Nov 21, 2024
‘Mic Drop Moments’ from Our Panel at Philanthropy Northwest
In October 2024, we held a panel discussion on our GO! Grants program at the Philanthropy Northwest Conference in our hometown of Missoula, Montana. Headwaters’ GO! Grants are designed to provide quick-turnaround, flexible funding to nonprofits that support kids and families in rural areas. Unlike conventional grants that come with funding restrictions and lengthy applications, GO! Grants are based on a trust-based approach.
Our GO! Grants program prioritizes relationship-building over paperwork, which helps us build stronger, more collaborative connections with nonprofits who know their communities best. By offering general operating support, we aim to alleviate some of the capacity issues rural nonprofits face, allowing them to focus more on serving their communities effectively and less on compliance and reporting.
At our recent panel, three GO! Grant recipients —Clare Ann Harff of MAPS Media Institute, Alex Kim of Here Montana and Laura Garber of Cultivating Connections—shared how this model has allowed them to build trust in their communities, adapt quickly, and better meet the unique needs of their neighbors.
Check out some ‘mic drop moments’ from the discussion below.
What has it been like engaging with a trust-based funder, and how is it different from your relationships with other funders?
Clare Ann discussed how trust and flexibility allows her organization to take risks that other funders might not welcome or understand. “We’re entering that tenuous ‘how are you going to do that’ zone, getting to a million-dollar budget. GO! Grants help us be more efficient, help us respond, and help us take that trust into communities where we’re sometimes seen as outsiders. Having that bridge and backing lends to our credibility as we’re doing our outreach.”
Alex Kim touched on how conventional funding can feel more power-driven rather than collaborative. “When it comes to funding, it can feel like the collaboration is not there, and it’s more power-based, where the donor is asking for certain things and the nonprofit needs to work toward those goals and not necessarily toward their mission. GO! Grants give nonprofits like Here Montana the autonomy to move within different communities and do it in a way that reflects our identities and helps us share moments with people and not have to do it in a way that is structured through a donation or grant.”
Laura Garber shared the practical benefits of flexible funding. “We had another grant where we had included that we needed to buy a printer, and then someone donated a printer. But it was still a line item in our grant, and there was no other way to deal with it. Are we supposed to waste money on a printer when someone just gave us one? With the GO! Grant, if we don’t need a printer, then we’ll buy a bunch of lentils for our meal programs instead. It works out well.”
What are some of your key fundraising challenges and how does a program like GO! Grants alleviate some of those challenges?
Clare Ann shared how GO! Grants relieve some of the burdens of her demanding role. “Whenever I tell people everything I’m up to, they’re like, ‘so you’re running a marathon while carrying a stack of books and hosting a potluck?’ The Trust-Based Philanthropy model makes getting to the finish line easier, it makes getting there clearer, it helps the good work be done. You are providing the funds and we’re doing the work to reach communities. The GO! Grants model is an example of how we can do that more effectively together.”
Alex Kim shared how GO! Grants support Here Montana’s outdoor youth programs. “These sorts of trust-based grants allow us to provide funding and avenues that aren’t necessarily a typical deliverable for a grant. We are going outside which requires gear, and especially with youth who might be having these experiences for the first time, we can take away the barrier of paying for gear or rentals. It makes a lifetime of a difference, and now we’re seeing some of those kids growing up and buying themselves skis or working for the forest service.”
Laura Garber pointed out that while essential costs like insurance aren’t ‘sexy,’ they are crucial. “With grants, it’s all about the story. The GO! Grant gives us the opportunity to do things like buy insurance or workers comp that aren’t cool to fund, but are an important part of the tapestry of our work. It also allows us to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. For example, this year we suddenly were able to get a second Americorps member for the summer. The flexibility of the GO! Grant allowed us to do that, and it added so much to our work.”
Clare Ann delivered a powerful reminder that trust-based giving is about more than financial support. “When you give in a trust-based way, you’re giving more than money. You’re giving time. You’re giving agency. You’re giving trust. And that’s absolutely invaluable. It’s how the work gets done.”
Alex Kim encouraged funders to see the ripple effect of trust-based funding. “It might seem like the trust-based grant is just between a donor and an organization, but it spreads across the community. People can feel it when the programs that serve them are built on trust and collaboration, rather than something mandated on them.”
Laura Garber added that philanthropy should feel like a celebration of partnership, not a checklist. “Philanthropy isn’t about checking boxes. It’s a conversation and a relationship and it’s a celebration. When we get to celebrate each other, we all feel better, we all do better, and the community feels that joy too. Instead of checking a box, it’s ‘how am I celebrating the box?”
Thank you to Clare Ann, Alex and Laura for sharing their valuable insights during this panel discussion. Their stories show that when funders put trust at the heart of their support, nonprofits can focus more fully on what they do best: creating real change in their communities.
If you’re interested in learning more about trust-based philanthropy and how GO! Grants are making an impact across rural Montana, check out this video created by MAPS Media Institute, and don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to celebrate, uplift and amplify the work happening in communities across Western Montana, and we look forward to continuing these conversations.
Note: Quotes were edited for length and clarity.