Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund
The Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund is a private foundation established in 1953 by Walter A. Haas Jr. and Evelyn Danzig Haas. Based in San Francisco, California, the foundation is one of the largest philanthropic institutions in the United States, ranking in the top 1% of foundations by assets. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation with a focus on advancing social justice and equity across multiple issue areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$484.0M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$24.5M
+1.2% YoY
Grant Count
180
-13.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$136K
+17.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund reported a distributable amount of $22.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is guided by four core values: Inclusion, Respect, Collaboration, and Courage.
The Haas Jr Fund focuses on six primary areas:
- Immigrant Rights and Integration — Advancing the belief that immigrants should have equal opportunities to become fully engaged citizens
- Gay and Lesbian Rights — Supporting equal marriage rights and other legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals
- Education Equity — Ensuring all people have equal access to quality education
- Nonprofit Leadership — Investing in nonprofit and social movement leadership development
- Community Partnerships and Initiatives — Supporting programs offering vital services to communities in need
- Civic Participation — Strengthening long-term civic infrastructure in historically underserved regions
The foundation is a signatory to Philanthropy's Promise, an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), demonstrating its commitment to responsive and accountable grantmaking.
Grantmaking
The foundation indicates it operates on a "preselected only" basis, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Grant Range
$33,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a strong commitment to the San Francisco Bay Area while also supporting state and national policy advocacy efforts. The foundation supports local Bay Area institutions including the University of California, Berkeley and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It also funds local initiatives such as the San Francisco Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund and the transformation of Crissy Field from a military base to an urban national park.
In recent years, the foundation has expanded its focus to include state and national policy advocacy efforts, particularly around immigrant rights and LGBTQ+ rights, while continuing to support direct services and local initiatives in the Bay Area. The foundation is part of California Civic Participation Funders, a collaborative effort to strengthen civic infrastructure in rapidly growing and historically underserved regions of California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of 2024):
- Total Assets: $484 million
- Annual Revenue: $43.3 million
- Annual Expenses: $38.3 million
- Total Liabilities: $15.5 million
Historical Revenue:
- 2016 Revenue: $459,305,570
The foundation ranks #409 among U.S. foundations by asset size and is in the top 1% of all foundations nationally.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $484,032,861 | $469,121,844 | $458,109,056 |
| Revenue | $43,288,420 | $10,244,968 | $25,410,486 |
| Expenses | $38,257,158 | $39,898,742 | $38,364,975 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $29,880,503 | $29,523,422 | $31,646,484 |
| Net Investment Income | $30,184,742 | $1,531,281 | $11,602,736 |
| Distributable Amount | $22,544,430 | $22,473,663 | $21,668,305 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund ($1,524,500), California Calls Education Fund ($650,000), Community Partners Inc ($418,525).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA | TO SUPPORT LANGUAGE ACCESS, EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS, AND DEFEND AND REFORM THE CALIFORNIA VOTING RIGHTS ACT. | $150,000 |
| ALIENTO EDUCATION FUND PHOENIX, AZ | TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANT YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT. | $115,000 |
| AMERICAN BUSINESS IMMIGRATION COALITION CHICAGO, IL | TO SEED EFFORTS TO SCALE BUSINESS AND EMPLOYER COALITIONS IN CALIFORNIA TO PUSH BACK AGAINST DEPORTATIONS. TO LEAD A NATIONWIDE COALITION ADVANCING LEGAL AND POLICY SOLUTIONS, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. | $215,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FDN SAN FRANCISCO, CA | HONORARIUM | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO EXPAND AND DEFEND VOTING RIGHTS, EXPAND ACCESS TO LANGUAGE SERVICES, AND ESTABLISH OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AT STATE AGENCIES. FOR ASSISTANCE WITH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF POLLING ON CALIFORNIA DEMOCRACY. | $55,500 |
| AMERICA'S VOICE EDUCATIONAL FUND WASHINGTON, DC | TO STRENGTHEN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY AND RAPID RESPONSE EFFORTS IN THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS MOVEMENT. | $100,000 |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AMERICAN UNIVERSITY TEMPE, AZ | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT; FOR AN HONORARIUM IN HONOR OF MARIA ANGUIANO. | $5,500 |
| ARTE BRONX, NY | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT. | $1,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN FUTURES IRVINE, CA | FOR THE ACTIVATE CA PROJECT TO UTILIZE MICRO-INFLUENCERS AND CONTENT CREATORS TO REACH LOW-PROPENSITY AAPI VOTERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-29 THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT AND DIRECT MAILERS. FOR ASSISTANCE WITH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF POLLING ON CALIFORNIA DEMOCRACY. FOR POLLING OF ORANGE COUNTY VOTERS. | $60,500 |
| ASIAN AMERICANSPACIFIC ISLANDERS IN PHILANTHROPY OAKLAND, CA | FOR MEMBERSHIP DUES. | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Current Leadership:
- Cathy Cha — President and CEO
- Walter J. Haas — Chair
- Marcos Orozco III — Secretary and Treasurer
- Robert Joseph — Vice President of Public Relations
- Ira Hirschfield — President Emeritus
- Raul Macias — Program Director
- Maliha Sadiq — Director of Communications
- Michael Green — Director of Finance
Board Members:
- Elizabeth H. Eisenhardt — Director
- Robert D. Haas — Director
- Jesse Eisenhardt — Director
- Elise Haas — Director
- Walter A. Haas III — Director
The foundation's board includes members of the Haas family, carrying forward the legacy of the founders. The board is led by family members and includes three of the founders' grandchildren.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHY CHA | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $462,540 |
| MARCOS OROZCO III | SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 40 | $264,600 |
| WALTER J HAAS | CHAIR | 8 | — |
| ELIZABETH H EISENHARDT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ROBERT D HAAS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JESSE EISENHARDT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ELISE HAAS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| WALTER A HAAS III | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has signaled a strategic evolution in its approach. In a 2026 perspective letter from the President, the Haas Jr Fund announced it is advancing its ambitions by focusing on root causes, bold ideas, greater agility, and deeper collaboration with funding and community partners to drive innovative solutions.
Recent initiatives include:
**California Democracy Partnership** — A new partnership uniting a growing network of funders and organizations around a shared agenda to establish California as a model of inclusive multiracial democracy, with a focus on protecting voting rights.
**Immigrant Rights Focus** — The foundation has emphasized its commitment to supporting community organizations working to build community solidarity and stand up for democracy in the context of immigrant rights.
**Education Innovation** — The foundation has supported hybrid higher education models, including programs like ASU Local, which reimagines the college experience for students from underrepresented communities.
**Voter Participation** — The foundation has invested in efforts to increase voting in California counties, partnering with local nonprofits and county governments to expand democratic participation.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund fund?
The foundation is guided by four core values: Inclusion, Respect, Collaboration, and Courage. The Haas Jr Fund focuses on six primary areas: 1. **Immigrant Rights and Integration** — Advancing the belief that immigrants should have equal opportunities to become fully engaged citizens 2. **Gay and Lesbian Rights** — Supporting equal marriage rights and other legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals 3. **Education Equity** — Ensuring all people have equal access to quality education 4. **Nonprofi…
How do I apply for a grant from Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation distributed 180 grants in its most recent fiscal year • Median grant size: $33,000 • Grant range: $250 to $3.3 million • As of 2019, the fund had awarded nearly $625 million in philanthropic grants **Application Process:** The foundation indicates it operates on a "preselected only" basis, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Where does Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund make grants?
The foundation maintains a strong commitment to the San Francisco Bay Area while also supporting state and national policy advocacy efforts. The foundation supports local Bay Area institutions including the University of California, Berkeley and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It also funds local initiatives such as the San Francisco Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund and the transformation of Crissy Field from a military base to an urban national park. In recent years, the foundation has…
What size grants does Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund award?
In 2024, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund awarded 180 grants totaling $24.5M — an average of about $136K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund reported a distributable amount of $22.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund's EIN?
Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6068932. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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