FundersMontana

Headwaters Health Foundation

Missoula, MT · EIN 81-1099715. Reported 448 grants totalling $23.2M to 248 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$7,500median grant
$23.2Mgranted, 2021-2024
248organizations funded
42%of grantees funded again the next year
$127.5Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Headwaters Health Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $7,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $7,500 and $20,000; the smallest was $1,500 and the largest $850,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$1,000 - $5,000
9 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
307 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
29 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
12 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
21 grants
$100,000 and Up
70 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Zero to Five MontanaHelena, MT$1,710,000332024
Montana Nonprofit Association IncHelena, MT$1,210,000442024
Confederated Salish and Kootenai TribesPablo, MT$1,200,000332024
United Way of Missoula CountyMissoula, MT$1,070,000332024
Montana Budget and Policy CenterHelena, MT$935,000332024
Butte 4 C'sButte, MT$866,500542024
Salish Kootenai College IncPablo, MT$850,000222023
Mineral County Health DepartmentSuperior, MT$807,500332024
Lincoln County Health DepartmentLibby, MT$800,000222024
Montana Women VoteMissoula, MT$775,000222024
Native American Development CorpBillings, MT$750,000112021
University of MontanaMissoula, MT$725,000322022
University of Montana FoundationMissoula, MT$673,000722024
Zero to Five Montana Statewide OfficeHelena, MT$600,000112021
The Henry J Kaiser Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA$595,000442024
Canvas Early Learning CenterDillon, MT$577,000332023
Helping Hands FundPolson, MT$567,500222024
St Peter's Health FoundationHelena, MT$485,000332024
Montana Food Bank Network IncMissoula, MT$426,500532023
Western Native Voice Education ProjectBillings, MT$275,000222024
All Nations Health CenterMissoula, MT$270,000432024
Poverello CenterMissoula, MT$266,500432024
Missoula Community FoundationMissoula, MT$265,000322024
Helping HandsPolson, MT$255,000222022
Trust-Based Philanthropy ProjectCalabasas, CA$250,000112024
Never Alone Recovery Support ServicesPablo, MT$235,800332024
Helena Area Habitat for HumanityHelena, MT$215,000332024
Odyssey Early Learning CenterDillon, MT$200,000112024
Western Native VoiceBillings, MT$200,000222022
Common Good MissoulaMissoula, MT$175,000112021
North Missoula Community Development CorporationMissoula, MT$175,000332024
Healthy Mothers Healthy BabiesHelena, MT$165,000222024
Southwest Montana Youth PartnersBoulder, MT$157,500332024
Catalyst Montana Organizing for JusticeHelena, MT$150,000112024
Lowell Elementary SchoolMissoula, MT$150,000112021
Montana Child Care Resource & Referral Network Inc Dba Raise MontanaLolo, MT$150,000112021
Partnership Health CenterMissoula, MT$150,000222024
Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger IncBozeman, MT$149,500322024
Montana Consortium for Urban Indian HealthHelena, MT$125,000112024
Montana Free PressHelena, MT$105,000332024
American Indian Governance and Policy InstituteMissoula, MT$100,000112024
Nurse Family PartnershipDenver, CO$100,000112021
Salish Kootenai College FoundationPablo, MT$100,000112021
Skc Institutional AdvancementPablo, MT$100,000112024
Montana Advocates for ChildrenLolo, MT$75,000112022
Montana Department of Public Health and Human ServicesHelena, MT$63,500222022
Friends of the ChildrenMissoula, MT$60,000112024
Maps Media Institute IncHamilton, MT$60,000442024
Montana Child Care Resource & Referral Network IncLolo, MT$60,000112024
Jefferson Local Development CorWhitehall, MT$50,000112021
Jefferson Local Development CorporationWhitehall, MT$50,000112022
Missoula City-County Health DepartmentMissoula, MT$50,000112021
Empower MtMissoula, MT$40,000222024
Be the Change 406 CoalitionDillon, MT$38,000222024
Lincoln County Public Libraries FoundationLibby, MT$38,000442024
Drummond School District 11Drummond, MT$37,500442024
Drummond School District 2Drummond, MT$37,500442024
Watson Childrens Shelter IncMissoula, MT$37,500322023
Whitehall Public SchoolsWhitehall, MT$37,500442024
Montana Two Spirit SocietyMissoula, MT$35,000222024
Community Food and Agriculture CoalitionMissoula, MT$32,500442024
Evergreen Kids Corner IncHamilton, MT$32,500332024
Florence Crittenton Home & ServicesHelena, MT$32,500332024
Bigfork Aces IncBigfork, MT$30,000442024
Seeley Lake Community FoundationSeeley Lake, MT$30,000442024
Community Harvest IncThompson Falls, MT$27,500442024
Missoula Nonprofit CenterMissoula, MT$25,000112022
Office of Public Instruction- Tribal Student Achievement and RelationsHelena, MT$25,000112024
Safe Harbour IncRonan, MT$25,000222024
A VoicePablo, MT$22,500332024
Anaconda JR High SchoolAnaconda, MT$22,500332024
Arlee School District #8Arlee, MT$22,500112023
Aware IncAnaconda, MT$22,500332023
Boys & Girls Club of Glacier CountryColumbia Falls, MT$22,500332023
CASA of Lake CountyPolson, MT$22,500332024
Charlo Community Outdoor Complex IncCharlo, MT$22,500332024
Dixon School District #9Dixon, MT$22,500332024
Drummond Elementary SchoolDrummond, MT$22,500332024
Drummond High SchoolDrummond, MT$22,500332024
Families in Partnership IncorporatedLibby, MT$22,500332024
Flint Creek Childcare CoPhilipsburg, MT$22,500332023
Florence-Carlton School Parent AssociationFlorence, MT$22,500332024
Heartism Community CenterCorvallis, MT$22,500332024
Kootenai Heritage Council IncLibby, MT$22,500332024
Literacy Volunteers of America - Bitterroot IncHamilton, MT$22,500332024
Mineral County Community FoundationSuperior, MT$22,500332024
Montana Skatepark AssociationMissoula, MT$22,500332024
Plains Elementary SchoolPlains, MT$22,500332024
Plains Public SchoolsPlains, MT$22,500112023
Postpartum Resource GroupKalispell, MT$22,500332024
PROMISE686Norcross, GA$22,500332023
Ronan High SchoolRonan, MT$22,500332024
Ronan School District 30Ronan, MT$22,500332024
Sanders County Community Housing Organization IncThompson Falls, MT$22,500332024
Yes Youth Empowerment ServicesAnaconda, MT$22,500332023
Mineral County Help IncSuperior, MT$22,000332024
Center for Restorative Youth JusticeKalispell, MT$20,000332024
Indij Public MediaPhoenix, AZ$20,000112024
St Regis Friends and Neighbors ClubSaint Regis, MT$20,000332024
Moving Mountains FoundationMissoula, MT$17,000222024
Anaconda Pca Family Resource Center IncAnaconda, MT$15,000222024
Anaconda School District #10Anaconda, MT$15,000112023
Anaconda SR High SchoolAnaconda, MT$15,000222024
Arlee Community Development CorporationArlee, MT$15,000222024
Arlee Rehabilitation CenterMissoula, MT$15,000222023
Backpack Assistance ProgramWhitefish, MT$15,000222023
Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development Area IncorporatedHamilton, MT$15,000222022
Boulder Elementary School DistrictBoulder, MT$15,000112023
Boys & Girls Club of Missoula CountyMissoula, MT$15,000222024
Dayton Elementary Parent Teacher OrganizationDayton, MT$15,000222024
EmpowermtMissoula, MT$15,000112023
Families FirstMissoula, MT$15,000222024
Florence Community CenterFlorence, MT$15,000222023
Habitat for Humanity MissoulaMissoula, MT$15,000222022
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies the Montana Coalition IncHelena, MT$15,000222022
Helping HoovesDillon, MT$15,000222023
Here MontanaMissoula, MT$15,000222024
Identity IncEast Helena, MT$15,000222024
Intermountain Deaconess Childrens ServicesHelena, MT$15,000222022
Kids Co-OpPolson, MT$15,000222023
Kiwanis Foundation of MontanaKalispell, MT$15,000222023
Lake County Community Development CorpRonan, MT$15,000222024
Loads of Dignity Fka Laundry Love HamiltonHamilton, MT$15,000222024
Montana Association for the Education of Young ChildrenBozeman, MT$15,000222022
Montana Congress of Parents Teachers StudentsAlberton, MT$15,000222024
Montana Continuum of Care CoalitionBozman, MT$15,000222024
Montana Land to HandWhitefish, MT$15,000222024
North Valley Food Bank IncWhitefish, MT$15,000222023
Polson School District 23Polson, MT$15,000222022
Resource Assistance CenterDillon, MT$15,000222024
Smelter City Recreation ComplexAnaconda, MT$15,000222023
SnqweylmistnRonan, MT$15,000222024
Sparrows VineSeeley Lake, MT$15,000222023
Supporters of Abuse Free Environments IncHamilton, MT$15,000222023
Swan Valley SchoolSaginaw, MT$15,000222023
Western Montana Professional Learning CollaborativeLolo, MT$15,000222022
Friends of the Philipsburg LibraryPhilipsburg, MT$14,000222022
Tfs Community HallTrego, MT$13,275222023
Project AscentThompson Fls, MT$13,000222024
Creative Arts CouncilEureka, MT$12,500222024
Opportunity ClubAnaconda, MT$12,500222024
Promoting Excellnce in Alberton - Area Kids FoundationAlberton, MT$12,500222024
Seeley Lake ElementarySeeley Lake, MT$12,500222022
Anaconda Ministerial Project CareAnaconda, MT$10,000332024
Common Good MontanaMissoula, MT$10,000112022
Montana Library AssociationArlee, MT$10,000112024
Reframing RuralBozeman, MT$10,000112024
A Voice Art Vision & Outreach IncPablo, MT$7,500112023
Action IncButte, MT$7,500112021
Alberton SchoolAlberton, MT$7,500112022
Anaconda Community Foundation IncAnaconda, MT$7,500112023
Anaconda Community Intervention IncAnaconda, MT$7,500112024
Anaconda Pca Family Resorce CenterAnaconda, MT$7,500112021
Arlee Elementary SchoolArlee, MT$7,500112022
Arlee High SchoolArlee, MT$7,500112022
BearHamilton, MT$7,500112023
Beaverhead County Mental Health Local Advisory CouncilDillon, MT$7,500112021
Bitter Root Rc&dHamilton, MT$7,500112023
Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources IncHamilton, MT$7,500112022
Boulder KiwanisBoulder, MT$7,500112024
Boys and Girls Club of Missoula CountyMissoula, MT$7,500112023
Bread Basket IncRonan, MT$7,500112021
Cardwell SchoolCardwell, MT$7,500112022
Childwise InstituteHelena, MT$7,500112022
Church on the MovePlains, MT$7,500112021
Clinton School District #32Clinton, MT$7,500112024
Community Care CoalitionKalispell, MT$7,500112024
Community Food Bank of Mineral CountySuperior, MT$7,500112024
Cultivating Connections MontanaHamilton, MT$7,500112024
Dayton Elementary Parent Teach OrgDayton, MT$7,500112023
Domestic SheltersDillon, MT$7,500112022
Dream Adaptive Recreation IncWhitefish, MT$7,500112022
Earth Within GirlsMissoula, MT$7,500112024
Emma's House Childrens Advocacy Center IncHamilton, MT$7,500112022
Eureka Childhood Development FoundationEureka, MT$7,500112024
Families First Learning LabMissoula, MT$7,500112022
Farm Hands-Nourish the FlatheadWhitefish, MT$7,500112021
Fifth Judical District Voice Ffor Children IncDillon, MT$7,500112023
Fifth Judical District Voice for Children IncDillon, MT$7,500112022
Fifth Judicial District Voice for Children IncDillon, MT$7,500112024
Flathead County Library Foundation IncKalispell, MT$7,500112021
Flathead Food Bank IncKalispell, MT$7,500112021
Free Verse ProjectMissoula, MT$7,500112022
Friends Forever MentoringRonan, MT$7,500112021
Friends of Whitepine GrangeTrout Creek, MT$7,500112023
Glacier Queer AllianceKalispell, MT$7,500112024
Grace Lutheran ChurchHamilton, MT$7,500112022
Healthy Granite County NetworkPhilipsburg, MT$7,500112024
Imagineif Library FoundationKalispell, MT$7,500112024
Inner Roads IncMissoula, MT$7,500112021
Kuki a Kilwiy IncElmo, MT$7,500112022
Lake County Community HousingRonan, MT$7,500112021
Laundry Love Hamilton Dba Loads of DignityHamilton, MT$7,500112022
Libby Creek Community IncLibby, MT$7,500112021
Libby Elementary Schools Parent Council IncLibby, MT$7,500112024
Libby Food Pantry IncLibby, MT$7,500112022
Lincoln County Unite for Youth Coalition IncLibby, MT$7,500112024
Lincoln Primary PreschoolAnaconda, MT$7,500112024
Lincoln Primary SchoolAnaconda, MT$7,500112022
Mineral County Rec ClubSuperior, MT$7,500112024
Missoula Writing CollaborativeMissoula, MT$7,500112024
Montana Family AslMissoula, MT$7,500112024
Montana Meth ProjectMissoula, MT$7,500112024
MtaeycKalispell, MT$7,500112022
Mtaeyc - Flathead ChapterKalispell, MT$7,500112021
Nkwusm Salish Language InstituteArlee, MT$7,500112022
Northwood Community IncRonan, MT$7,500112021
Nurturing Center IncKalispell, MT$7,500112022
Our KidsLibby, MT$7,500112024
Peak FoundationAlberton, MT$7,500112023
Plains 7-8 High SchoolPlains, MT$7,500112022
Plains Community Food BankPlains, MT$7,500112024
Plains School DistrictPlains, MT$7,500112024
Remnant ChurchMissoula, MT$7,500112023
Resource Assistance Center - Beaverhead DeptDillon, MT$7,500112021
S a F E Harbour IncRonan, MT$7,500112023
Salish & Kootenai Housing AuthorityPablo, MT$7,500112021
Salish InstituteSt Ignatius, MT$7,500112021
Sanders County Community Housing OrgThompson Falls, MT$7,500112023
SnqwelmistnRonan, MT$7,500112023
Sparrow's Vine Parenting and Pregnancy Resource CenterSeeley Lake, MT$7,500112024
St Ignatius High SchoolSt Ignatius, MT$7,500112024
St Ignatius Middle SchoolSaint Ignatius, MT$7,500112024
St Regis School District 1St Regis, MT$7,500112021
Superior K-12 School DistrictSuperior, MT$7,500112023
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Glacier CountryColumbia Fls, MT$7,500112024
The Shekinah KitchenPlains, MT$7,500112024
Troy Farmers MarketTroy, MT$7,500112021
Two Eagle River SchoolPablo, MT$7,500112023
Valley Oak Education Resource CenterHamilton, MT$7,500112021
W F Morrison SchoolTroy, MT$7,500112021
Women's Resource CenterDillon, MT$7,500112024
Yaak Food CupboardTroy, MT$7,500112024
CASA of Lincoln CountyLibby, MT$7,000112024
Sheridan Elementary SchoolSheridan, MT$7,000112024
Philipsburg Area Community LibraryPhilipsburg, MT$6,000112024
Anaconda Community MarketAnaconda, MT$5,000112024
Beaverhead Community Wood Bank Ministry IncDillon, MT$5,000112022
Brovold Community OrchardMissoula, MT$5,000112024
Desmet SchoolMissoula, MT$5,000112021
Lincoln County High SchoolEureka, MT$5,000112021
Loads of Dignity Formally Laundry Love HamiltonHamilton, MT$5,000112021
Reframing RuralSeattle, WA$5,000112022
St Ignatius Public SchoolsSt Ignatius, MT$5,000112023
St Regis Elementary SchoolSt Regis, MT$4,000112021
Drummond School & Community LibraryDrummond, MT$3,000112021
Early Childhood Coalition of the Greater Helena AreaHelena, MT$2,000112021
Lincoln County Public HealthLibby, MT$1,500112023

117 of 248 (47%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 42%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 258 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Human Services
58 grants
Education
35 grants
Community Improvement
23 grants
Youth Development
22 grants
Food & Nutrition
19 grants
Mental Health
15 grants
Housing & Shelter
15 grants
Recreation & Sports
14 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
2021111$9,508,500$7,500
2022104$3,328,075$7,500
2023102$4,105,000$7,500
2024131$6,265,000$7,500

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 96% of this one's giving went to organizations in Montana. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Montana
$22.2M
California
$845K
Colorado
$100K
Georgia
$22K
Arizona
$20K
Washington
$5K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation42 shared recipientsFirst Interstate Bancsystem Foundation34 shared recipientsTown Pump Charitable Foundation32 shared recipientsMontana Community Foundation Inc29 shared recipientsOtto Bremer Trust27 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund27 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $7,500. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Montana.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Headwaters Health Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 119 W Main St, Missoula, MT, 59802. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 81-1099715 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.