Grantmaking FAQs

The Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) is launching new approaches to grantmaking as we look to be more effective and efficient in delivering on our mission of investing in people, places, and opportunities in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Over the last several years, our world and the communities we serve have undergone tremendous change, and there is a growing need for supporting residents and services in local communities throughout our region. Not only have these needs increased, but the philanthropic landscape has become much more complex. Because of this, we are continually assessing and improving our processes to be more efficient and effective and to lessen the burden on prospective grantees. With these changes to our giving, we can accomplish both goals while focusing our grantmaking where it is most needed, as was Otto Bremer’s vision 80 years ago.

We are changing how we invest in communities, allowing us to be more impactful in our work. Our new, two-pronged approach includes:

1. Strategic grants initiated and provided directly by OBT
2. Community Responsive Fund grants through selected intermediary partners

While OBT is changing its processes, our objectives and mission will not change. We are simply adjusting the process we use to deliver on our mission in a more impactful way.

After the June 6 deadline, the Otto Bremer Trust will shift to its new grantmaking model using a two-pronged approach:

1. Strategic grants. A new process will replace 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 the fall of 2024.

1. The work must align with the Otto Bremer Trust’s objectives.
2. The organization’s previous year’s expenses must have been at least $500,000.
3. The organization must be at least five years old.
4. OBT does not support sponsored organizations or activities.
5. Strategic grants are limited to one year.
6. Grants will not be made for work that influences public policy.

Visit Prospective Grantees for a complete list of OBT’s eligibility requirements.

1. The work must align with the Otto Bremer Trust’s objectives.
2. The organization’s previous year’s expenses must have been less than $500,000.
3. The organization must be at least five years old.
4. Grants will be made for up to $75,000 and are limited to one year.
5. Grants will not be made for work that influences public policy.

Visit Prospective Grantees for a complete list of OBT’s eligibility requirements.

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.

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.

The intermediary partners will be selected through a closed process and announced in the fall of 2024. Information will be available on our website then, so please check back for updates.

You can submit an inquiry at Contact Us or call our office (651-227-8036 or 888-291-1123) and ask to speak with a program officer.

For technical assistance with the portal, email portal@ottobremer.org.