What We Heard: How Funders Can Support Equity Work

At Headwaters, we’ve learned that advancing equity means showing up alongside partners for the long haul, in a way that matches our trust-based approach: listening first, providing practical support, and being willing to learn ourselves. Last year, we partnered with a cohort of nonprofits to explore how to better serve their most underrecognized communities, with the goal of creating more equitable health outcomes for all Montanans.

In September, we invited this cohort for a full day of conversation and comradery. They shared stories about this past year – what’s working, tensions they face, and strategies to continue or deepen the work. We heard about organizations weaving equity into their missions, programs, policies, and everyday culture, and about the challenges of staying committed when funding is tight and staff transition.

The takeaway was clear: equity is a slow culture-shifting practice, not a project with a simple checklist. And funders have a role to play in making that practice possible. Here’s what our partners say helps most.

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1. Provide patient, dedicated funding.

Momentum can disappear with a single staff departure or a change in leadership. Grantees told us that to build a true culture of equity they need flexible, multi-year funding that gives them time to train staff, revisit policies, and embed equity across their organizations.

General operating support matters, but participants urged funders to dedicate at least some dollars specifically to equity work. Without that earmark, the funding can easily be absorbed by day-to-day needs and equity efforts stall. Long-term support keeps the work alive beyond one budget cycle or one committed leader.

2. Invest in the people doing the work.

Culture change starts with the people carrying it. Several participants pushed back on quick-fix gestures, like a once-a-year workshop or a “pizza party” version of self-care, in favor of what they called reciprocal restoration: collective, ongoing care that nourishes resilience.

That can mean coaching for leaders, peer circles where staff can process the emotional weight of the work, or retreats that create space to reflect and celebrate. Training is part of it, as staff need the skills to practice equity every day, but so is creating time and community for healing. As one grantee put it, “People don’t heal alone. We need connection to keep going.”

3. Resource storytelling and messaging.

Language around equity, and even terms like “food access” have been politicized. Leaders described the tension between staying true to their mission and choosing words that won’t close doors before the conversation begins. They spoke about the power of stories to bridge that divide: a child finally getting the health care they need, a neighbor finding stable housing.

Good storytelling and clear messaging take time and skill. Funders can play a role by supporting the tools and training it takes to do them well: video projects, narrative change workshops, and message testing to build shared vocabulary across sectors. Data matters too. Funders can help gather, interpret, and share data through reports and fact sheets so partners have solid evidence to back their stories.

4. Use YOUR voice!

Equity isn’t a dirty word. Funders can use their public influence to amplify grantee stories, share data, and spotlight what they’re seeing on the ground.

That can mean publishing blogs or op-eds, promoting shared language and collective actions across sectors, or celebrating wins where others might shy away.  While many nonprofits have to navigate political sensitivities and funding risks, foundations often have more flexibility to frame issues and set a tone for the field—even if that still takes courage. Funders can also build momentum by sharing what they’re learning, including the messy parts, and by coordinating with peer funders to strengthen support for equity work.

5. Convene and connect.

Isolation came up again and again, especially among nonprofit leaders. Convenings offer a way to exchange strategies and remind people they’re not alone. Grantees asked for intentional time to learn and celebrate wins, not just another meeting on the calendar. Funders can provide the physical space, facilitation, and resources to make those gatherings happen, whether it’s a conference room, a multi-day retreat, or an informal peer circle.

Funders can set the stage and create structure for the conversation, while ensuring grantees lead on priorities and perspectives. Safe, confidential settings allow staff and community voices to share experiences openly and build relationships that can carry forward beyond the convening itself.

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Equity work is slow and nuanced. It isn’t something a grant can check off a list, and funders can’t do it for their partners. But we can make it possible: by committing to specific and long-term funding, investing in people, resourcing storytelling, using our own voices, and creating places for connection.

If you’re curious about how we’re putting this into practice or want to swap notes, reach out to our Program Director, Erin Switalski at erins@headwatersmt.org.