Petrelis Files

Haas Jr Fund = $2.5M to EQCA, NCLR
for Gay Marriage Fight

As part of my campaign to bring transparency to two of the groups that were instrumental in the No on 8 campaign, Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, I've been rooting around trying to learn who their big donors are, because I want them to pressure EQCA and NCLR, both based in San Francisco, to not only hold a summit on Prop 8 in the Castro district, but to begin hosting regular public forums in the city.

One of the largest funders to the groups is the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, which is where Matt Foreman, the former executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, works and helps manage the funds grants to gay advocacy and social service nonprofits.

What I learned from searching the Haas Jr. Fund's site is that from 2003 through 2008, the fund contributed $1,385,000 to EQCA and $1,1175,000 to NCLR, for a combined total of $2,560,000. Nice chunk of change, wouldn't you say?

I've left voice mail messages for Foreman, requesting that he lobby these grantees to organize public forums in the Castro, just like Harvey Milk did in the 1970s. If the Haas Jr. Fund and its millions can't persuade EQCA and NCLR to engage in direct community organizing in their own back yard, to keep the gay base informed and personally engaged with the work of these advocacy groups, then nothing can.

I'll leave it to other gay bloggers to address these questions. Was the $2.5 million wisely spent? Did the community get a terrific bang from all those bucks? Should the Haas Jr. Fund, EQCA and NCLR provide the community with a report on what was accomplished over the years with that funding?

I'm happy to report that Foreman's colleague has emailed me requesting that I meet with him next week. We've set the date for some chat over coffee for Tuesday afternoon. I'll let you know what we talk about.

Here are the results from a search of the Haas Jr. Fund's grants awarded section for EQCA and NCLR. All listings are separate grants:

Equality California Institute

2008

To strengthen civil rights and protections for lesbians and gays in California.

$150,000

2007

For a statewide public education and media campaign to raise awareness about discrimination against lesbian and gay couples and their families.

$100,000

To educate the general public about the importance of marriage equality and other civil protections for same-sex couples.

$125,000

For a statewide public education and media campaign to raise awareness about discrimination against lesbian and gay couples and their families.

$100,000

For a statewide public education and media campaign to raise awareness about discrimination against lesbian and gay couples and their families.

$100,000

2006

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$125,000

For a statewide public education and media campaign to raise awareness about discrimination against lesbian and gay couples and their families.

$100,000

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$100,000

2005

For a statewide public education and media campaign to raise awareness about discrimination against lesbian and gay couples and their families.

$100,000

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$100,000

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$100,000

2004

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$100,000

2003

Haas Jr. 50th Anniversary grant.

$50,000

To protect new civil rights laws through educating and mobilizing gay and allied communities.

$35,000

Sub-total:
$1,385,000

National Center for Lesbian Rights

2008

For a Flexible Leadership Award, Year Two.

$55,000

For public education to protect and expand legal protections for sexual and gender minorities in California.

$150,000

To protect and expand legal protections for sexual and gender minorities.

$100,000

2007

For a Flexible Leadership Award, Year Two.

$45,000

2006

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$100,000

To protect and expand legal protections for gay couples and families and to counter homophobia in sports.

$100,000

2005

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$100,000

To protect and expand legal protections for gay couples and families and to counter homophobia in sports.

$100,000

For a Flexible Leadership Award.

$75,000

2004

To expand legal protections for gay couples and families, and to counter homophobia in sports.

$75,000

To build the legal, communications, advocacy and fundraising capacity to educate about the need for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people.

$100,000

2003

Haas Jr. 50th Anniversary grant.

$100,000

To expand legal protections for gay couples and families, and to counter homophobia in sports.

$75,000

Sub-total:
$1,175,000

EQCA amount: $1,385,000
NCLR amount: $1,175,000

Total: $2,560,000

What exactly did the avergage gay get from the utilitization of the funds? I wonder if the Haas Jr. Fund executives are satisfied with the results of these groups in the past six years. Good topics for an eventual series of town halls in the Castro neighborhood.