A Note from Our CEO, Carly Hare

Dear friends, 

As the leaves change across Western Montana, I’ve been reflecting on the seasons of my first nine months at Headwaters Foundation. I started in winter, which was a season of listening—to the history of this organization, the wisdom of our team and partners, and the realities Montana families are navigating. Spring and summer brought travel, conversation, and connection. 

These months have been shaped by real challenges and shifting realities. Federal policy shifts and state-level decisions continue to impact the communities we serve, with consequences felt in health care access, food assistance, and the stability of rural hospitals. 

We heard these realities firsthand on our Pull Up a Chair Tour across Western Montana. From Dillon to Libby, we met people face-to-face and saw shared values in action: neighbors supporting neighbors, strong networks holding communities together, and community members co-creating solutions. Across every stop, we heard a clear desire for Montana families not just to get by, but to thrive. 

New polling we commissioned confirms what we’re hearing on the ground: across the political spectrum, nearly all Montanans agree that families are struggling, and 61% say the government is doing too little to help. The data also shows strong bipartisan support for programs like Medicaid and SNAP, with more than three-in-four Montanans saying those programs should be easier to access. 

Earlier this year, we rolled out our refreshed strategy which centers families in shaping solutions to Western Montana’s most pressing health challenges. We launched the Family Power Fund to invest in grassroots leadership, advocacy, and community voice, focusing especially on families most impacted by health inequities, including Indigenous, Black, and other families of color, as well as those living with disabilities, with low incomes, and with LGBTQ+ members. 

The urgency of this moment has called for collective action. We’ve organized with partners and peer funders to respond to federal cuts and bring more resources into the state. Throughout the year, we’ve continued to practice trust-based philanthropy and share what we’re learning nationally. And Headwaters joined more than 185 organizations in Standing in Solidarity with Nonprofits to Meet the Moment — a call to action that reflects our commitment to the long haul. 

As fall deepens and we move into a new season of planning and partnership, I’m reminded that this work is both urgent and long-term. It also moves in cycles—listening, acting, reflecting, beginning again. The challenges ahead are real, but so is Montanans’ resolve to care for one another. That shared strength guides us and gives me hope. 

In the coming months, you’ll see us deepen our investment in community-led solutions, expand our partnerships across the state, and continue standing alongside nonprofits navigating an uncertain landscape. To our partners and communities: thank you for your leadership and trust. We’re honored to walk this path with you. 

Ta tura tksa (with deep gratitude), 

Carly Hare