UW Valleys’ Community Responsive Fund

United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys (UW Valleys), in collaboration with the Otto Bremer Trust, is currently administering the Community Responsive Fund, which is open for applications until June 6, 2025, at 5 PM. This initiative is part of the Otto Bremer Trust’s commitment to supporting responsive, impactful work that enhances community well-being. UW Valleys serves as the intermediary organization managing the application process and grant distribution through its Community Impact Grants Portal. The Community Responsive Fund focuses on providing financial support to organizations addressing a range of priorities. These include advancing literacy, adoption and foster care services, children’s health, services for children with disabilities, and mental health services—particularly for children aged 5 to 15. In addition, the fund supports capital projects for hospitals and clinics, which may involve construction, facility maintenance, or procurement of medical equipment. Grant requests can be for general operating, project, or capital support. All projects must be completed within a 12-month period and grant requests must not exceed $75,000. The total amount requested must not surpass 10 percent of the organization’s public philanthropic support from the previous fiscal year. Additionally, operating support requests must be capped at 10 percent of the organization's administrative expenses, as outlined in IRS Form 990. Eligibility is strictly defined. Applicants must have continuously held 501(c)(3) status for at least five years and must have incurred at least $2 million in expenses in their last fiscal year. Government entities, including public schools, are ineligible, although non-public schools are allowed to apply. Organizations with an open Otto Bremer Trust strategic grant are disqualified. Ineligible funding requests include those aimed at influencing public policy, event sponsorships, or those under fiscal sponsorship arrangements. Applicants must create or log into an existing account to complete the application. The system allows applicants to save drafts before submission; however, auto-save is not enabled. All applications must be completed in full, with N/A marked where appropriate, as incomplete submissions will not be accepted. A grant report is required post-award. For rare exceptions to the eligibility rules, applicants may contact Steve McCarthy at [email protected] for more details. Additional information about the Otto Bremer Trust’s approach to granting and relevant press releases is available on their website. Direct applications to the Otto Bremer Trust are not being accepted at this time. The Trust adheres to non-discrimination policies in accordance with federal regulations and expects the same from all prospective grantees.