Exclusive: One of San Francisco's biggest philanthropic foundations is shutting down
The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, one of San Francisco's largest philanthropic foundations, is closing at the end of 2028 as younger generations of the Haas family transition to new giving initiatives.
The fund's board of directors, which includes three children and three grandchildren of its namesake founders, are seeking to transition to new charitable initiatives after 2028. Evelyn Haas passed away in 2010. Walter Haas, Jr., former CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. and the great-great-grandnephew of its founder, passed away in 1995.
"When our parents/grandparents created the Fund back in 1953, one of their main goals was to share the joy and experience of philanthropy with their children. We would now like to carry on that spirit and give that gift to our children and grandchildren," said Wally Haas, son of Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr., in a statement.
"Together, the board of directors decided that sunsetting the Fund over the next two years would be the best way to allow the next generation of the family to pursue their own philanthropic paths," he said.
The foundation currently has around $500 million in assets and will continue supporting programs around democracy, immigrant rights and college education. The fund has issued over $20 million in grants annually and as of 2023 had distributed $719 million in total.
Past grant recipients include the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California, California Immigrant Policy Center, the California State University Foundation and NAACEP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The fund is also making long-term grants to the Season of Sharing Fund, which helps disadvantaged Bay Area families and was co-founded by the Chronicle; Crissy Field; and the Haas Pavilion at UC Berkeley.
"We know this is a difficult time for the communities we care so deeply about, from college students seeking a bachelor's degree, to immigrants seeking opportunity and justice, to communities that for too long have faced real barriers to voting and participating in our democracy," said Wally Haas.
In April, the fund's president Cathy Cha departed after working there for 22 years for the Freedom Together Foundation.
"We are deeply grateful for our grantee partners and their dedicated leaders across the Bay Area and California for working with us over 73 years to help make this community and state a supportive and beautiful place to live," Wally Haas said. "We have been humbled by all that we have accomplished together, and our families will carry forward this tradition of giving in the same spirit and with the same values that inspired our parents."
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.