Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust Partner to Distribute $4.5 Million
The Initiative Foundation will serve as the administrative hub for the Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive Fund grants in 2026, supporting local grantmaking through Minnesota’s Initiative Foundation partners and ensuring that resources reach communities across Greater Minnesota.
Through this partnership, entering its third year, the Initiative Foundation and its regional counterparts will help deliver Community Responsive Fund grants of up to $75,000 to nonprofit organizations addressing urgent challenges and emerging opportunities in their communities. This designation builds on regional knowledge and a deep understanding of local needs, strengthening the delivery of flexible, responsive philanthropic support.
As one of six statewide intermediaries, the Initiative Foundation will work with these partner Minnesota Initiative Foundations:
- Northland Foundation
- Northwest Minnesota Foundation
- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
- Southwest Initiative Foundation
- West Central Initiative
Nonprofits based in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area will apply through Greater Twin Cities United Way, which also serves as an intermediary.
The Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive Fund grants aim to support organizations that respond to basic and emerging community needs in areas such as food security, shelter services, health and disability support, and school-based mental health services. Grants are intended for organizations with 501(c)(3) status that demonstrate sustained operations and align with the Trust’s funding priorities.
“We are honored to coordinate this work on behalf of the Otto Bremer Trust and partner with regional foundations who know their communities best,” said Amy Trombley, vice president for community at the Initiative Foundation. “This collaborative approach helps direct resources where they can make an immediate difference in communities across Greater Minnesota.”
The Otto Bremer Trust continues to advance its mission of investing in people, places and opportunities in Minnesota and across the Upper Midwest by engaging local philanthropic intermediaries who understand and respond to unique community needs.
“The Otto Bremer Trust is proud to work with the Initiative Foundation to administer and distribute grant funds in Greater Minnesota,” said Frank Miley, co-CEO and trustee, OBT. “The Trust’s mission has always been to fund organizations and programs that effectively address challenges and opportunities in their local communities. What better way to have a deeper understanding of where those challenges are than to work with an organization like the Initiative Foundation, which is fully integrated into the communities and regions we serve. We look forward to working together to increase our impact.”
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, it 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.