Hw Justice

About Headwaters Foundation for Justice

We are a Minneapolis-based community foundation that invests in grassroots organizing across Minnesota. We do this through grantmaking programs that support organizations and groups on the front lines of social change. Each of our programs invites people from the community to learn about and lead our grantmaking work. Since 1984, Headwaters has believed that the people who directly experience society’s injustices are exactly the people who know the way to collective liberation. We fund a variety of groups, and we prioritize funding groups that are led by and for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.

Mission

To amplify the power of community to advance equity and justice.

Four Core Values

1 | Advance equity

Our work supports movements and systems change that lead to individual resiliency and community power.

2 | Demand inclusion

People who are most affected by inequity are often left out of decision-making work. We insist on changing that—nationally, regionally, and locally.

3 | Transform power

We grow power through community-led grantmaking, donor education, and leadership development.

4 | Trust in community

A community knows itself best, and its people need to lead the way to collective liberation. Our job is to listen to and support the solutions that will improve life for all Minnesotans.

Welcome Letter

Friends,

As we reflect on this past year, we are reminded of our collective strength as Headwaters marks 40 years as a community foundation. The longevity and the strength we’ve built along the way are not ours alone to claim, but the result of deep connections nurtured over time and the trust we cultivate with our partners and community members. This trust—one that honors the leadership of those on the frontlines of change— guides us at Headwaters Foundation for Justice.

For 40 years, we have centered building relationships and listening to the needs of the movements we serve. This year was no different. Our commitment to trust-based philanthropy remains steadfast. This commitment grounds us as we stand with our grantees in solidarity - not just as funders but as true partners. Two of our funds, Fund of the Sacred Circle and Wellspring Fund, distributed historic grant totals this year. These funds show what is possible when we prioritize relationships and trust the vision of community leaders. By remaining responsive to communities’ evolving needs, we can support lasting change throughout Minnesota.

These programs didn’t emerge overnight—they are the result of decades of intentional relationship-building and collaboration. Together with our partners across community, we have created an ecosystem of support that not only sustains movements but also grows deep roots in our shared pursuit of justice. Our progress, and the milestones we are marking this year, are testaments to the power of collective effort. It would not be possible without a willingness to trust in the leadership of our grantees and our shared visions of a more equitable world.

 

 

 

This year we celebrated 40 years of Headwaters Foundation for Justice with a historic $4 million in community grantmaking. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this milestone and looking back on the exciting work we accomplished together this year.

As we look forward, we remain committed to building an institution that is not static, but responsive. We remain rooted in trust and collectively shaped by our community. We are excited to continue walking alongside each of you as we listen, build, and grow—deeply connected and stronger together.

In solidarity,

Bilal Alkatout
Co-Executive Director
Headwaters Foundation for Justice

By the Numbers

Number of grants
Number of grantees.*
$
Total amount distributed
%
Percent of donors who gave under $1,500
$
Median gift

*Includes both Donor Advised Funds and community-led grantmaking funds

Financials

Financials02
Financials 2025

Headwaters’ Year in Grantmaking

Grantmaking and relationships are at the heart of what we do. We move money to movement organizations in Minnesota working towards justice, liberation, self-determination, and community vitality and vibrancy.

Our grantmaking is unique in several ways:

  • As a community foundation, we raise the dollars that we grant out. Every donor and partner is part of making our grants possible.
  • We prioritize investing in BIPOC-led organizing and systems change work. We know this work is often overlooked, underfunded, and underestimated.
  • We practice community-led grantmaking, meaning that community members make decisions about where dollars go. We believe community should have a say in the allocation of resources and we know community members have the knowledge and expertise to guide our grantmaking.
  • We offer support beyond the grant check. We strive to be champions for our grantees, amplify their work, and serve as a connector and partner.
  • We trust and learn alongside our grantees. We offer general operating support and multi-year grants to provide organizations with maximum flexibility.

In Fiscal Year 2024, Headwaters focused on meeting the moment and responding to the needs of our communities. As we approached the milestone of our 40th anniversary, our grantmaking team emerged from a year of community-centered evaluation into some of the Foundation’s largest and most historic investments in organizations across the state of Minnesota. 

We celebrated organizations that have cultures of innovation and creative solution-making with our Bush Prize: Minnesota grantees. The Foundation’s newest program, the Wellspring Fund, is our biggest single grant to date. With it, Headwaters provided 4 organizations with four-year, project-based grants of $360,000 to support a multi-year strategic campaign or project. Lastly, our longest-standing fund, the Fund of the Sacred Circle, granted a historic 1 million dollars to Native-led organizations.

In addition to our community-led grantmaking, we moved resources through rapid response grants and donor advised funds. In Fiscal Year 2024, we granted over $850,000 through donor advised funds and over $370,000 through rapid response grants. This includes $100,000 in rapid response dollars to support Minnesota organizations leading local community response to the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

We are proud to support the transformative work of our community and grantee partners throughout the state and look forward to continuing to evolve and enrich our grantmaking programs.

Find full lists of grantees for each grantmaking fund below.

Grants Awarded

Bush Prize

The Bush Prize is an award that celebrates organizations that have cultures of innovation and histories of building creative solutions for challenges in their communities. In 2023, the Bush Foundation chose four regional partners to select Bush Prize winners who are leading change in their region. 

Headwaters Foundation for Justice partnered with the Bush Foundation to select the 2023 Bush Prize: Minnesota winners who are organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of successful community problem solving. The 2023 Bush Prize: Minnesota awarded a total of $445,000 to four organizations:

Additionally, Headwaters made $10,000 grants to the three organizations who were Bush Prize: Minnesota finalists:

Fund of the Sacred Circle

The Fund of the Sacred Circle (FSC) is Headwaters' longest-standing fund. Since the early 2000s, FSC grants have provided general-operating support to Native-led organizations in Minnesota that focus on community organizing, self-determination and sovereignty, and systems change.

In 2024, Headwaters made a historic $1 million investment into Native-led organizations through the Fund of the Sacred Circle. This $1 million investment will support 20 Native-led organizations throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin for 2 years to lead critical work addressing systemic injustices affecting Native Nations and Communities. Each grantee received a 2-year general operating grants of $25,000 per year, for a total of $50,000. 2024’s grantmaking total of $1 million is the largest investment in Native-led organizations in the Fund’s history.

The 2024 Fund of the Sacred Circle grantees are:

The Wellspring Fund

The Wellspring Fund supports multi-year projects and campaigns within BIPOC-led organizations actively working towards strengthening the ecosystem of social justice movements in Minnesota.

In 2024, The Wellspring Fund invested over $1.4 million in ecosystem-strengthening organizing throughout Minnesota. Each organization is using innovative and effective approaches to build community power and advocate for social change in Minnesota. Through their work, they are strengthening the ecosystem of social justice movements in Minnesota. With this funding, Headwaters provided 4 organizations with four-year, project-based grants of $360,000 to support a multi-year strategic campaign or project.

The 2024 Wellspring Fund grantees are:

Rapid Response Grants

At Headwaters, we know that the nature of grassroots organizing means that our funding cycles do not always align with real financial needs of organizations in moments of crisis or opportunity. Headwaters raises and grants out rapid response dollars to community groups during unexpected and critical moments. In 2024, our Rapid Response grantmaking program moved $373,000 to 12 organizations.   

The Fiscal Year 2024 Rapid Response grantees are:

Donor Advised Funds

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are charitable accounts that allow donors to make grant recommendations to Headwaters-values-aligned nonprofit organizations. Headwaters staff offer guidance and support in directing giving.

To inquire about setting up an HFJ Donor Advised Fund at Headwaters, contact Director of Individual Giving, Mary Delorie.

Catharine Reid Fund

  • Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha
  • Family Tree, Inc.
  • Gender Justice
  • The Fields at Rootsprings

Courageous Possibilities Fund

  • aMaze
  • Ananya Dance Theatre
  • Body Wisdom d.b.a. InterPlay
  • Breast Cancer Action
  • Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha
  • Dream of Wild Health
  • East Side Freedom Library
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • Indigenous Environmental Network
  • Indigenous Peoples Task Force
  • Jewish Community Action
  • Micro Grants
  • OutFront Minnesota Community Services
  • PFund Foundation
  • Re:power fund
  • TakeAction MN
  • Voices for Racial Justice
  • Women's Environmental Institute

Elizabeth Scott Fund

  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice

Melissa Scott Fund

  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice

Solidarity Fund

  • Black Immigrant Collective
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice 
  • Native American Community Development Institute

The Rubin Laub Fund

  • Dream of Wild Health
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • If Not Now Education Fund
  • Jewish Voice for Peace
  • Migizi Communications, Inc.

Toby and Robert Rubin Philanthropic Fund

  • Awood Center
  • Ayada Leads
  • Gender Justice
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • Migizi Communications, Inc.
  • QUEERSPACE collective

Anonymous Fund I

  • Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha
  • Climate Justice Alliance
  • Cooperative Development Funds of CDS
  • East Phillips Neighborhood Institute
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • Little Earth Residents Association
  • Makoce Ikikcupi
  • Minnesota Environmental Justice Table
  • No More Deaths
  • Pillsbury United Communities
  • Sisters' Camelot
  • The Fields at Rootsprings
  • Wild Path Collective

Anonymous Fund II

  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • International Institute of Minnesota
  • Partners in Health
  • The Circle of Peace Movement
  • Walk-In Counseling Center

Anonymous Fund III

  • Haven Housing
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
  • People Serving People, Inc.
  • zAmya Theater Project

Anonymous Fund IV

  • Changing Frequencies
  • Grassroots Global Justice
  • Grassroots International
  • Jewish Liberation Fund
  • Movement Voter Project
  • Palestinian Youth Movement
  • The Embodiment Institute Incorporated

Anonymous Fund V

  • Grassroots International

Anonymous Fund VI

  • Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice

Anonymous Fund VII

  • Adalah Justice Project
  • Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha
  • Grassroots International
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • Jewish Voice for Peace
  • Jubilee Gift Galaxy, Inc.
  • SOIL
  • Solidaire Network, Inc.

Anonymous Fund VIII

  • A New Way of Life
  • Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
  • Association of American Indian Affairs
  • Black and Pink, Inc.
  • Blue Ridge Abortion Fund
  • Bluestockings Community Support Inc.
  • Brigid Alliance
  • Cobalt Foundation
  • For the Gworls
  • Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • Indigenous Climate Action
  • Indigenous Women Rising
  • Make the Road New York
  • Mariposa Fund
  • Midwest Access Coalition
  • Native Conservancy
  • Native Renewables
  • New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
  • No More Deaths
  • OnPoint NYC
  • Parole Preparation Project Inc.
  • Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project
  • Release Aging People in Prison
  • Rock Steady Farm
  • Soul Fire Farm Institute
  • Transgender Law Center
  • Tranzmission Prison Project
  • Turn 2 U, Inc.
  • United Negro College Fund, Inc.
  • VOICE OF THE EXPERIENCED

Grantees

People

As of June 30, 2024:

Fiscal Year 2024 Headwaters Foundation for Justice Staff

  • Abena Abraham, Black Movement Ecosystem Program Officer
  • Bilal Alkatout, Interim Executive Director
  • Timi Bliss, Grassroots Gift Officer
  • Robyn Browning, Grants Manager
  • Anitra Cottledge, Director of Programs
  • Mary Delorié, Director of Individual Giving
  • Kristin Gilbert, Operations Manager
  • Sierra Judy, Giving Project Program Officer
  • Angela Kunkel-Linares, Program Coordinator
  • Wakinyan LaPointe, Program Officer, Native Communities
  • Chris Olson, Giving Project Development Officer
  • Eemanna Rivers, Program Coordinator
  • Veronica Rucker, People and Culture Manager
  • Emily Scott, Director of Operations and Finance
  • Ewan Scotto, Director of Communications
  • Mika Takamori, Communications Manager
  • Kate Vickery, Program Officer
  • Sarah Xiong, Donor Systems Manager

Fiscal Year 2024 Headwaters Foundation for Justice Board of Directors

  • Habon Abdulle, Secretary
  • Camille Cyprian, Co-Chair
  • Fran Hutchins
  • Eric Howard, Vice Chair
  • Leah Olm, Treasurer 
  • Nikki Pieratos
  • Alexander Robinson

Fiscal Year 2024 Volunteer Community Grantmakers

Bush Prize: Minnesota Grantmakers

  • Anitra Cottledge  
  • Lauren Daumueller
  • Amanda Dionne
  • Tiffany Dykes
  • Zach Johnson
  • Cecilia Moulton-Pirkl
  • Gina Kaeppe 
  • Marsha Yang  

Fund of the Sacred Circle Grantmakers

  • Brittenany Gillespie
  • Liberty Greene
  • Hieu Nguyen
  • Micah Prairie Chicken
  • Kelsey Scares The Hawk
  • Whitney Spears 

Wellspring Fund Grantmakers

  • Brittenany Gillespie
  • Takara Henegar  
  • Marco Hernandez
  • Nausheena Hussain
  • Thorne LaPointe
  • Aimee Vue
  • Alfred Walking Bull  

 

Fiscal Year 2024 Development Committee Members

  • Roula Alkatout
  • Amara Andrus
  • Julie Cohen
  • Mia Divecha
  • Jillian Gross Fortgang
  • James Miller
  • Emma Olson
  • Clayton Smith
  • David Wang
  • Julie Vo McConnel

Fiscal Year 2024 Finance Committee Members

  • Leah Olm 
  • Alexander Robinson 
  • Kandace Montgomery
  • Stephanie Cole
  • Kong Her

Grantee Spotlight: Our Justice

Headwaters’ grantee community is made up of powerful organizers working across the state to build power in communities using a diverse range of strategies. Each of these organizations has a unique and powerful story to tell about their work and how it moves Minnesota closer to liberation.

Our Grantee Stories project - told in our grantees’ own words – shares the stories of the work happening everyday in our communities to advance equity, transform power, and demand inclusion and justice for all Minnesotans.

OUR JUSTICE works to ensure that all people and communities have the power and resources to make sexual and reproductive health decisions with self-determination. Their work with clients seeking abortions, healthcare providers, and legislative campaigns bridges the gap between the legal right to abortion and the material reality of accessing it. Their innovative strategy of combining transformative direct service paired with powerful policy work led by those most impacted by reproductive oppression is transforming the reproductive healthcare landscape in Minnesota.

Headwaters’ grantee community is made up of powerful organizers working across the state to build power in communities using a diverse range of strategies. Each of these organizations has a unique and powerful story to tell about their work and how it moves Minnesota closer to liberation.

Our Grantee Stories project - told in our grantees’ own words – shares the stories of the work happening everyday in our communities to advance equity, transform power, and demand inclusion and justice for all Minnesotans.

OUR JUSTICE works to ensure that all people and communities have the power and resources to make sexual and reproductive health decisions with self-determination. Their work with clients seeking abortions, healthcare providers, and legislative campaigns bridges the gap between the legal right to abortion and the material reality of accessing it. Their innovative strategy of combining transformative direct service paired with powerful policy work led by those most impacted by reproductive oppression is transforming the reproductive healthcare landscape in Minnesota.

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Headwaters Staff Photo
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HFJ Community Members 3

Illustrations and graphic design by Blackbird Revolt