Headwaters Foundation gives progress update in Superior

Headwaters Foundation was established in 2016 as a steward of community resources following the sale of Community Medical Center in Missoula, which led to the creation of its endowment.

From the outset, the foundation prioritized listening. Representatives traveled throughout the region to hear directly from residents about the most pressing health challenges they face. 

The feedback was clear: communities seek funding that benefits children, families, and Native American populations; addresses the root causes of health issues; and encourages collaboration across organizations and sectors. With that platform built, Headwaters Foundation partners with organizations that build leadership, foster a sense of belonging among families, amplify community voices to policymakers and help create the conditions for lasting change.

River Side Soups and Sandz in Superior opened their back room recently as the new CEO and staff of Headwaters returned to treat the people and organizations that they have assisted to lunch, hear their progress and encourage them to continue, or initiate, a working relationship with the foundation. 

Carissa Kuhl, Superior Elementary school counselor and serving on the board of directors of the Headwaters Foundation, welcomed the group.

Headwaters Foundation CEO Carley Hare said she is excited to be in her new position and was very complimentary of the staff and the history of the organization. 

“Headwaters Foundation is really looking for ways to be a collaborative partner in communities. We are looking for ways to brainstorm solutions they want to have made and believe they have their own solutions inside their own communities,” she said. “We can be a partner in helping them navigate and build a tapestry of what that will look like. Sometimes that may include funding from us, but it may mean helping find models and partners outside of your own geographic community that can help make the work easier. It also may be us figuring out ways in which we can bring other funders and donors to celebrate and shine the light on what is happening.”

Ashley Morton, senior resource partner who has been with Headwaters for eight years next month, said, “We have entered into a new strategic framework at Headwaters and we’re here to share how we do that granting. To talk about the service region we work, (that hasn’t changed) as the 15-county region in western Montana to grant out to non-profits and those organizations working to improve the health of children and families,” which has been their mission since the beginning. 

“What has shifted is we’re now more focused on engaging parents, families and caregivers and building up their own leadership. To live their best and healthy lives.” Morton then capsulized a portion of her job responsibilities.  “I hold partnerships with those we grant funding to with support; beyond the check we write. I help connect them with resources and training we might offer or know of. Help get them connected with other organizations that are similar in structure and focus.”

A very popular and appreciated portion of the Headwaters Foundation are their GO! Grants. Ruth Crystal, Associate Resource Partner, has lived in Missoula for 15 years and worked in non-profits for over 10 years and she is the Go! Grants person. 

“General Operating, is what the GO stands for,” she said. “These are quick, easy $8,500.00 grants and we reserve these for small rural non-profits in western Montana operating outside of the hubs of Missoula, Helena, Kalispell and places like those. Groups that are under one million dollars a year for their budget. We fund everything from foodbanks to empowerment groups and everything in between so, these grants are really to make the work continue to happen.” 

With a streamlined application process and quick turnaround, these grants are designed to deliver resources where they are needed most with minimal barriers to support the nonprofits that promote health, belonging, and leadership for children and families in rural communities. Their funding opens the first quarter of each year and runs dry around October, but Crystal said that they are seeing more applications and expect to be out of funding in September of this year. 

Sheryl Crabb and Patti Pickering with Pool in the Park were excited to learn that the application for the GO! Grant was still open as they have been their own nonprofit for a year and qualify for an $8,500.00 grant. 

More information is available at their website, www.headwatersmt.org.