Grantmaking FAQs
Get answers to our prospective grantees’ most frequently asked questions.
What is the Otto Bremer Trust’s new grantmaking approach?
The Otto Bremer Trust’s new grantmaking model uses a two-pronged approach:
1. Strategic grants. A new process replaces the open application process. Strategic grants will be awarded to selected organizations and activities that align with the Otto Bremer Trust’s objectives and have demonstrated impact that will be sustained and enhanced through further investments from OBT. We will identify and engage with organizations in two main ways to do this:
- OBT will leverage internal knowledge, our robust funding history, engagement with external stakeholders including our intermediary partners, and research to identify strategic grant recipients.
- Organizations new to OBT can submit an organization introduction form through our website when it becomes available sometime in 2025.
Prospective grantees must meet our eligibility criteria.
2. Community Responsive Fund grants through intermediaries. In late 2023, OBT initiated a pilot project to work with intermediary partners, engaging them to identify and recommend grants to organizations addressing community needs in alignment with the Otto Bremer Trust’s objectives. The extraordinary response to the Community Responsive Fund encourages OBT to continue to expand and explore grantmaking through this approach.
Community Responsive Fund grants leverage the expertise and local insights of intermediaries to extend the reach of OBT’s objectives and to provide grants to organizations, projects, and services that will have the greatest impact and are most needed in their local communities and regions. These intermediaries will regrant from the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund in areas aligned with OBT and approved by the trustees. Intermediaries will be selected through a closed process and announced in early 2025.
Does the Otto Bremer Trust still accept grant applications?
OBT no longer accepts direct grant applications. Visit Our Grantmaking to learn more about our new approaches to grantmaking.
How will OBT identify prospective grantees for strategic grants?
We are still in the planning stages of our internal processes, and we will share more information when it’s ready. Sign up for OBT news to receive updates.
Can we meet with a program officer to discuss whether our organization might be considered for a strategic grant?
No. Since all information available to the public is included in these FAQs and on our new Our Grantmaking page, we will preserve our staff’s time for their research, due diligence, and analysis work.
How will the organization introduction process work?
We recognize the burden placed on organizations in navigating and submitting detailed funding applications. With this new introduction process, we shift the responsibility to OBT to actively seek and research organizations doing quality work.
Additionally, organizations not yet on our radar can assess whether they meet our criteria and submit an organization introduction form on our website when it becomes available sometime in 2025.
If my organization has received OBT funding in the past, will we need to submit an organization introduction?
Organizations that have received funding from the Otto Bremer Trust will not need to submit an introduction. Our current and past grant and PRI recipients will be included in our research process. We will contact organizations we identify as candidates for strategic grants.
Will there be deadlines for organization introductions?
No. Organizations new to the Otto Bremer Trust can submit an introduction anytime by completing the form on our website when it becomes available sometime in 2025.
Who are your intermediary partners, and how can I connect with one to apply for a Community Responsive Fund grant?
The intermediary partners will be selected through a closed process and announced in early 2025. Information will be available on our website then, so please check back for updates.