Over the last several years, our world and the communities we serve have undergone tremendous change, and there is a growing need to support residents and services in local communities throughout our region. As these needs have increased, the philanthropic landscape has become 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 approaches 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.

Our two-pronged approach to grantmaking includes:

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

(Note that OBT does not accept grant applications.)

In addition to the requirements detailed in the Strategic Grants and 2025 Community Responsive Fund tabs above, the Otto Bremer Trust considers the following in its research.

• Grants are made only to organizations whose beneficiaries are Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and/or Wisconsin residents.
• Grants are generally restricted to organizations that have a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS. (Government entities, including public schools, are not eligible. Non-public schools are eligible.)
• In accordance with federal regulations, the Otto Bremer Trust does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or national origin. We require prospective grantees’ employment and service practices to comply with this policy.

The Otto Bremer Trust appreciates your important work to improve the lives of people in your community. Because your time is valuable, OBT’s strategic grantmaking approach streamlines the otherwise lengthy steps commonly found in grantmaking.

We begin by using two methods to identify organizations:

1. We leverage internal knowledge, our robust funding history, engagement with external stakeholders, and research to identify strategic grant recipients.
2. Organizations that have never applied for OBT funding can submit an organization introduction form through our website, which will be available later in 2025.

Once we have identified a strategic grant candidate, we contact the organization to schedule an in-depth discussion and, in most cases, request some basic financial information. If a grant is awarded, we require a straightforward final report at the end of the grant period.

Strategic grants use the following as basic eligibility criteria.

• Beneficiaries of the grants must reside in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and/or Wisconsin.
• The organization must have a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS. (Government entities, including public schools, are not eligible. Non-public schools are eligible.)
• The organization must have at least five years of successful operations.
• The organization’s last fiscal year’s actual expenses must have been $2 million or more.
• The organization may not have an open OBT strategic grant.

The Otto Bremer Trust honors the intentions of our founder, Otto Bremer, through the investments we make in the communities we serve. We strive to help build healthy, vibrant communities where basic needs are met and opportunities for economic, civic, and social participation are within everyone’s reach.

We start by saying “basic needs are met,” because we understand that for any individual, meeting basic needs—like the need for food, warm and stable housing, access to medical care, and aid during times of disaster—has to come first. Once people are able to attend to their basic needs, they are in a better position to achieve long-term stability, find personal satisfaction, and maximize their contributions to society.

When we say “opportunities for economic, civic, and social participation are within everyone’s reach,” we mean that active, vibrant community life is available to all, not just to some. A place where all people have the chance to build an economic foundation for themselves and their families. A place where all people have the education and skills to engage in the issues that affect their community. A place where all people can connect and contribute to social networks that are essential to their well-being.

Please visit our Grant & PRI Search and our Newsroom to learn more about how we carry out Otto Bremer’s intentions.

Local context matters. It shapes a community’s vision and informs how people respond to opportunities and challenges. With this in mind, we engage local experts in our Community Responsive Fund grantmaking process.

Each year, OBT selects intermediaries with knowledge and familiarity of the intersection of regional opportunities and challenges, community dynamics, and the spectrum of nonprofit service providers in their local communities. The intermediaries then use their knowledge and individual processes to administer grants to organizations, projects, and services that will have the most significant impact on their communities and regions.

The Otto Bremer Trust provides intermediaries with base eligibility criteria for grantees:

• Beneficiaries of the grants must reside in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and/or Wisconsin.
• The organization must have a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS. (Government entities, including public schools, are not eligible. Non-public schools are eligible.)
• The organization must have at least five years of successful operations.
• The organization’s last fiscal year’s actual expenses must have been $2 million or more. ($3 million for the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota.)
• Grant funds are not to be used for work to influence public policy, annual events, event sponsorships, or fiscal sponsorships.
• Sometimes a community is outside the geographic scope of the selected intermediaries in a given year. As a result, during that year, organizations in that community will not be eligible for an OBT Community Responsive Fund grant.

Each year, the Otto Bremer Trust identifies focus areas for the Community Responsive Fund that honor the intentions of our founder, Otto Bremer. Intermediaries may implement some or all the focus areas. The 2025 focus areas are:

• Literacy. Organizations and programs advancing literacy.
• Adoption and foster care services. Organizations and programs that support adoption and foster care.
• Children’s health. Organizations and programs that provide health-related access and services for children.
• Children’s disability services. Organizations and programs focused on supporting children with physical/cognitive disabilities.
• Mental health. Organizations and programs that support access to and delivery of mental health services, with preference given to work that addresses the needs of children aged 5-15.
• Capital projects for hospitals and clinics. Activities supporting the maintenance of hospitals, construction of facilities, and purchase of medical equipment.

The Otto Bremer Trust has identified the seven intermediary organizations that will administer the 2025 Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund.

• Greater Twin Cities United Way (MN)
• Initiative Foundation (MN)
• Montana Community Foundation (MT)
• North Dakota Community Foundation (ND)
• Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region (WI)
• Greater Milwaukee Foundation (WI)
• United Way of Wisconsin (WI)

These organizations were chosen for their knowledge and familiarity with the intersection of regional challenges and strengths, community dynamics, and the spectrum of nonprofit service providers in their local communities, as well as their understanding and knowledge of identifying the best opportunities for positive impact.