Perspectives by Cathy Cha

Every Voice Shines New Light

The value of an idea increases exponentially when it’s shared. From our staff, partners and grantees to the people impacted by their efforts, each perspective offers new insight into the critical issues at the heart of our work.

Cathy Cha President & CEO

Cathy leads the Fund’s work to advance rights and create opportunities for all people.

A voter holding up an American flag while waiting in line to vote

Values and Commitment

November 5, 2024 | by

A Promise to Our Communities and Partners

The Haas, Jr. Fund’s dedication to our values and communities remains unwavering no matter what the election outcome.

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund signed on to the following statement alongside the CEOs of California’s leading philanthropic organizations.“On this historic election day, we stand united as leaders of Californ…

A sign held by a demonstrator reading "Stronger Together"

Building a “Bigger We”

September 23, 2024 | by

Why Alliances Matter

Bringing people, groups, and sectors together and finding common purpose have long been part of the Haas Jr. DNA.

Every four years, there’s feverish energy to build coalitions that can win an election. Time and again, we’re reminded that presidential elections—and all elections—come down to how you broaden your base of support…

Young athletes huddling on the basketball court with their coach

Lessons From A Successful Nonprofit Merger

August 19, 2024 | by

Connecting with the Leaders of Positive Coaching Alliance

Mergers can be a strategic way for nonprofits to grow even stronger and have greater community impact.

Our President Cathy Cha currently serves on the board of the Positive Coaching Alliance.Compared to the for-profit sector, the nonprofit world tends to view organizational mergers through a more skeptical lens. A no…

A line of voters seen waiting to cast their ballots

Looking Ahead to November 2024

June 12, 2024 | by

Ramping up Our Organizing Support to Increase Voter Turnout and Power

Civic engagement tables are emerging as one of the best tools to empower regional communities in decision-making and long-term reforms.

In this pivotal election year, the Haas Jr. team is focused on how to ramp up efforts to increase voter turnout, participation, and leadership among communities that are traditionally cast aside every election cycle…

Photo of a demonstrator holding a sign that reads "Love Over Hate"

Inclusion and Belonging: No Time To Step Back

December 12, 2023 | by

Choosing to Remain Hopeful

The current moment calls on us to take a harder look at what we do and how we do it, and to explore new ways to find—and advance—our common humanity.

When I stepped into leadership five years ago at the Haas, Jr. Fund, I knew one thing for sure—we needed to keep pushing for a country and a society where we all belong. The pandemic and the racial uprising of…

Reflecting on 70 Years of Impact

June 28, 2023 | by

Marking our 70th Anniversary by Celebrating the Power of People

Since our founding in 1953, the Haas, Jr. Fund’s grantmaking has revolved around the people and organizations on the front lines of social and community change.

From the beginning, Evelyn and Walter Haas had a commitment to, and belief in, the power of people to drive positive change.It was the leadership and enthusiasm of people around them—people who were organizing their…

Demonstrators rallying for racial justice

Imagine a California Where We All Belong

March 22, 2023 | by

We need to keep pushing for belonging for people that historically have not had equal access

Reflecting on the good work happening across many fronts to make our state more inclusive.

When I walked into the Fannie Lou Hamer Center for the first time, I instantly felt the warmth and comfort of this community space for Black students at UC Berkeley. Tucked away in a lesser-known part of campus, it’…

Scene outside of an Oakland polling place during the 2022 midterm elections

Beyond the Midterm Elections: Next Steps to a Stronger Democracy

December 12, 2022 | by

Year-round dedication is needed to ensure our democracy leaves no one behind

We may have avoided the worst-case scenario during the midterms, but our work is not yet done.

In the weeks since the 2022 elections, I’ve had one main response: phew. The anti-democratic nightmares we’ve all been having didn’t come true. We generally saw sanity prevail across the country with the defeat of a…