Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Headwaters Foundation for Justice is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based public charity, formed in 1984. It supports Minnesota movement organizations and grassroots groups working toward justice, liberation, self-determination, and community vitality, with a stated priority for BIPOC-led organizing.
Headwaters Foundation for Justice at a glance
In short: Headwaters Foundation for Justice gave $3.6M across 93 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), mostly in Minnesota. 65% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,604,347
- -4.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 93
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,756
- -36.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $16,898,668
- -8.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 65% first-time grantees (60 of 93, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Headwaters Foundation for Justice
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s current grant-opportunities page says it is not accepting applications for any of its grantmaking funds. Its general application guidance describes reviewing the relevant guidelines and application packet, attending an information session, and submitting an online application; it says decision timelines vary by opportunity and are generally about four months after applying. The filing describes application materials that may include an IRS determination letter, board list, budget and financial information, and a written proposal. It also says funded organizations must sign a grant agreement and submit reports, including a final report one year after receiving funds. Requirements can vary by program.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2801 21St Avenue South 132-B, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: (612) 879-0602
Website: https://headwatersfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Black Radiance Network Fund
Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Bridging Ecosystems Fellowship
Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Capacity Building
Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Headwaters Foundation for Justice funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Access Philanthropy Charities ($125K). Together the top 10 received $873K.
Grant Size Distribution
425 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 298 grants of 425 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting organizing across Minnesota. Its 2025 grants were concentrated in Minnesota, which received 94% of grant dollars; the remaining reported shares went to recipients in California, Wisconsin, New York, and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 93 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Headwaters Foundation for Justice open to new grantees?
65%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 60 of 93 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2023) to $3.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 93 grants totaling $3.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Access Philanthropy Charities Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Propel Nonprofits Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| MN8 Saint Paul, MN | General Operating Support | $99,000 |
| Institute for Community Resource Edina, MN | General Operating Support | $96,700 |
| Ayada Leads Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $90,000 |
| Our Justice Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $90,000 |
| Phumulani Minnesota African Women Against Violence Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $90,000 |
| Take Action Minnesota Education Fund Saint Paul, MN | General Operating Support | $82,000 |
| 846SORG Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| African Career and Education Resource Inc Brooklyn Center, MN | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Headwaters Foundation for Justice?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,898,668 | $5,282,846 | $7,851,691 | $3,604,347 | 93 | $365,788 |
| 2024 | $18,362,957 | $4,481,203 | $6,868,883 | $3,757,000 | 62 | $1,064,671 |
| 2023 | $19,516,733 | $3,561,458 | $4,763,422 | $1,871,380 | 90 | $122,277 |
| 2022 | $27,986,426 | $15,004,954 | $6,350,006 | $3,178,500 | 98 | $529,805 |
| 2021 | $20,127,206 | $13,864,932 | $5,774,182 | $3,562,500 | 82 | $239,956 |
| 2020 | $10,629,920 | $8,568,167 | $5,226,778 | $3,142,514 | 90 | $1,109,099 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to amplify the power of community to advance equity and justice. Its stated values are advancing equity, demanding inclusion, transforming power, and trusting in community. It supports organizing and systems-change work, prioritizing organizations led by and for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.
The foundation’s website describes four grant programs, including the Fund of the Sacred Circle, which invests in Native-led Minnesota organizations focused on community organizing, self-determination, sovereignty, and systems change, and the Justice & Liberation Fund, which supports Black-led groups working on the frontlines of justice. The foundation’s filing also describes rapid-response grantmaking and The Giving Project, which supports BIPOC-led organizations using community organizing to address root causes of injustice.
Examples from 2025 illustrate the range of organizations receiving grants. Grantee Access Philanthropy Charities describes its work as providing technical assistance, primarily through fiscal sponsorship, to charitable organizations. MN8 describes its mission as working toward the liberation of Southeast Asian communities through direct services and efforts to address institutional oppression. Our Justice says it works to ensure people and communities have the power and resources to make sexual and reproductive health decisions with self-determination. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Headwaters reported 93 grants totaling $3,604,347. Individual grants ranged from $6,000 to $125,000, with a median of $40,000. The filing reports that 94% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients, with smaller shares going to California, Wisconsin, New York, and Colorado.
Among the largest reported grants were $125,000 to Access Philanthropy Charities, $100,000 to Propel Nonprofits, $99,000 to MN8, and $96,700 to Institute for Community Resource. Ayada Leads, Our Justice, and Phumulani Minnesota African Women Against Violence each received $90,000. The listed purposes for these grants were general operating support.
The foundation’s filing reports that in fiscal year 2025 the Justice & Liberation Fund awarded $2 million to 40 organizations, Rapid Response Grantmaking awarded $791,500 to 30 organizations, and The Giving Project awarded $480,000 to 12 organizations. It also reports that donor-advised fund holders gave $541,800 to 83 organizations, in addition to $53,126 awarded to Headwaters.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bilal Alkatout as co-executive director; Emily Scott as director of operations; Mary Delorie as director of individual giving; Ewan Scotto as director of communications; and Anitra Cottledge as director of programs. It lists Fran Hutchins as co-chair, Eric Howard as vice chair, Alexander Robinson as treasurer, Habon Abdulle as secretary, and Mia Divecha as a board member.
Headwaters Foundation for Justice is led by Bilal Alkatout, Co-Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 5 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bilal Alkatout
Co-Executive Director
Secretary → Interim Executive Director, 2024
Interim Executive Director → Co-Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$154K (2024) → $177K (2025)
Emily Scott
Director of Operations & F
Director of Operations & Finance → Director of Operations & F, 2025
On filings since 2024
32 hrs/week
$82K (2024) → $119K (2025)
Mary Delorie
Director of Individual Giv
Director of Individual Giving → Director of Individual Giv, 2025
On filings since 2024
32 hrs/week
$108K (2024) → $126K (2025)
Anitra Cottledge
Director of Programs
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Ewan Scotto
Director of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$118K (2025)
Eric Howard
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Habon Abdulle
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Robinson
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fran Hutchins
Co-Chair
Board Member → Co-Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Pieratos
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aimee Vue
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Miller
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mia Divecha
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tehout Selameab
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Camille Cyprian (2020–2024) — Co-Chair
- Former: Leah Olm (2022–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Alyssa Hawkins (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Julie Remmelts (2020–2023) — Vice President of Operations & Finance
- Former: Maria De La Cruz (2020–2023) — Former President
- Former: Allison Johnson Heist (2022–2023) — Vice President of Culture & Partnershi
- Former: Melissa Rudnick (2022–2023) — Director of Program & Grants
- Former: Arleta Little (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Elizabeth A. Coco (2020–2022) — Co Chair & Secretary
- Former: Janiece Watts (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Asalesol Young (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Filiberto Nolasco Gomez (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Avi Viswanathan (2020–2021) — Co-Chair
- Former: Ebony Adedayo (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Muneer Karcher-Ramos (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Pa Chua Vang (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Bile Daad (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Dameun Strange (2020) — Former Secretary
- Former: David Nicholson (2020) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Eartha Bell (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Erica Mauter (2020) — Co-Chair
- Former: Fatima Moore (2020) — Former Board Member
- Former: Troung Chinh Duong (2020) — Former Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $177K, to Bilal Alkatout (Co-Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Headwaters Foundation for Justice
How much does Headwaters Foundation for Justice give each year?
Headwaters Foundation for Justice gave $3.6M across 93 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.8M across 62 grants.
What is Headwaters Foundation for Justice's typical grant size?
Headwaters Foundation for Justice's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $38,756, across 93 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Headwaters Foundation for Justice that year got $41K on average.
Where does Headwaters Foundation for Justice give grants?
Headwaters Foundation for Justice gives mostly in Minnesota: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (29 grants), Saint Paul, MN (27 grants), Moorhead, MN (3 grants) and Duluth, MN (3 grants).
Does Headwaters Foundation for Justice give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Headwaters Foundation for Justice's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (93 of 93) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Headwaters Foundation for Justice's largest grantees?
Headwaters Foundation for Justice's largest 2025 grantees include Access Philanthropy Charities ($125,000), Propel Nonprofits ($100,000) and MN8 ($99,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Headwaters Foundation for Justice?
Headwaters Foundation for Justice reported $16.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.3M.
What does Headwaters Foundation for Justice fund?
The foundation’s mission is to amplify the power of community to advance equity and justice. Its stated values are advancing equity, demanding inclusion, transforming power, and trusting in community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Headwaters Foundation for Justice?
The foundation’s current grant-opportunities page says it is not accepting applications for any of its grantmaking funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Headwaters Foundation for Justice's EIN?
Headwaters Foundation for Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3359386. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 22, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Headwaters Foundation for Justice funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/headwaters-foundation-for-justice-morg_c45af55282b54c97b49f43b3154cba7e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363359386_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Headwaters Foundation for Justice funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/headwaters-foundation-for-justice-morg_c45af55282b54c97b49f43b3154cba7e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Headwaters Foundation for Justice's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Headwaters Foundation for Justice down — hundreds of funders to go?