Initiative Foundation Special Grant Round Awards $750,000
The Initiative Foundation is pleased to announce the award of 19 grants totaling $750,000 to Central Minnesota nonprofits. These grants are being awarded through a partnership with the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) and its Community Responsive Fund. Grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 were awarded to address basic needs; community asset-building; health and wellbeing; and restorative and responsive services.
In all, the Initiative Foundation received nearly 90 applications for this opportunity.
“We are so excited to be giving these Central Minnesota nonprofits a big boost,” said Nicole Clements, nonprofit development program officer at the Initiative Foundation. “We couldn’t have done this without the partnership with the Otto Bremer Trust. Through this partnership, organizations are receiving transformative support for their important work.”
From domestic violence and sexual assault support in Milaca to food assistance in Verndale to a diaper hub for families in need in Remer and the surrounding areas, these grants will help Central Minnesota organizations continue and, in some cases, expand their work.
The Initiative Foundation is serving as the administrative hub for all six Minnesota Initiative Foundations to deliver a total of $3 million in OBT grants across rural Minnesota.
“The Trust’s mission has always been to provide funding to organizations and programs that effectively address challenges and opportunities,” said Frank Miley, OBT co-CEO and trustee. “And what better way to have a deeper understanding of where those challenges are than to work with the Minnesota Initiative Foundations, which are fully integrated into the community and regions we serve. We look forward to working closely together to increase our impact.”
Awards were granted to the following Central Minnesota initiatives:
Mid-Minnesota Women’s Center, Brainerd: $75,000 to support those escaping domestic violence situations. (Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties)
Pearl Crisis Center, Milaca: $73,000 to support those experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault. Pearl Crisis Center provides direct service, prevention and community awareness. (Mille Lacs County and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe)
Oasis Central Minnesota, Little Falls: $60,000 to help those experiencing homelessness by providing emergency shelter and a potential pathway to permanent housing. The organization also provides housing support to those on the verge of homelessness. (Morrison County)
Recovery Community Network, St. Cloud: $60,000 to provide peer support, education, advocacy, and prevention strategies to reduce the impact of substance use disorder and improve health and wellbeing. (Benton, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe)
Feeding Area Children Together, St. Cloud: $50,000 to support a weekend food gap program for students facing food insecurity. (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties)
PHASE-Industries, Sandstone: $50,000 to support adults with developmental and physical disabilities. The funding will be used to hire more staff to serve clients who want to explore work and obtain and retain employment. (Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine counties)
YES Network, St. Cloud: $50,000 to respond to the youth mental health crisis by providing community-based afterschool and summer health and wellness programming. (Benton and Sherburne counties)
Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, St. Cloud: $45,000 to put low-income families on a path to homeownership while focusing resources to serve those who have experienced generational barriers. (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties)
New Pathways, Inc., Cambridge: $45,000 to provide shelter and support to families with children experiencing homelessness and put them on a path to permanent housing. (Chisago, Kanabec, Isanti, Mille Lacs and counties and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe)
Central Minnesota Dementia Community Action Network, St. Cloud: $41,000 to support dementia-informed counseling for patients, families, and caregivers while navigating the effects of dementia. (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wadena counties)
Wright County Community Action, Maple Lake: $40,000 to expand its services to support independent living for low-income older adults. (Wright County)
Tusen Tack, Braham: $34,000 to support community asset-building through the Braham Event Center. In 2023, Tusen Tack hosted more than 300 events at the center and offered free or discounted access to nonprofit organizations. The event center also hosts a food shelf, library, and community meals. (Chisago, Isanti, Pine counties and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe)
North Star Family Advocacy Center, Braham: $30,000 to support children and vulnerable adults impacted by sexual abuse. The organization provides forensic interviews, family advocacy, trauma-informed mental health services, and forensic medical exams. (Chisago, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Pine counties and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe)
Northland Area Family Service Center, Remer: $25,000 to support diaper and wipe distribution through local partners. Staff estimate the organization will distribute about 75,000 diapers each year. (Cass County and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe)
Too Much Talent, St. Cloud: $25,000 to reduce disparities experienced by children and families of color. The funds will help the organization provide tutoring and community programming. (Benton and Stearns counties)
Pine River-Backus Family Center, Pine River: $15,000 to provide local produce at the food shelf, which benefits local farmers and food shelf clients. (Cass and Crow Wing counties)
Breath of Life Adult Day Service, Brainerd: $12,000 to provide dependent adults with activities and services while giving respite to their caregivers. These funds support scholarships for those who can’t afford the organization’s full slate of services. (Cass and Crow Wing counties)
Verndale Family Life Church of the Assemblies of God, Verndale: $10,000 to support the organization’s community food shelf. In addition to food, the organization provides personal care items. (Cass, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties)
Crisis Line and Referral Service, Baxter: $10,000 to provide a listening ear, crisis mental health services, referrals and information. (Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties and the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe)
About the Otto Bremer Trust
The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minn. Created in 1944 by business and community leader Otto Bremer, OBT 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.