Confluence Center is an accessible and user-friendly venue for nonprofit events in downtown Missoula, where leaders and organizations converge to problem-solve and brainstorm ideas about how best to serve their communities. Headwaters Foundation invites grantees and other mission-aligned nonprofits to host events at Confluence Center that meet the needs of their organization, further their mission or strengthen the broader non-profit sector.
So, why offer the space for free? The goal is to re-allocate nonprofits’ valuable time and money where it is needed most- programming! The people flowing through Confluence Center are moving mountains, and Headwaters Foundation wanted to design a space that keeps up the momentum. We designed the space to be as user-friendly, accessible, and inclusive as possible (such as installing an elevator, widening doorways, providing all-gender private restrooms, and user-friendly, state-of-the-art technology), because we want all attendees to feel welcome, comfortable and inspired when they’re at Confluence Center.
What is one interesting fact about your space?
Confluence Center lives in an historic, downtown Missoula property- build in 1891! The building has a rich history, with previous tenants ranging from Missoula’s first publishing company, to iconic cocktail lounges, numerous barber and coffee shops, a dance collective, and now a nonprofit event space, available to mission-aligned nonprofits.
Since opening our event space doors in March, 2023, Confluence Center has hosted 290 nonprofit events! Events have ranged from board meetings, to Headwaters-hosted networking events, to public presentations, team-building sessions, strategic planning and more. We love when groups get creative and make the space their own. Some of our favorite events from 2023 include: an Urban Indian Health Program-organized public presentation on how the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is responding to the climate crisis, a ‘Soup Series’ lead by Montana Women Vote to discuss Medicaid Expansion, and two embroidery workshops for local refugee women to gather and find support.
What are your favorite resources that you would recommend to others?
Frankly, the Nonprofit Centers Network is my one-stop-shop for all things SPRE. The best information I have gleaned since joining the network has been rooted in networking with other nonprofit centers, and seeing how they handle shared spaces with small management teams. It’s been a game changer for a smaller center in Missoula, Montana!
Center Name: Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters
Center Member Type: Center in Operation
Location: Missoula, MT
Center Website: http://www.headwatersmt.org/
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