Jan 7, 2025
A New Year: Reflecting and Looking Ahead
From welcoming new leadership to refining our strategy, 2024 brought some exciting changes and milestones. As we kick off a new year, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what made 2024 so meaningful and share what’s in store for the year ahead. Last year, we deepened relationships with our incredible partners, celebrated and amplified their successes, and laid the groundwork for even more impact in 2025.
Here’s a quick look at some highlights and what we’re looking forward to:
Welcoming Carly Hare as CEO
We’re thrilled to welcome Carly Hare as our new CEO, starting this month! Carly’s deep experience in the philanthropic sector and passion for community-driven change makes her the perfect fit to lead Headwaters Foundation into the future. This spring, we’ll hit the road to introduce Carly to our partners across Western Montana. We hope you’ll join us for an event in your region to meet Carly, share stories, and talk about the important work happening in our state. Stay tuned for details about the tour! In the meantime, get to know her in this interview.
Investing in Transformative Work
In 2024, we partnered with 130 nonprofits across Western Montana, distributing $6,265,000 in grants to support kids and families and improve health in our state. From youth leadership programs and a food sovereignty initiative to a mental health awareness tour and housing advocacy, our grantees are making a big impact. Check out our grantee spotlights and improved Past Awards page to learn more about our partners.
A Sharpened Focus
In 2024, we rolled out a refreshed strategy that focuses on systems change and elevating the voices of families most impacted by health challenges. Our partners were invited to help with this process through a grantee input session. You’ll see the new approach reflected on our updated website – take a look! Grantmaking under our updated funding areas will resume in April 2025. We also staffed up so that we could hit the ground running this year – see our updated staff page to get to know our current team.
Changing the Narrative on Public Assistance
Last fall, we released a report by Bryce Ward, Supporting Our Neighbors: Understanding Who Receives Public Assistance in Montana, For How Long, and Why. This report busts myths about public assistance and highlights the real stories of Montanans who rely on these vital programs. We’re committed to continuing this conversation and sharing these insights with leaders during the legislative session.
Leading in Trust-Based Philanthropy
In 2024, we continued to pave the way in Trust-Based Philanthropy. Our team presented at conferences like Philanthropy Northwest, shared insights in national journals, and published thoughtful commentary on topics like the importance of building trust in funding relationships, and how to integrate trust into evaluation. We’ll continue to build trust with our partners, refine our practices, and share our experience with the broader philanthropic community.
A Hub for Collaboration
In 2024, 118 organizations hosted 470 events at Confluence Center, from workshops and board meetings to cultural events, making it a true hub for creativity and collaboration. We rolled out new tools, like how-to videos and a user manual, to make the space even more user-friendly, which helps us keep it free to nonprofits. Book your 2025 events at Confluence Center through our website!
As we step into 2025, we’re ready to keep listening, learning, and working alongside the people and organizations that make Western Montana stronger and healthier. Thank you for being part of this journey! Let’s keep in touch – sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn so you don’t miss a beat!