FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Otto Bremer Trust awards $17.4 million in grants

Contact: Ann Pagel, apagel@ottobremer.org

SAINT PAUL, January 15, 2026 — The Otto Bremer Trust awarded $17,415,000 in grants in November and December 2025.

“From economic development to health services to meeting basic needs, these grants reflect the diverse ways organizations are serving their communities,” said Frank Miley, co-CEO and trustee, OBT. “We are honored to continue Otto Bremer’s mission by supporting this vital work.”

State totals for grants awarded include:

  • Minnesota: $11,775,000
  • Montana: $1,700,000
  • North Dakota: $570,000
  • Wisconsin: $3,370,000

A complete list of grants awarded appears below.

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.

North Dakota

Dream Center Bismarck, Bismarck, ND, $120,000. To provide meals and food to families in need.

Great Plains Food Bank, Fargo, ND, $350,000. To address hunger through the recovery and distribution of food.

The Village Family Service Center, Fargo, ND, $100,000. For general operations to provide behavioral health care to individuals and families in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Minnesota

American Cancer Society, Inc., Saint Paul, MN, $500,000. To support Hope Lodge operations.

Arc Minnesota, Inc., Saint Paul, MN, $100,000. To provide services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Minnesota.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, $100,000. To provide programs that enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens in the Twin Cities metro area.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN, $1,000,000. To provide shelter, housing, and services for people in need.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud, Saint Cloud, MN, $250,000. To provide basic needs support and wraparound services for families in central Minnesota.

Channel One, Inc., Rochester, MN, $200,000. To support the collection and redistribution of food.

Groves Academy, Saint Louis Park, MN, $1,500,000. To ensure students receive high-quality literacy instruction and thrive in both school and life.

Guild, Saint Paul, MN, $150,000. To provide mental health, housing, and employment services for those living with serious mental illness or experiencing long-term homelessness throughout the Twin Cities.

Hennepin Health Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, $1,200,000. For a capital campaign to construct a new Center for Addiction Medicine in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Highland Friendship Club, Saint Paul, MN, $100,000. To provide opportunities for teens and adults with disabilities to develop friendships, learn skills, and stay connected to their communities.

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul, Saint Paul, MN, $100,000. For a capital campaign to provide family shelter and wraparound services to low-income families and individuals in St. Paul.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN, $150,000. To provide mental health and wraparound services.

Junior Achievement North, Saint Paul, MN, $150,000. For capital to support mobile learning labs that provide financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship programs for young people.

Keystone Community Services, Saint Paul, MN, $150,000. To provide a food shelf, mobile food delivery, and other services that address hunger in St. Paul.

Lakeview Health Foundation, Stillwater, MN, $500,000. For a capital campaign to support the construction of a new hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, $150,000. To help youth and children living in foster care achieve stability through adoption and other permanency options.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, $1,000,000. To improve and expand the support available to youth experiencing homelessness across Minnesota.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, $1,000,000. To support the implementation of a cancer delivery model to transform healthcare by blending inpatient and outpatient care through innovative concepts, cutting-edge digital technologies, and new facilities.

Metro Meals on Wheels, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, $150,000. To deliver nutritious meals and provide volunteer visits to seniors and people with disabilities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, $125,000. To support programs that help improve the cardiovascular health of individuals and communities.

Mni Sota Fund, Minneapolis, MN, $250,000. For a capital campaign to create the Mni Sota Fund Wealth Building Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Neighborhood House, Saint Paul, MN, $250,000. To provide food support, housing stability, family centers, literacy and adult education, parent and early childhood education, and youth programming in St. Paul.

North Country Food Bank, Inc., East Grand Forks, MN, $200,000. To purchase food for distribution to address food insecurity throughout northwest and west-central Minnesota.

Open Arms of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, $100,000. To decrease food insecurity among vulnerable, low-income individuals with serious illnesses.

PACER Center, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, $400,000. To increase individualized support and assistive technology services that improve educational opportunities and enhance the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families.

Second Harvest Heartland, Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN, $210,000. To purchase food for distribution to prevent hunger in Minnesota.

Second Harvest Northland, Duluth, MN, $240,000. To support a new freight truck and to ensure food access to agency and community partners and people experiencing food insecurity throughout northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

True Friends, Annandale, MN, $600,000. For operating support and a capital campaign to provide accessible space for individuals with disabilities.

Tubman, Minneapolis, MN, $250,000. For general operations to provide emergency shelter, therapy and counseling, legal help, programs for youth, and for renovations of the Northstar Youth Outreach Center.

Union Gospel Mission Association of St. Paul, Saint Paul, MN, $200,000. For general operations and programs to provide shelter, food, and wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities.

University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN, $500,000. To increase the number of high-quality teachers in Minnesota by supporting non-traditional teacher preparation pathways.

Montana

Billings Clinic Foundation, Billings, MT, $400,000. For a capital campaign to enhance healthcare in Montana.

Child Bridge, Inc., Missoula, MT, $100,000. To find and equip foster and adoptive families for children who have suffered abuse and neglect in Montana.

Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Inc. (HRDC), Bozeman, MT, $100,000. To provide basic needs support to families in the Gallatin Valley.

Montana Children’s Home & Hospital dba Shodair Children’s Hospital, Helena, MT, $200,000. To provide school-based mental health services for children in Montana.

Montana Food Bank Network, Missoula, MT, $500,000. For the collection and distribution of food to support community partner programs addressing food insecurity.

St. Patrick Hospital Foundation dba. Providence Montana Health Foundation, Missoula, MT, $400,000. To provide critical healthcare services in western Montana.

Wisconsin

1000 Generations, Inc. dba Safe Families for Children Wisconsin, Elkhorn, WI, $100,000. To address foster care through the prevention and diversion of children from entering the child welfare system.

Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin dba Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, $100,000. To support the welfare of children by providing adoption, foster care, and direct family stabilizing services in Wisconsin.

Curative Connections, Inc., Green Bay, WI, $150,000. To provide person-centered care, resources, and support to enable individuals with disabilities to live independently.

Easter Seals Wisconsin, Inc., Middleton, WI, $100,000. To minimize barriers, maximize opportunities, increase independence, and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities in Wisconsin.

Feed My People, Inc., Eau Claire, WI, $150,000. To strengthen food access for people experiencing food insecurity in west-central Wisconsin.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Inc., Milwaukee, WI, $200,000. To purchase food for distribution to address food insecurity in Wisconsin.

Foundations Health & Wholeness, Inc., Green Bay, WI, $130,000. To provide mental health services and support foster care and adoption in Wisconsin.

Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, dba. HSHS St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Foundation, Green Bay, WI, $500,000. To support a capital campaign for a new neonatal intensive care unit.

Journey Mental Health Center, Inc., Madison, WI, $50,000. To provide access to mental health services.

Kenosha Community Health Center, dba. Pillar Health, Kenosha, WI, $400,000. For a capital campaign to build a new clinic in Racine, Wisconsin.

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc., Milwaukee, WI, $100,000. To support youth mental health programs in Wisconsin.

Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation, Inc., Marshfield, WI, $500,000. To support a capital campaign for a new neonatal intensive care unit.

Rawhide Youth Services, New London, WI, $150,000. To provide mental health therapy and supportive services for youth and young adults in Wisconsin.

Rock River Community Clinic, Whitewater, WI, $150,000. For healthcare services and a capital campaign to expand and integrate medical, dental, and behavioral health care services in southern Wisconsin.

St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, Milwaukee, WI, $150,000. For general operations to provide intergenerational, community-based health and educational services for adults with disabilities, seniors, and children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

St. Croix Valley Food Bank, Hudson, WI, $100,000. To purchase food for distribution to address food insecurity in western Wisconsin.

The Salvation Army – Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Division, Wauwatosa, WI, $140,000. For general operations to address hunger by providing regular nutritious meals and emergency food assistance for low-income residents of Wisconsin.

Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Madison, WI, $200,000. To purchase food for distribution to address food insecurity in Wisconsin.

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