April 2004

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Welcome to the new and improved web site of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund. We have redesigned our web site so that it, too, can play a role in moving the Fund's strategic plan and mission forward.

Much of the information on this site, particularly as it relates to the Fund's legacy, mission, values and program areas, is not markedly different from that posted on our old site late last year, although we hope it is clearer and more graphically interesting. There are, however, some significant clarifications and additions that add to the site's usefulness, particularly for grant seekers:

• First, we have clarified the letter of inquiry (LOI) process. We have provided step-by-step directions to help potential grant seekers determine their eligibility and fit with our new guidelines. In addition, we have provided an on-line LOI form on which an applicant can provide the required information. For those unable or uncomfortable with submitting the LOI on-line, the form can also be printed out and mailed.
  
• We have also added a new section, "Recent Grantmaking." We recognize that one of the best ways for grant seekers to evaluate whether a program fits into our guidelines is by looking at who else we've funded and for what purposes. Thus, we've singled out the grants we've made since the Board of Trustees adopted the new strategic plan in the fall of 2003, and provided brief descriptions. We've also listed, for information purposes, those grants made in 2003 prior to the new plan's implementation.
  
• Shortly we will be adding a Grant Proposal outline, similar to the LOI format, for those applicants who are asked by program officers to submit a full proposal.

We have also made some refinements to our fifth program area, previously called "Continuing Legacy." As in all good strategic planning processes, lessons from the plan's implementation need to be consistently fed back, and the plan adjusted. Even at this early stage, we have found the need to correct some ambiguity in the Continuing Legacy concept, and have, in the interim, renamed it "Other Grantmaking Interests." Our intent is to clearly identify those grant making areas that relate to and honor the Fund's founders. At the same time, we want to provide some flexibility to participate in important programs and projects that fall within the framework of the Fund's mission. The staff and Trustees are working on new, clarifying language in both these regards. We plan to have it completed and on the web site by the end of June.

Meanwhile, please take a spin around our new web site. Like the Fund, it will continue to evolve as we move down the path of implementing our strategic plan, so do check back often. We are delighted that many of our grantees have shared photographs and artwork to help us illustrate their great work. We are also appreciative of the assistance Barbara French, Andrew Hill, and the other great folks at Reputation have given in regards to the creation of this new web site. We look forward to hearing your feedback.

Best regards,


Pamela H. David
Executive Director

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