications committee with  Fund grantee Coaching Corps. 29

Walter J. Haas is the chairman of the board, having joined the board in 1972, and formerly served as co-chair with Evelyn D. Haas from 1996 to 2010. Haas presently serves as the chairman of the board of Coaching Corps. He formerly served on the board of Levi Strauss and as a member of the company’s Corporate Ethics and Social Responsibility Committee. 30

References

  1. “Issues & Impact.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/issues-impact.
  2. “Walter A. Haas, Jr.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/our-founders/walter-haas-jr.
  3. “Evelyn D. Haas.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/our-founders/evelyn-haas.
  4. “Financials.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020.  https://www.haasjr.org/about/financials.
  5. “Issues & Impact.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/issues-impact.
  6. “Project Directory.” Tides, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.tides.org/impact-partners/explore-our-partners/#project-directory.
  7. “Immigrant Rights.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/issues-impact/immigrant-rights.
  8. “Grants Database.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/grants/search.
  9. “Regional and Local Funders.” The New Americans Campaign. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://www.newamericanscampaign.org/about/funders/.
  10. “Gay & Lesbian Rights.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 15, 2020.  https://www.haasjr.org/issues-impact/gay-lesbian-rights.
  11. “Grants Database.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/grants/search.
  12. “Walter A. Haas, Jr.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/our-founders/walter-haas-jr.
  13. “Evelyn D. Haas.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/our-founders/evelyn-haas.
  14. “Cathy Cha.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020.  https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/cathy-cha.
  15. “Derek Tynes.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/derek-tynes.
  16. “Gil Aurellano.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020.   https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/gil-aurellano.
  17. “Ira Hirschfield.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/ira-hirschfield.
  18. “Linda Wood.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/linda-wood.
  19. “Matt Foreman.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/matt-foreman.
  20. “Monica Pressley.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/monica-pressley.
  21. “Raquiba LaBrie.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/raquiba-labrie.
  22. “Robert Joseph.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/robert-joseph.
  23. “Staff.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff.
  24. “Holly Delany Cole.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/staff/holly-delany-cole.
  25. “Betsy Haas Eisenhardt.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 9, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/board/betsy-haas-eisenhardt.
  26. “Elise Haas.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 9, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/board/elise-haas.
  27. “Jesse Eisenhardt.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 9, 2020.  https://www.haasjr.org/about/board/jesse-eisenhardt.
  28. “Robert Haas.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 9, 2020. https://www.haasjr.org/about/board/robert-haas.
  29. “Walter A. Haas III.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 9, 2020.   https://www.haasjr.org/about/board/walter-haas-iii.
  30. “Walter Haas.” Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, 2020. Accessed January 9, 2020.  https://www.haasjr.org/about/board/walter-haas.

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. John Govea
    Director, Immigrant Rights and Integration Programs

Donation Recipients

  1. ACLU Foundation of Southern California (Non-profit)
  2. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation (Non-profit)
  3. America’s Voice Education Fund (Non-profit)
  4. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Civic Engagement Fund (Non-profit)
  5. Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (Non-profit)
  6. Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) (Non-profit)
  7. Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice (Non-profit)
  8. Auburn Seminary (Non-profit)
  9. Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) (Non-profit)
  10. California Budget and Policy Center (Non-profit)
  11. California Calls Education Fund (Non-profit)
  12. California Forward (Non-profit)
  13. California Forward Action Fund (Non-profit)
  14. Californians for Justice Education Fund (Non-profit)
  15. Center for American Progress (CAP) (Non-profit)
  16. Center for Community Change (CCC) (Non-profit)
  17. Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) (Non-profit)
  18. Chinese Progressive Association (San Francisco) (Non-profit)
  19. Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) (Non-profit)
  20. Civil Marriage Collaborative (CMC) (Non-profit)
  21. Clergy and Laity United for Economic (CLUE) Justice (Non-profit)
  22. COFEM (Non-profit)
  23. Common Counsel Foundation (Non-profit)
  24. Community Initiatives (Non-profit)
  25. Council on Foundations (Non-profit)
  26. D5 Coalition (Non-profit)
  27. Define American (Non-profit)
  28. Demos (Non-profit)
  29. East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (Non-profit)
  30. Equality Alliance of San Diego County (Non-profit)
  31. Equality Federation Institute (Non-profit)
  32. Faith in Public Life (Non-profit)
  33. Faithful America (Non-profit)
  34. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund (Non-profit)
  35. Four Freedoms Fund (Non-profit)
  36. Freedom for All Americans Education Fund (Non-profit)
  37. Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues (Non-profit)
  38. Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) (Non-profit)
  39. Othering and Belonging Institute (Non-profit)
  40. Hispanics in Philanthropy (Non-profit)
  41. Horizons Foundation (Non-profit)
  42. Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) (Non-profit)
  43. Lambda Legal (Non-profit)
  44. LightBox Collaborative (For-profit)
  45. Media Matters for America (Non-profit)
  46. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) (Non-profit)
  47. Movement Advancement Project (Non-profit)
  48. National Center for Lesbian Rights (Non-profit)
  49. National Center for Transgender Equality (Non-profit)
  50. National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (Non-profit)
  51. National LGBTQ Task Force (Non-profit)
  52. National Immigration Forum (NIF) (Non-profit)
  53. National Immigration Law Center (Non-profit)
  54. National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) (Non-profit)
  55. NEO Philanthropy (Non-profit)
  56. New America (New America Foundation) (Non-profit)
  57. New Israel Fund (Non-profit)
  58. People for the American Way (PFAW) (Non-profit)
  59. Power California (Non-profit)
  60. Proteus Fund (Non-profit)
  61. Public Policy Institute of California (Non-profit)
  62. San Francisco Foundation (Non-profit)
  63. SCOPE (Non-profit)
  64. Spitfire Strategies (For-profit)
  65. TSNE MissionWorks (Non-profit)
  66. Tides Center (Non-profit)
  67. Tides Foundation (Non-profit)
  68. Transgender Law Center (Non-profit)
  69. UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza) (Non-profit)
  70. United We Dream (Non-profit)
  71. Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program (Non-profit)
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1954

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2015 Dec Form PF $8,501,166 $29,872,327 $463,785,830 $9,032,023 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $44,901,020 $38,786,751 $485,741,754 $15,678,783 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $48,094,326 $29,817,330 $557,860,774 $82,140,907 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $10,356,967 $29,308,924 $490,489,880 $54,207,456 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $20,137,436 $28,157,696 $444,540,233 $20,244,514 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

    114 SANSOME STREET SUITE 600
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-3803