Walter & Elise
Haas Fund

2019 Annual Report

Investing in a more just and vibrant Bay Area for current and future generations.

Reflections

Looking back at — and learning from — 2019.

From Board President,
John Goldman

To a large extent, our past determines how we — as a family foundation — address the present and approach the future.

In 2019, with our transition to Jamie Allison’s leadership as executive director completed, and with a full complement of 4th generation family participation on our board approaching, it seemed appropriate to review and reconnect with our organizational history. We wanted to be sure to calibrate our future work to the core values set forth by Walter and Elise Haas, because no matter what or where our grantmaking and leadership might take us, it’s their example we intend to honor.

As part of this process, the Board of Trustees studied the Fund’s archives and had substantive and revealing conversations about the historical context of the Fund and the passions of the founders. We looked at the causes and issues that were of greatest importance to them and reexamined the ways that their legacies could be continued and reinforced.

What this review revealed most clearly was that Walter and Elise Haas were futurists. They saw the world as it was while envisioning and investing in what could be.

They were generous in service to the community. They forged new ground as pioneers — as with Elise’s leadership at SFMOMA or with Walter’s social responsibility innovations at Levi Strauss & Co. And underpinning both their generosity and their leadership was a heartfelt concern and steadfast commitment for those who lacked privilege and for the world as a place of peace.

We live in disruptive times, and that makes the enduring values of my grandparents essential. Our challenge when considering the Fund’s legacy is to decide how to live up to their examples in the face of new challenges and new opportunities.

As an example of the way we’re doing this in 2019 and beyond, and as Jamie explains in her letter, we decided to refocus our Education Program. As both philanthropists and businesspeople, Walter and Elise Haas would have approved of reaching out to engage the private sector to meet public need.

Now we move into a future that probably would have amazed our founders. Yet, they would have encouraged — and maybe insisted — that we look forward with energy and enthusiasm, knowing that our new board members and executive director bring fresh ideas and perspectives. Coupled with the lasting legacy that Walter and Elise passed on to each generation, I am excited to see how we bring our values to bear on the world we all share responsibility for.

Board Members

John Goldman
Board President
Elizabeth H. Eisenhardt
Trustee
Daniel S. Goldman
Trustee
Jennifer C. Haas
Trustee
Peter E. Haas, Jr.
Trustee
Charlotte Haas Prime
Trustee

From Executive Director,
Jamie Allison

A more healthy, just, and vibrant society in which people feel connected to and responsible for their community — this is the vision of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund. In 2019 — my second year as executive director — we made adjustments both large and small to bring this vision to life.

The biggest shift was the adoption of a new Education grantmaking strategy. While we had been focused on teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development — goals we will continue to support within the context of our new focus — our Education Program now will support San Francisco and Oakland Unified School Districts in their Linked Learning and Career Pathways work.

To say it succinctly, we’re now aiming to provide a systemic, empowering response to all the Bay Area students who ask, “Why do I have to learn this?”

Linked Learning and Career Pathways contextualizes high school classes within a professional industry selected by the students. For example, if you’re interested in environmental science, then math might be about quantifying CO2 levels. Students additionally receive real world training via internships and shorter externships within the local business community.

We see this strategy shift as a response to the widening income and wealth gaps in the Bay Area. While we have the country’s lowest unemployment and great wealth here, public high school students lack access to employment opportunities and the prosperity to which those connections lead. Career Pathways also helps engage private businesses in public education —investment needed to build the society to which we aspire.

The Fund launched other notable projects in 2019. In partnership with San Francisco Interfaith Council and the Jewish Federation, The Fund’s Jewish Life program gathered a task force of faith leaders and law enforcement personnel to address the increase in violent attacks on houses of worship across the country. A video the Fund’s Economic Security and Safety Net programs produced, A Tale of Two Tickets — illustrating how fines and fees inequitably effect those without sufficient assets — won a Shorty Award. And our Betting on the Bay blog series brought in new ideas from leaders across California.

One personal highlight of 2019 was the opportunity I had to listen to young people and let their wisdom guide my actions and fuel my passions. I eagerly anticipate the Fund’s direct involvement with Linked Learning as students come to work with us over the summer. Making meaningful investments in young people — that’s the key to the more vibrant society our founders envisioned.

Program Areas

Arts

In 2019, the Walter & Elise Haas Fund Arts program staff reviewed its arts education grantmaking to discover we supported programs benefitting an estimated 27,000 students on top of the 366 principals, teachers, and organizational leaders who took part in professional development. Grantees worked in 80 sites in San Francisco and 71 in Oakland with after school offerings clustered in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, Mission, and Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhoods and Oakland’s civic center, San Antonio, and West Oakland neighborhoods. All this data points to success in our goal of reaching low-income students, but we can do more. The Fund, in 2019 and beyond, endeavors to reach more of those students who struggle to access arts education — including newcomer students, English language learners, and those with special needs.

Other 2019 Arts grantees helped improve the lives of adults with low-cost or free arts access through grants for Trolley Dances, Skywatchers, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, and more. Through the Creative Work Fund, 16 grantee pairs of artists and non-profit organizations began developing groundbreaking new works to address challenging topics including homelessness, immigration, and human rights.

Arts Portfolio By Strategy

40 %

Arts Education

$1,027,000

32 %

Cultural Commons

$815,500

28 %

Creative Work Fund

$704,500

Organization Strategy Amount
Advaita Society Arts Education $15,000
Bay Area Children’s Theatre Arts Education $15,000
Bay Area Girls Rock Camp Arts Education $10,000
California Alliance for Arts Education Arts Education $80,000
Chapter 510 Ink Arts Education $20,000
Cypher Pilot Project Arts Education $2,000
Destiny Arts Center Arts Education $80,000
Jamestown Community Center Arts Education $25,000
Leap Arts in Education Arts Education $120,000
Luna Kids Dance Arts Education $15,000
Magic Theatre, Inc. Arts Education $30,000
Museum of Children’s Arts Arts Education $40,000
Oakland Youth Chorus Arts Education $85,000
Oaktown Jazz Workshops Arts Education $40,000
Performing Arts Workshop Arts Education $30,000
Prescott Circus Theatre Arts Education $15,000
Root Division Arts Education $15,000
San Francisco Art Institute Arts Education $40,000
Southern Exposure Arts Education $25,000
Stagebridge Arts Education $25,000
Success Center San Francisco Arts Education $45,000
Young Audiences of Northern California Arts Education $20,000
Young Musicians Choral Orchestra Arts Education $50,000
Youth Beat Arts Education $60,000
Youth Speaks Arts Education $20,000
Z Space Studio Arts Education $15,000
Zaccho SF Arts Education $90,000
API Cultural Center Creative Work Fund $500
Asian Refugees United Creative Work Fund $500
Ballet Afsaneh Art & Culture Society Creative Work Fund $500
Ballet Afsaneh Art & Culture Society & Ustad Farida Mahwash Creative Work Fund $45,000
Campo Santo & Joan Osato Creative Work Fund $45,000
Chaksampa Tibetan Dance & Opera Company Creative Work Fund $500
Chaksampa Tibetan Dance & Opera Company & Bhalu Bhaloo Creative Work Fund $44,000
Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco & Sofia Cordova Creative Work Fund $45,000
Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco & Leslie Dreyer Creative Work Fund $45,000
Diamano Coura West African Dance Company & Fely Tchaco Creative Work Fund $45,000
Dimensions Dance Theater & Nimely Napla Creative Work Fund $40,000
Earth Activist Training & Suzanne Husky Creative Work Fund $45,000
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts Creative Work Fund $500
Emerging Arts Professionals Creative Work Fund $500
Filipino American Development Foundation Creative Work Fund $500
Filipino American Development Foundation & Sydney Loyola Creative Work Fund $45,000
Greenlining Institute & Desi Mundo Creative Work Fund $30,000
Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California Creative Work Fund $500
Montalvo Arts Center & Hector Dionicio Mendoza Creative Work Fund $45,000
Oakland’s Providence House & Sharon Siskin Creative Work Fund $45,000
Sins Invalid Creative Work Fund $500
SOMArts Creative Work Fund $500
The Contemporary Jewish Museum & Jewlia Eisenberg Creative Work Fund $45,000
University Corporation at Monterey Bay & Binh Danh Creative Work Fund $45,000
Vietnamese American Non-Governmental Organization Network & Van-Anh Vo Creative Work Fund $45,000
Women’s Audio Mission & Meklit Hadero Creative Work Fund $45,000
3rd i South Asian Independent Film Cultural Commons $15,000
509 Cultural Center Cultural Commons $25,000
Acción Latina Cultural Commons $20,000
Alliance for California Traditional Arts Cultural Commons $240,000
Betti Ono Cultural Commons $30,000
Bisemi Foundation Inc. Cultural Commons $20,000
Californians for the Arts Cultural Commons $30,000
CounterPULSE Cultural Commons $45,000
Dancers’ Group Cultural Commons $20,000
Fresh Meat Productions Cultural Commons $40,500
Gamelan Sekar Jaya Cultural Commons $15,000
Golden Thread Productions Cultural Commons $20,000
Grantmakers in the Arts Cultural Commons $5,000
Hope Mohr Dance Cultural Commons $10,000
Intertribal Friendship House Cultural Commons $20,000
Joe Goode Performance Group Cultural Commons $30,000
La Peña Cultural Center Cultural Commons $30,000
Northern California Grantmakers Cultural Commons $15,000
San Francisco Zine Fest Cultural Commons $10,000
Shakespeare-San Francisco Cultural Commons $25,000
Sixth Street Photography Workshop Cultural Commons $15,000
Small Press Distribution Cultural Commons $25,000
The Litquake Foundation Cultural Commons $15,000
The Poetry Center and American Poetry Archives Cultural Commons $25,000
The San Francisco Foundation Cultural Commons $20,000
World Arts West Cultural Commons $50,000

Economic Security

The significant economic growth that has lifted the Bay Area since the Great Recession has left far too many of its residents behind. Almost 20% of San Franciscans and 17% of Alameda County residents live in poverty. One-third of Alameda County residents and near the same percentage of San Franciscans do not have enough savings to cover their basic expenses for three months in an emergency. Income and wealth inequities are at a historic high; if you are a person of color, a woman, an immigrant, a person with a disability, an older adult, or even simply a parent to a dependent child, you are more likely to struggle to make ends meet.

To address these profound challenges, in 2019 the Walter & Elise Haas Fund’s Economic Security grantees provided workforce development services to people with significant barriers to employment, placing them in high-quality jobs; helped low-income people to obtain income supports that build and protect their financial assets; supported entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses and create good jobs; and worked to improve the systems and policies that promote economic well-being for all Californians. We believe that these investments in the inherent value of all in the Bay Area will, cumulatively, move the needle toward economic justice.

Economic Security Portfolio By Strategy

50 %

Workforce Development

$905,000

33 %

Build and Protect Assets

$590,000

17 %

Public Policy and Systems Change

$305,000

Organization Strategy Amount
Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative Build and Protect Assets $20,000
California Asset Building Coalition Build and Protect Assets $40,000
City and County of San Francisco Build and Protect Assets $10,000
East Bay College Fund dba Oakland Promise Build and Protect Assets $100,000
FreeFrom Build and Protect Assets $50,000
FUSE Corps Build and Protect Assets $45,000
Golden State Opportunity Foundation Build and Protect Assets $100,000
Justice in Aging Build and Protect Assets $30,000
San Francisco Financial Justice Project (City and County of San Francisco) Build and Protect Assets $75,000
United Way of the Bay Area Build and Protect Assets $120,000
California Budget & Policy Center Public Policy and Systems Change $150,000
Public Rights Project Public Policy and Systems Change $5,000
Small Business Majority Foundation Public Policy and Systems Change $150,000
Economic Security Project Workforce Development $25,000
HOPE SF Workforce Development $300,000
Human Impact Partners Workforce Development $10,000
Jacob Kornbluth Productions Workforce Development $45,000
Jewish Vocational and Career Counseling Service Workforce Development $200,000
One Fair Wage Workforce Development $25,000
Rising Sun Center for Opportunity Workforce Development $100,000
Rubicon Programs Inc. Workforce Development $200,000

Education

A highly-qualified and diverse teacher workforce is an important component in both improving outcomes for youth and closing the achievement gap. To this end, between 2015 and 2019, the Walter & Elise Haas Fund focused its Education grantmaking on efforts to recruit public school teachers, retain them, and support them in becoming excellent, effective educators. The Fund staff and trustees were pleased that the Governor’s newly released education budget reflects these priorities as well.

In 2019, through more than 50 interviews with local education leaders and stakeholders, the Fund began to explore new directions for our Education program area. Inspired by what we learned, we are directing our Education grantmaking toward Linked Learning and Career Pathways in San Francisco and Oakland public high schools, starting in 2020. Through this work, the Fund aspires to be part of preparing all Oakland and San Francisco public school students — especially those furthest from opportunity — for college, career, and civic life.

Education Portfolio By Strategy

44 %

Teacher Retention

$170,000

36 %

Teacher Practice

$140,000

25 %

New Strategies

$130,000

19 %

Teacher Pipeline

$75,000

Organization Strategy Amount
City and County of San Francisco Career Pathways $45,000
San Francisco Emerging Leaders Project Field Building $40,000
Spark* SF Public Schools Linked Learning $45,000
San Francisco Unified School District Teacher Pipeline $50,000
Trellis Teacher Pipeline $25,000
Center for Cities and Schools Teacher Practice $25,000
EdSource Teacher Practice $25,000
Oakland Public Education Fund Teacher Practice $50,000
Oakland Unified School District Teacher Practice $40,000
Black Teacher Project Teacher Retention $50,000
Californians for Justice Education Fund Teacher Retention $25,000
Mills College Teacher Retention $45,000
Science & Health Education Partnership Teacher Retention $25,000
World Savvy Teacher Retention $25,000

Jewish Life

In 2019, the Walter & Elise Haas Fund’s Jewish Life program took steps to address rising levels of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry that threaten the security and health of our communities. In the Bay Area and beyond, Jewish organizations spoke out, voicing growing concern over white nationalism’s devastating impact on minority communities. Fund grantees joined with others to proactively ensure that all are able to practice their faiths safely. In one highlight of this work, the Fund partnered with several grantees and representatives from the law enforcement community to sponsor a full day security training for 280 clergy of all faiths.

The Jewish community also recognized the need to look inward in 2019, striving to become more welcoming of Jews in all their diversity. One stellar example of a project that seeks to ensure a more equitable community is The Jews of Color Field Building Initiative, which was launched with seed funding from the Walter & Elise Haas Fund and several philanthropic partners. This new initiative provides funds, training, and research to help organizations provide support and opportunities for Jews of Color.

Jewish Life Portfolio By Strategy

74 %

Justice

$1,305,000

23 %

Diversity

$415,000

3 %

Innovation

$50,000

Organization Strategy Amount
B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation Building Partnerships for Social Justice $80,000
Challah for Hunger Building Partnerships for Social Justice $50,000
Faith In Action Bay Area Building Partnerships for Social Justice $100,000
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, San Francisco Hillel Building Partnerships for Social Justice $85,000
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Building Partnerships for Social Justice $110,000
Islamic Networks Building Partnerships for Social Justice $80,000
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Building Partnerships for Social Justice $50,000
Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay Building Partnerships for Social Justice $100,000
Jewish Funders Network Building Partnerships for Social Justice $10,000
Jewish Social Justice Roundtable Building Partnerships for Social Justice $50,000
Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life Building Partnerships for Social Justice $100,000
National Council of Jewish Women Incorporated Building Partnerships for Social Justice $30,000
One America Movement Building Partnerships for Social Justice $60,000
Shalom Bayit Building Partnerships for Social Justice $60,000
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Building Partnerships for Social Justice $25,000
The Kitchen: Slow Down, Jew Up Building Partnerships for Social Justice $50,000
Union for Reform Judaism Building Partnerships for Social Justice $90,000
Urban Adamah Building Partnerships for Social Justice $175,000
Dimensions Educational Consulting Diversity is a Strength $50,000
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco Diversity is a Strength $150,000
Jewish LearningWorks Diversity is a Strength $20,000
New Israel Fund Diversity is a Strength $125,000
Wilderness Torah Diversity is a Strength $70,000
Asylum Arts Inc. Innovation is an Imperative $20,000
Jewish Studio Project Innovation is an Imperative $30,000

Safety Net

The Walter & Elise Haas Fund’s Safety Net program helps ensure the basic survival of those Bay Area residents persevering despite low incomes. We address the persistent challenges the community faces by funding both immediate relief — through organizations that provide food, shelter, and social services — and by supporting longer-term impact via policy and advocacy efforts and creative approaches to addressing hunger and homelessness.

At least 1 in 5 residents of San Francisco and Alameda counties are on the edge of not having regular access to sufficient food, and homelessness is increasing. Given the impact of the ongoing affordability crisis and federal policies that threaten the most vulnerable, in 2019 the Fund remained a steady source of support for organizations that provide access to basic needs and instill a sense of dignity for all. Also this year, the Fund’s Safety Net program increased its support for legal services organizations that help remove barriers to housing, employment, and stability.

Safety Net Portfolio By Strategy

46 %

Housing / Homeless Prevention

$515,000

32 %

Food

$365,000

12 %

Legal Services

$135,000

10 %

Policy & Emerging Needs

$115,000

Organization Strategy Amount
East Bay Community Law Center Legal Services $30,000
Eviction Defense Collaborative Legal Services $30,000
Legal Aid Association of California Legal Services $25,000
Legal Link Legal Services $25,000
Open Door Legal Legal Services $25,000
Alameda County Community Food Bank Food $50,000
Board of Trustees of the Glide Foundation Food $30,000
Davis Street Community Center Food $30,000
Meals on Wheels of San Francisco Food $30,000
Mercy Retirement Care Center Food $30,000
Project Open Hand Food $30,000
San Francisco Marin Food Bank Food $50,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County Food $30,000
St. Anthony Foundation Food $30,000
Young Mens Christian Association of San Francisco Food $30,000
A Safe Place Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Abode Services Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Bay Area Community Services Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Catholic Charities CYO of The Archdiocese Of San Francisco Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Catholic Charities of the East Bay Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Compass Family Services Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Cornerstone Community Development Corporation Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Hamilton Families Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
International Rescue Committee Housing & Homeless Prevention $20,000
La Casa de las Madres Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Mei Fong & Associates Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Providence Foundation of San Francisco Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Raphael House of San Francisco Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
Simply the Basics Housing & Homeless Prevention $25,000
Southern Alameda County Comite for Raza Mental Health Housing & Homeless Prevention $30,000
The Gubbio Project Inc Housing & Homeless Prevention $20,000
Eden I & R Inc Information & Referral $30,000
United Way of the Bay Area Information & Referral $20,000
California Association of Food Banks Policy & Emerging Needs $30,000
California Food Policy Advocates Policy & Emerging Needs $30,000
Western Center on Law and Poverty Policy & Emerging Needs $30,000

Grantmaking

Arts

 $2,547,000

25%

Economic Security

 $1,800,000

18%

Education

 $515,000

5%

Jewish Life

 $1,770,000

18%

Safety Net

 $1,130,000

11%

Mission-Related

 $2,273,993

23%

2019 financial information, including audits, tax returns and investment performance, can be found on our website.

Allocation

Arts

31%
67%
2%

Economic Security

49%
40%
11%

Education

65%
35%

Jewish Life

42%
58%

Safety Net

93%
7%

Mission-Related

65%
22%
13%

Total Grantmaking

52%
43%
5%

 General Operating Support  Project Support  Capital