Welcoming Carly Hare as Our Next CEO

Headwaters’ origin story is one born out of trust and making an impact in philanthropy on a national scale, and I have deep respect for their leadership in this work. I’m honored and humbled to join in this journey and return to Montana. I look forward to meeting and learning from our partners as we build community power for better health.

Headwaters Foundation is excited to announce Carly Hare (Pawnee/Yankton) as our new Chief Executive Officer! Carly brings two decades of philanthropic experience, living into her Pawnee name, <i kita u hoo <i ]a hiks, meaning ‘kind leader of men.’ Starting in early 2025, Carly will begin guiding Headwaters, bringing her kind leadership, deep commitment to equity, and vision for community-led change.

Headwaters’ Board Chair, Carissa Kuhl, shared, “Carly’s dedication to Trust-Based Philanthropy and her passion for community engagement and authentic relationship-building resonated with us and aligned perfectly with our work at Headwaters. We’re confident that, under her leadership, we’ll continue making a meaningful impact on the health of Western Montanans.”

Headwaters works side-by-side with Western Montanans to tackle the root causes of our region’s most pressing health challenges. Throughout her career, Carly has led organizations and movements pushing for change from the inside out, most recently as a Portfolio Director at the Colorado Health Foundation and previously through leadership roles at Culture Surge, Native Americans in Philanthropy, CHANGE Philanthropy, and Native American Rights Fund. 

Growing up in a rural, tribal community in Oklahoma, Carly developed a lifelong dedication to centering community and cultivating belonging. As a child, she lived in Montana, an experience that left a lasting connection to the state. 

Reflecting on her new role, Carly shared, “Headwaters’ origin story is one born out of trust and making an impact in philanthropy on a national scale, and I have deep respect for their leadership in this work. I’m honored and humbled to join this journey and return to Montana. I look forward to meeting and learning from our partners as we build community power for better health.”

Carly’s career has been marked by her commitment to amplifying voices that often go unheard. Her philanthropic journey began at the Community Foundation Boulder County, where she launched the Expanding Leadership Initiative, which still impacts the region through its focus on inclusivity and leadership development. At Native Americans in Philanthropy, Carly led the creation of Native Voices Rising, which promotes advocacy and civic engagement in Indigenous communities. 

Beyond her professional work, Carly is a proud mother, daughter, sister, auntie, partner, friend, and equity advocate. She is also an avid outdoor enthusiast and looks forward to finding herself at home in Western Montana. Headwaters is excited to welcome Carly, her husband, and their young daughter to the Western Montana community. She will officially start in January and plans to quickly connect with partners and neighbors across Western Montana.

Stay tuned for opportunities to meet Carly once she’s on board and more updates from the team in the coming months. Be sure to sign up for the Headwaters newsletter and follow the foundation on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.