2025 Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Funds

The Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund, administered through the Northland Foundation, is currently offering a special funding opportunity to support eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in northeast Minnesota. The Northland Foundation serves as the intermediary, with up to $400,000 available for re-granting. This opportunity aligns with the Otto Bremer Trust’s funding priorities and guidelines and is open for applications from April 28, 2025, until midnight on May 23, 2025. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 are available and may be used for operations, programming, or capital projects. However, the awarded amount cannot exceed 10 percent of the applicant’s previous fiscal year's public philanthropic support as outlined in Form 990, Part VIII, Line 1f. Moreover, only 10 percent of the granted funds may be used for administrative costs. The funding opportunity is restricted to organizations that had actual expenses of at least $2 million in the previous year, according to their most recent IRS Form 990. The grant's purpose is to support efforts within one or more of the Otto Bremer Trust’s focus areas. These include promoting literacy (excluding health and digital literacy), adoption and foster care services, children's health and disability services, mental health services with a preference for children aged 5 to 15, and capital projects for hospitals and clinics. Ineligible activities include public policy influence, sponsorships or annual events, and fiscal sponsorships. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits that operate within the Northland Foundation service area, have been in operation for at least five years, and meet the financial threshold stated above. Government entities and public schools are not eligible, although non-public schools may apply. Organizations currently holding an open OBT strategic grant are also excluded from eligibility, though this does not apply to previous or 2024 Community Responsive Fund grants. Applicants can prepare by reviewing the FAQs and application questions available in both PDF and Word formats. The application must be submitted online during the open window. Award decisions will be announced in July. Organizations with questions can reach out to Michelle Ufford, the Director of Grantmaking at the Northland Foundation, for further information.