Ira S. Hirschfield

Since 1992, Ira Hirschfield has worked to create a more just and compassionate society as President and a Trustee of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, a family foundation based in San Francisco, California. Ira leads the Fund’s work in four key program areas: supporting equal opportunities for immigrants to become active citizens; advancing full equality for gay and lesbian people, including the right to marry the person they love; removing barriers to success in school so that all students can reach their full potential; and creating strong organizations and movements for social change by building the skills and abilities of leaders. Ira also leads the Fund in its work to strengthen the Bay Area as a community, with spaces and institutions that bring people together and offer opportunities for everyone to learn and grow, including Crissy Field, The Presidio, the U.C. Berkeley Initiative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the San Francisco Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, and Coaching Corps. Prior to joining the Haas, Jr. Fund, Ira was Director of Philanthropy for Rockefeller Family and Associates and Founder and President of The Philanthropic Collaborative. Previously, he co-founded and served as President and Chairman of the F.B. Heron Foundation. He also held leadership positions at Levi Strauss & Co., including Executive Vice President of the Levi Strauss Foundation and Corporate Vice President and Director of Community Affairs.