HEADWATERS fOUNDATION

Chief Executive Officer

Missoula, Montana

Headwaters Foundation (“Headwaters”) is dedicated to working side-by-side with Western Montanans to improve the health of our communities. With the active involvement of families in shaping solutions to Western Montana’s most pressing health challenges, we work to power community-driven approaches that proactively address upstream issues affecting community health and well-being.

Based in Missoula, Headwaters was formed in 2017 to steward community resources that were transitioned into an endowment after the sale of Western Montana’s Community Medical Center hospital. Governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, Headwaters is one of the largest health-related foundations in Montana, with assets of $120 million and annual grantmaking in Western Montana of about $5 million. In 2022, we proudly opened Confluence Center, a hub for nonprofit events and community gatherings on the ground floor of our downtown Missoula headquarters.

Headwaters has become a proud leader in the growing Trust-Based Philanthropy movement, an approach that flips the script on conventional philanthropy by advancing equity, sharing power, and building mutually accountable relationships. The Headwaters team recently introduced a new ten-year strategic framework, doubling down on our commitment to community empowerment and equity. We seek an inspirational leader to help us propel this transformative agenda forward.

Working alongside the Board of Trustees, the incoming Chief Executive Officer has a unique and exciting opportunity to position an established, young, and growing organization for continued success as we pursue ambitious plans to more than double our grantmaking over the next ten years. The supportive, respectful, and mission-driven Board of Trustees is comprised of professionals who bring a range of expertise and perspectives on the upstream factors that contribute to the health of the communities that Headwaters serves. The CEO will collaborate with the Board of Trustees to set organizational strategy and vision, work with staff and the community to co-create an implementation plan for the ten-year strategic framework, ensure strong and transparent governance, engage the community, promote an inclusive and transparent organizational culture, and represent the organization locally and nationally.

The CEO will have the opportunity to shape the Foundation’s brand and image in the region, serving as the primary representative of our vision, mission, and impact. In this capacity, the CEO will build and foster impactful relationships and partnerships with other organizations in the region. They will seek out and orchestrate opportunities for collaboration with and between service providers in Western Montana communities and with other grant-making organizations in the state, to unify efforts and leverage resources in a values-aligned way.

TO APPLY

More information about Headwaters Foundation can be found at: www.headwatersmt.org

This search is being led by Ellen LaPointe and Andres Marcuse-Gonzalez of NPAG. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s candidate portal.

Our Lead