Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Headwaters Foundation for Justice is a Minneapolis-based community foundation established in 1984 that invests in grassroots organizing across Minnesota. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and functions as a community foundation with a donor-advised fund component. Headwaters supports organizations and groups on the front lines of social change through community-led grantmaking programs.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.9M
-8.0% YoY
Revenue
$5.3M
+17.9% YoY
Net Investment Income
$366K
-65.6% YoY
Expenses
$7.9M
+14.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To amplify the power of community to advance equity and justice.
Core Values:
- Advance Equity: Supporting movements and systems change that lead to individual resiliency and community power
- Demand Inclusion: Ensuring people most affected by inequity are included in decision-making work at national, regional, and local levels
- Transform Power: Growing power through community-led grantmaking, donor education, and leadership development
- Trust in Community: Believing communities know themselves best and their people must lead the way to collective liberation
Funding Priorities: Headwaters prioritizes funding organizations led by and for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color. The foundation funds a variety of groups working toward equity and justice, operating from the belief that people who directly experience society's injustices are the ones who know the path to collective liberation.
Grantmaking
Headwaters operates multiple grantmaking programs that invite community members to learn about and lead the foundation's grantmaking work:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Headwaters funds grassroots organizing across Minnesota, with a statewide focus on supporting organizations and movements throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2025):
- Revenue: $5.28 million
- Expenses: $7.85 million
- Total Assets: $16.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $2.83 million
Historical Context:
- Founded in 1984
- Tax-exempt status granted in May 1985
- Employs approximately 10-22 people (sources vary)
- Annual revenue reported at $3.3 million in one source
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,898,668 | $18,362,957 | $19,516,733 |
| Revenue | $5,282,846 | $4,481,203 | $3,561,458 |
| Expenses | $7,851,691 | $6,868,883 | $4,763,422 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $365,788 | $1,064,671 | $122,277 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Black Radiance Network Fund
HEADWATERS FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Bridging Ecosystems Fellowship
HEADWATERS FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Capacity Building
HEADWATERS FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Maria De La Cruz – President
- Mary Delorie – Director of Individual Giving
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILAL ALKATOUT | CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 32 | $176,596 |
| EMILY SCOTT | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & F | 32 | $118,976 |
| MARY DELORIE | DIRECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL GIV | 32 | $125,507 |
| EWAN SCOTTO | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | 32 | $117,650 |
| ANITRA COTTLEDGE | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS | 32 | $106,053 |
| FRAN HUTCHINS | CO-CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ERIC HOWARD | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ALEXANDER ROBINSON | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| HABON ABDULLE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MIA DIVECHA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JAMES MILLER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NIKKI PIERATOS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TEHOUT SELAMEAB | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| AIMEE VUE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Headwaters has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity in 2025, including:
Directing $2 million through the Justice & Liberation Fund to Black-led organizing efforts
Giving Project Cohort Moves Half a Million to Gender Justice Across MinnesotaMoving $500,000 through the Giving Project Cohort to support gender justice work across Minnesota
Giving Project Cohort Moves Half a Million to Gender Justice Across MinnesotaAllocating $200,000 in solidarity funding to immigrant-led and trans-led organizing
Moving $200,000 in Solidarity with Immigrant-Led and Trans-Led OrganizingProviding $120,000 in emergency funding through the ICE Out of MN initiative
ICE out of MN: $120,000 in emergency funding | Headwaters Foundation forThe foundation continues to operate as a leader in community-led philanthropy, with each grantmaking program inviting community members to participate in decision-making processes.
Contact Information
Address: 2801 21st Avenue South Suite 132B, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: 612-879-0602
Email: info@headwatersfoundation.org
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time
Mailing Address for Donations: Headwaters Foundation For Justice Lockbox 446161 P.O. Box 64183 St Paul, MN 55164-0183
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Headwaters Foundation for Justice on Grantable?
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