Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund Grants

Overview

West Central Initiative

Mission

Serving to improve west central Minnesota through funding, programs, and technical assistance.

Vision

A vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable world starts here in west central Minnesota.

Values

We seek to embody our values in all that we do.

* Neighborliness arises out of a strong belief that our interconnectedness is crucial to our long-term viability. Town to town, county to county, organization to organization, and certainly person to person, the fabric of our region depends on cooperation, appreciation, openness, and generosity.
* Generosity is a dimension of neighborliness, but it flies higher over the region because it speaks to a willingness to embrace a common good that we only can achieve through collective action, through everyone giving of their time, talent, and treasure.  
* Empowerment in our current context is directed both internally and externally. We encourage both our staff and our fellow citizens to be a part of bold action in our region, and to develop and use power to a good end.
* Trend-testing is a dimension of that bold action. We learn from one another while we work together to solve problems. We embrace risk and learn from our mistakes, always.

Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund Grants

The Otto Bremer Trust was founded in 1944. Since then, it has granted more than $1 billion to help further Otto Bremer’s mission in communities across Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

As a trusted partner, West Central Initiative will award $350,000 in grants to west central Minnesota organizations from the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund. This one-year program will support local organizations that are directly responding to immediate challenges in their communities.

The Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive Fund will support organizations or programs that address relevant community priorities and align with the following funding priorities:

* Basic Needs
* This funding priority supports organizations assisting displaced individuals or those encountering various challenges in their journey toward self-sufficiency.
* These grants include those that focus on short-term assistance.

* Community Asset-Building
* This priority includes a variety of investments—all with a central focus on strengthening community assets.

* Health and Well-Being
* This priority seeks to increase the well-being of youth and adults.

* Restorative and Emergency Services
* This priority focuses on assisting organizations dedicated to restoring stability for individuals and families encountering disruptive forces.

Grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Organizations or programs that address relevant community priorities and align with the funding priorities will be given consideration:
* Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, school, or unit of government (including Tribal government or division).
* Grantees must deliver their services and support programs in west central Minnesota.
* We serve the west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin and White Earth Nation.

* Organizations that are current Otto Bremer Trust grantees are eligible to apply.
* Organizations and programs that provide direct service to address immediate needs within their communities.
* Grants available for program or project support or general operating support.
* The grants will be awarded for one-time funding for existing work.

Ineligibility

* Projects that fall outside the scope of the Community Responsive Fund grants include:
* Arts.
* Environmental appreciation, enhancement, or preservation.
* Fiscally sponsored organizations.
* Requests of more than $75K.
* Work to influence public policy.
* Special projects or capital requests.
* Grants for regranting entities.
* Projects outside Minnesota.
* Fundraisers and benefits.
* Animal welfare, animal-based therapy.
* Medical research.
* Sports.
* Core K-12 curriculum and staff.
* One-time events.
* Religious programs.
* Historical preservation and interpretive centers.
* Core municipal infrastructure.
* Organizations who have a component fund at West Central Initiative are not eligible to apply.