Otto Bremer Trust awards $28.4 million in 35 grants

SAINT PAUL, May 20, 2025 — The Otto Bremer Trust awarded $28,434,750 in grants in the first four months of 2025. Of that amount, $16,800,000 was awarded to the seven intermediary organizations administering the 2025 OBT Community Responsive Fund..

“These grants demonstrate our ongoing commitment to strengthening communities throughout the region,” said Daniel Reardon, co-CEO and trustee of OBT. “The seven Community Responsive Fund grants enable OBT to utilize the knowledge and trust of local, regional, and statewide organizations to further our mission.”

State totals for grants awarded include:

• Minnesota: $14,430,650
• Montana: $2,525,000
• North Dakota: $2,850,000
• Wisconsin: $8,629,100

A complete list of grants by state appears below, with the OBT Community Responsive Fund grants appearing at the end.

The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Created in 1944 by business and community leader Otto Bremer, it is committed to supporting an enhanced quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Since its founding, OBT has invested more than $1 billion in its region’s people, places, and opportunities.

Minnesota

Allina Health Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, $2,500,000. For a capital campaign to support the expansion of Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Candid, New York, NY, $12,000. For annual membership to promote philanthropy in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin communities by providing free local access to resources.

Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, $100,000. To provide wraparound support for children and families of low income to address out-of-school factors that negatively impact student academic achievement.

Community Dental Care, Inc., Saint Paul, MN, $500,000. For a capital campaign to relocate and expand the St. Paul dental clinic.

Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, $200,000. To support the professional training of sacred music practitioners through higher education in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Council on Foundations, Washington, DC, $25,000. For annual membership to strengthen, expand, and enhance the vitality of our communities.

Face to Face Health and Counseling Service, Inc., Saint Paul, MN, $100,000. To provide a day shelter, medical and mental healthcare, and wraparound services to youth in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Gillette Children’s Hospital Foundation, Saint Paul, MN, $600,000. For a capital project to renovate the children’s surgical center to serve children with disabilities and complicated medical needs.

Jeremiah Program, Minneapolis, MN, $300,000. To support single-parent mothers and children to achieve economic mobility on the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Fargo-Moorhead, and Rochester campuses.

Jewish Family Service of Saint Paul, Saint Paul, MN, $150,000. To provide social service programs focused on economic stability, mental health, and self-reliance.

Minnesota Council on Foundations, Minneapolis, MN, $40,000. For annual membership and support of the organization.

Minnesota Independence College and Community, Richfield, MN, $100,000. To support programs for students with diagnoses of learning, developmental, and cognitive disabilities.

PEAK Grantmaking, Washington, DC, $3,500. For annual membership to help improve grantmaking by advancing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of grants management professionals and leading grantmakers to incorporate effective practices that benefit the philanthropic community.

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, MN, $600,000. To support all first-generations students’ personal growth, success, and career readiness.

The Salvation Army – Northern Division, Roseville, MN, $250,000. To improve a food shelf program, restart meal services, and support other stabilizing services that alleviate poverty in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Technology Association of Grantmakers, Chicago, IL, $5,150. For membership support to cultivate the strategic, equitable, and innovative use of technology in philanthropy.

University of Minnesota Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, $1,350,000. For scholarships to provide training programs to increase the availability of physicians to practice in rural communities.

University of Minnesota Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, $100,000. To support scholarships for undergraduate students enrolled in the Health Profession Pathways program.

University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN, $145,000. To support the professional training of sacred music practitioners through higher education in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Montana

Bighorn Valley Health Center dba One Health, Hardin, MT, $200,000. For a capital campaign to expand integrated healthcare in rural Montana.

Eagle Mount, Bozeman, MT, $750,000. For the campus of the future campaign to further support families of and individuals with disabilities.

North Dakota

Altru Health Foundation, Grand Forks, ND, $300,000. For a capital campaign to expand behavioral health services in the Red River Valley.

Mercy Medical Foundation, Williston, ND, $500,000. For a capital campaign to expand emergency health services and mental health care in central and western North Dakota.

Sanford Health Foundation North, Fargo, ND, $1,000,000. For a capital campaign to improve care and treatment for cancer patients in North Dakota.

Wisconsin

All-In Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, $300,000. To provide financial aid and advising, program, and career support to high-potential, limited-income, diverse Milwaukee students, helping them complete college, build meaningful careers, and transform the Milwaukee community.

Froedtert Hospital Foundation, Milwaukee, WI, $1,000,000. To support capital improvements to enhance healthcare in southeast Wisconsin.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, Inc., La Crosse, WI, $500,000. For capital support to create an Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing unit.

Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, Milwaukee, WI, $4,100. For membership support to help donors maximize philanthropic efforts in Wisconsin communities.

Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund

The Otto Bremer Trust distributed $16,800,000 to the seven organizations administering OBT’s 2025 Community Responsive Fund.

• North Dakota Community Foundation, Bismarck, ND, $1,050,000
• Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, MN, $3,150,000
• Greater Twin Cities United Way, Minneapolis, MN $4,200,000
• Montana Community Foundation, Inc., Helena, MT, $1,575,000
• Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc., Milwaukee, WI, $3,150,000
• Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Appleton, WI, $1,575,000
• United Way of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, $2,100,000

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