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Headwaters Health Foundation Of Western Montana

Annual Giving
$7.1M
Grant Range
$9K - $0.4M
Decision Time
1mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.1 million (2025)
  • Assets: $115.7 million (2022)
  • Decision Time: 4 weeks post-deadline (Family Power Fund); 24 hours (GO! Grants when open)
  • Grant Range: $8,500 - $375,000
  • Geographic Focus: Western Montana (15 counties + Flathead Nation)

Contact Details

Address: 119 West Main Street, Missoula, MT

Email: grants@headwatersmt.org

Website: https://www.headwatersmt.org/

Phone: Contact via email for specific program inquiries

Overview

Headwaters Health Foundation of Western Montana was established in 2017 as a "conversion foundation" following the sale of Community Medical Center to Billings Clinic and Regional Care Hospital Partners. With assets of $115.7 million, it has become one of Montana's largest health-related foundations. Since its inception, Headwaters has distributed over $26 million in grants to support the health and wellbeing of Western Montana communities. The foundation practices trust-based philanthropy, centering family voices and addressing social and economic conditions that create barriers to health. In 2025, Headwaters awarded 157 grants totaling over $7.1 million to 142 partner organizations. Current CEO Carly Hare (Pawnee/Yankton), who joined in January 2025, brings two decades of philanthropic experience to lead the foundation's mission of working side-by-side with Western Montanans to improve community health.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Family Power Fund: $25,000 - $150,000

  • Planning Grants: Up to $25,000
  • New Partner Grants: Up to $75,000
  • General Operating Grants: Up to $150,000
  • Project Grants: Up to $125,000
  • Multi-year funding available for partners with strong advocacy track record
  • Application cycles in April, July, and October

GO! Grants: $8,500

  • Quick-turnaround general operating grants
  • Currently spent down for 2025; reopening in early 2026
  • Designed for small to mid-sized rural organizations
  • Simple application with 24-hour review timeline

CSKT Partnership Fund: Invitation only

  • Collaborative partnership with Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
  • Guided by Tribal leadership and Council
  • Not open to public inquiries
  • Supports Tribal health goals and cultural preservation

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Populations:

  • Families with children (0-18) living below 200% federal poverty level
  • Indigenous, Black, and other communities of color
  • Families with children with disabilities
  • LGBTQ+ families
  • Communities outside urban centers (Missoula, Kalispell, Butte, Helena)

Funding Areas:

  • Family resiliency and leadership
  • Food sovereignty and access
  • Housing advocacy and stability
  • Social inclusion and belonging
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Organizing and advocacy for health-focused policy
  • Narrative shifting and storytelling

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Endowments
  • Capital campaigns
  • Event sponsorships
  • Direct lobbying activities
  • Debt retirement
  • Biomedical research
  • Educational institutions (with limited exceptions)
  • Organizations requiring religious participation for services
  • Organizations that discriminate
  • Intermediary organizations (generally)
  • Professional associations (generally)
  • University programs (generally)

Governance and Leadership

CEO: Carly Hare (Pawnee/Yankton) - Joined January 2025. Brings two decades of philanthropic experience. Hare shared: "Headwaters' origin story is one born out of trust and making an impact in philanthropy on a national scale, and I have deep respect for their leadership in this work. I'm honored and humbled to join in this journey and return to Montana."

Board Chair: Carissa Kuhl

Board Structure: Nine-member Board of Trustees

Previous Leadership: Brenda Solorzano served as founding CEO from 2017-2024, distributing $26 million in grants during her tenure. Solorzano emphasized: "When I first came to Headwaters, I consistently said that these resources were not mine. They were not Headwaters'. They were resources that belong to western Montana."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Family Power Fund:

  1. No RFPs (Requests for Proposals) - rolling pre-inquiry system
  2. Submit pre-inquiry form at headwatersmt.org
  3. Resource Partner conversation within 3 weeks of submission
  4. If aligned, invited to complete short application
  5. Application deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30
  6. Applications available online

GO! Grants:

  • Currently closed for 2025
  • Will reopen in early 2026
  • Simple online application when open
  • Historically reviewed within 24 hours
  • Check in hand within two weeks of approval

CSKT Partnership Fund:

  • Not open to public inquiries
  • Direct collaboration with CSKT Tribal Council only

Decision Timeline

Family Power Fund: Decisions typically made within 4 weeks of application deadline. Applicants receive notification about funding decisions through email or phone contact from their Resource Partner.

GO! Grants: When open, applications reviewed within 24 hours; funding distributed within 2 weeks.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2025, the foundation awarded 157 grants to 142 partner organizations, suggesting some organizations received multiple grants.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations are welcome to reapply. The foundation values ongoing partnerships and offers multi-year funding for organizations with strong track records in advocacy work. No specific waiting period mentioned for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Trust-Based Philanthropy Approach

Headwaters practices trust-based philanthropy with streamlined applications and reporting. According to their 2022 Grantee Perception Report, grantees spent a median of only 7 hours on grant requirements. The foundation values authentic relationships over bureaucratic processes.

What Headwaters Looks For

Former CEO Brenda Solorzano advised: "If you're doing the work that is mission aligned with what we're trying to achieve in headwaters, then we should be supporting you." The foundation is not funding direct services but rather "the capacity of a community to come together," focusing on relationship building and systems change.

Centering Family Voices

Applications should demonstrate how family voices are centered in the work, particularly families most impacted by health disparities. The foundation prioritizes organizations with deep community relationships that create belonging and leadership opportunities.

Examples of Funded Work

Recent grants include:

  • Native American Student Services: $75,000 to create Student Tribal Council strengthening student voice and cultural connection
  • Mineral County Health Department: $250,000 to support Family Connections Collaborative building parent and youth advocacy
  • MAPS Media Institute: $375,000 (3-year) for youth leadership and advocacy through media arts training
  • Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center: $80,000 to improve health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth and families

Geographic Alignment

Organizations must primarily serve rural areas in the 15 westernmost counties (Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Powell) or the Flathead Nation. Priority given to work outside urban centers of Missoula, Kalispell, Butte, and Helena.

Organizational Capacity

  • GO! Grants: Organizations with operating budgets under $1 million (excluding schools)
  • Must have operated for at least 2 years
  • Tax-exempt public charities or fiscally-sponsored organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Trust-based approach is genuine: Headwaters changed "Program Officer" titles to "Resource Partners" to reflect true partnership. Be authentic in conversations; they value vulnerability and genuine connection.

  • Rural focus is essential: Applications must demonstrate work primarily serves rural communities outside major urban centers. Understanding the unique context of each rural community is critical.

  • Family voice must be central: Simply serving families isn't enough - show how families most impacted by health disparities actively shape your solutions and lead your work.

  • Systems change over services: The foundation funds organizing, advocacy, and capacity-building rather than direct services. Emphasize how your work changes underlying conditions, not just addresses symptoms.

  • Multi-year partnerships available: Organizations with strong advocacy track records can receive multi-year funding. Demonstrate long-term vision and policy impact potential.

  • Simplified process means quick turnaround: With streamlined applications and 4-week decision windows, be ready to move quickly once you submit a pre-inquiry form.

  • Geographic eligibility is strict: Operating in the 15 westernmost counties plus Flathead Nation is non-negotiable. If you're unsure about eligibility, contact grants@headwatersmt.org before applying.

References

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