Grantmaking FAQs
Get answers to our prospective grantees’ most frequently asked questions.
What is the Otto Bremer Trust’s grantmaking approach?
The Otto Bremer Trust’s grantmaking model uses a two-pronged approach:
1. Strategic grants. A new process replaced the open application process. Strategic grants are now awarded to selected organizations and activities that align with the Otto Bremer Trust’s objectives and have demonstrated an impact that will be sustained and enhanced through further investments from OBT. We identify and engage with organizations in two main ways to do this:
- OBT leverages internal knowledge, our robust funding history, engagement with external stakeholders including our intermediary partners, and research to identify strategic grant recipients.
- Organizations that have never applied for OBT funding can submit an organization introduction form through our website when it becomes available sometime in 2025.
2. Community Responsive Fund grants through intermediaries. Community Responsive Fund grants leverage the intermediary partners’ expertise and local insights to extend the reach of OBT’s objectives. These grants are provided to organizations, projects, and services that will have the most significant impact and are most needed in their local communities and regions. The intermediaries regrant from the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund to support OBT’s priorities. 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.
How does OBT identify prospective grantees for strategic grants?
OBT’s trustees elevate focus areas for staff to help identify, research, and assess prospective organizations and activities for funding. Staff contacts the identified organizations for further exploration and consideration.
Can we meet with OBT staff 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 Grantmaking, 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 that have never applied for OBT funding 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 be considered for funding? Will we need to submit an organization introduction?
Organizations that have applied for or received funding from the Otto Bremer Trust will not need to submit an introduction. Our current and past applicants and grant and PRI recipients are 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 contact one to apply for a Community Responsive Fund grant?
Each intermediary partner will have its own application and review process. 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.