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,1 a program fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center. 5
In 2025, the fund partnered with the Trust Based Philanthropy Project through their “Meet the moment” initiative. This initiative seeks to bring its supporters together “in solidarity with nonprofits.” The group claims that the political climate could pose risks to nonprofits through reductions in funding, legal concerns, and lack of staff. 6
In 2026, the fund’s board of directors announced that the fund would close at the end of 2028, and any remaining assets would be transitioned into new philanthropic initiatives. 7
The Fund provides grants to organizations that support litigation against the Supreme Court to increase the legal privileges of LGBT people. 11 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. 9
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. 2
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. 3
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. 14
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. 15
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. 16
Linda Woods is the senior director of the Tides Center-funded Haas Leadership Initiatives. 17
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. 18
Raquiba LaBrie is the program director of Equality Education, and formerly managed grantmaking programs at the Open Society Foundations. 20
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. 21
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,22 and Holly Delany Cole, a former program officer at the New York Community Trust, and current board member of the New York Foundation. 23
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. 24
Jesse Eisenhardt is a filmmaker whose clients include Facebook, Yahoo, YouTube, Meals on Wheels, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, among others. 26
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. 27
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. 28
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. 29
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
Total Grant Value:$358,350,942
Number of Grants:4,201
Number of Recipients:851
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
Amount
Year
Funder
Subject
$3,312,500
2024
Tides Center PA
FOR THE MOVE THE VALLEY PROJECT TO ENGAGE VOTERS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. FOR THE LEADERSTRUST TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE LEADERSHIP AWARDS TO HJF GRANTEES AND SUPPORT ITS GROWTH AS A SELF-SUSTAINING ENTITY, FOR EMERGING PRACTITIONERS IN PHILANTHROPY MEMBERSHIP DUES.
TO TRANSFORM THE STUDENT POPULATION AND CREATE A MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CAMPUS; FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENTAL STUDIES PROJECT TO CONDUCT POLLING AND HOST EVENTS ON DEMOCRACY IN CALIFORNIA; TO MAINTAIN THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT PROGRAM'S WEBSITE AND MAKE STIPENDS TO DREAMERS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM'S DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS; FOR THE CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE, FOR THE FUND'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY; TO DEEPEN STUDENT AND STAFF BELONGING AND BRIDGING PRACTICES AND TO SHARE LESSONS LEARNED WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY; FOR THE NEW DEMOCRACY POLICY INITIATIVE AT THE GOLDMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY; FOR THE CALIFORNIA HIGHER EDUCATION BASIC NEEDS ALLIANCE; FOR THE UNDERGROUND SCHOLARS PROGRAM; FOR THE BASIC NEEDS SECURITY PROGRAM; FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS / DREAMERS PROGRAM.
TO TRANSFORM THE STUDENT POPULATION AND CREATE A MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CAMPUS.
$2,289,500
2023
Positive Coaching Alliance
TO SCALE OPERATIONS AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF COACHES AND YOUTH REACHED IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES; FOR THE FUND'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY; TO SCALE IMPACT AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF COACHES AND YOUTH REACHED, AND ONE-TIME SUPPORT FOR THE ACCELERATION FUNDRAISING PLAN; FOR THE 2024 GAME CHANGERS AWARDS; FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.
$2,179,400
2024
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
VOLUNTEER SERVICES GRANT; TO THE HAAS, JR. FUND SINGLE ENTITY BENEFICIARY FUND AT GGNPC FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS. FOR GENERAL SUPPORT. FOR THE TRAILS FOREVER DINNER CELEBRATION. FOR THE TRAILS FOREVER DINNER CELEBRATION AND ANNUAL RENEWAL.
FOR FLEXIBLE LEADERSHIP AWARDS TO HAAS, JR. FUND GRANTEES AND TO LAUNCH THE LEADERSTRUST AS INDEPENDENT ENTITY; FOR EMERGING PRACTITIONERS IN PHILANTHROPY MEMBERSHIP DUES; FOR THE FUND'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY; FOR GENERAL SUPPORT; FOR THE MOVE THE VALLEY PROJECT TO SUPPORT COALITION BUILDING; FOR THE MOVE THE VALLEY PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITION OF THE ORGANIZATION TO NEW LEADERSHIP; FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TABLE PROJECT, FOR VOTER ENGAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND POLICY ADVOCACY; FOR THE ADVANCE NATIVE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP EDUCATION FUND PROJECT TO INCREASE NATIVE LEADERSHIP REPRESENTATION IN CALIFORNIA; FOR THE FUND'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY, FOR OCCET; FOR THE ADVANCE NATIVE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PROJECT TO LAUNCH ITS INITIAL CALIFORNIA COHORT OF THE NATIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.
$1,615,114
2022
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT CRISSY FIELD.
$1,607,500
2024
Positive Coaching Alliance
TO SCALE IMPACT AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF COACHES AND YOUTH REACHED, AND ONE-TIME SUPPORT FOR THE ACCELERATION FUNDRAISING PLAN. BOARD SERVICES GRANT; FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.
FOR FLEXIBLE LEADERSHIP AWARDS TO HAAS, JR. FUND GRANTEES AND LAUNCH OF THE LEADERSTRUST AS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY.
$1,524,500
2024
Season of Sharing Fund
TO SUPPORT SEASON OF SHARING'S RESEARCH AND INNOVATIVE MARKETING EXPERIMENTS TO ENGAGE YOUNGER AND MORE DIVERSE DONORS, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF REFRESHED BRANDING, POSITIONING AND FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES. TO HELP RAISE AND DISTRIBUTE EMERGENCY SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE BAY AREA. FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.
$1,349,667
2023
Season of Sharing Fund
TO HELP RAISE AND DISTRIBUTE EMERGENCY SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE BAY AREA; FOR THE FUND'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY; FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.
TO THE CALIFORNIA BLACK FREEDOM FUND, TO INCREASE THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF BLACK CALIFORNIANS AND SUPPORT BLACK-LED NONPROFITS WORKING TO ADVANCE EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
TO SUPPORT THE HAAS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES PROJECT TO STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP OF FUND GRANTEES
$1,100,000
2022
Season of Sharing Fund
FOR EMERGENCY SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE BAY AREA.
$1,100,000
2021
Season of Sharing Fund
FOR EMERGENCY SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE BAY AREA.
$1,000,000
2022
Positive Coaching Alliance
TO SCALE OPERATIONS AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF COACHES AND YOUTH REACHED IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
$1,000,000
2021
Asian American Futures
TO ESTABLISH ACTIVATE CALIFORNIA, A NEW INITIATIVE TO ENGAGE ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS AS ADVOCATES, LEADERS, AND DONORS DEFINING THEIR OWN COMMUNITY NARRATIVE.
TO THE FOUR FREEDOMS FUND TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE A NATIONAL NETWORK OF FUNDERS, PROMOTE IMMIGRANT CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND HUMANE BORDER POLICIES, AND COORDINATE RAPID RESPONSE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. TO THE FOUR FREEDOMS FUND FOR RAPID RESPONSE SUPPORT TO ADVANCE NARRATIVE/STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF BLACK MIGRANTS.
TO TRANSFORM THE STUDENT POPULATION AND CREATE A MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CAMPUS.
$690,000
2024
Foundation for California Community Colleges
2024 FDN CA CMTY COLLEGES, ARTHUR S. MARMADUKE AWARD (CLG); FOR CALIFORNIA COLLEGE GUIDANCE INITIATIVE TO BEGIN TO DEVELOP RESOURCES AND MATERIALS FOR CLASSROOM USE THAT WILL SYSTEMATIZE A BASELINE OF COLLEGE AND CAREER GUIDANCE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. FOR CCGI TO PILOT RESOURCES AND MATERIALS IN A RANGE OF 9TH-GRADE CLASSES BY TEACHERS THAT WILL SYSTEMATIZE A BASELINE OF COLLEGE AND CAREER GUIDANCE. FOR CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID COMMISSION TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT A STUDENT-FACING AND FAMILY-FACING COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AND TOOLS THAT PROMOTE COMPLETION OF THE FAFSA AND CADDA. FOR CONFERENCE; FOR CSAC TO AMPLIFY THE EXTENSION OF THE CA FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE AND PROVIDE UPDATED GUIDANCE TO STUDENTS FROM MIXED-STATUS FAMILIES ON HOW TO MEET THE DEADLINE.
FOR VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND DEMOCRACY REFORM. TO SUPPORT THE CONVENING OF WE ARE CALIFORNIA/PROJECT DAY ONE COALITION, AND NARRATIVE AND AGENDA DEVELOPMENT. FOR THE MILLION VOTERS PROJECT OF CALIFORNIA CALLS TO ENGAGE VOTERS IN THE 2024 ELECTION.