Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund

In partnership with Otto Bremer Trust, the Foundation will once again facilitate the distribution of grants from the Otto Bremer Trust's Community Responsive Fund. The grant application will be available from March 17 to April 4 via the Grants Portal.The funding priorities and eligibility criteria for the Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive Fund are different from last year. Please check your alignment with the priorities and your organization’s eligibility before determining whether to apply.

As per the Foundation’s discretionary grant policy, organizations may only apply for one discretionary grant opportunity at a time (e.g., Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive Fund or the Foundation’s Cycle 1 grant opportunity). Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive grants will use the Foundation’s standard grant agreement and reporting process. If an organization received an Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive grant from the Foundation last year, it must complete the final reporting process prior to applying for a new grant.    

All proposed work must be completed within a 12-month period and not exceed $75,000. The Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive Fund will support general operating, project, and capital support grants for the following funding priorities:  

• Literacy: Organizations and programs advancing literacy. 
• Children’s health: Organizations and programs that provide health-related access and services for children. 
• 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 ages 5-15. 
• Capital projects for hospitals and clinics: Activities supporting the maintenance of hospitals, construction of facilities and purchase of medical equipment. 

Program officers will use the Foundation's discretionary grant eligibility criteria and due diligence process plus these eligibility criteria from the Otto Bremer Trust.:

• Organizations must have held a 501(c)(3) status continuously for the last five years. Government entities, including public schools, are not eligible. Non-public schools are eligible.
• Organizations must have actual expenses of at least $2 million in their last fiscal year.  
• Grant awards may not exceed 10 percent of the organization’s previous fiscal year’s public philanthropic financial support. Public philanthropic financial support includes dollars raised through private fundraising (individuals, businesses, foundations, etc.), giving campaigns, fundraising events, United Way awards, and so forth. It excludes government grants and contracts, earned income, investment gains, and so forth. In-kind contributions are also excluded
• Organizations may not have an open Otto Bremer Trust strategic grant. 
• Operating support grants may not exceed 10 percent of the organization’s administrative services. Administrative expenses include Management and General Expenses and Fundraising Expenses, as is consistent with the Form 990. (Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses.) Fiscal sponsorships, work to influence public policy, sponsorships or annual event funding are prohibited.  

Otto Bremer Trust has allowed five grant awards that do not conform to the first three eligibility requirements listed above; these awards will be distributed via invitation only. The Otto Bremer Trust may consider Community Responsive Fund grantees for future strategic grant investments.