While the Otto Bremer Trust does not have specific strategic grantmaking priorities, we do provide broad categories to explain the types of programs and services we invest in. These categories are intended to provide some insight into the types of work we fund.
Basic Needs:
For displaced individuals or those facing other challenges, securing a roof overhead, finding clothing to wear, and putting food on the table are the first steps toward self-sufficiency.
These grants include those that focus on short-term assistance through food shelves and outreach programs, cash or vouchers, and auto repair, along with refugee resettlement efforts, transitional housing programs, and homeless shelters.
Community Asset Building
By bringing together various forms of capital within a community—financial, social, and cultural—we seek to achieve this common goal.
This category covers a range of investments, including small business development, diversity initiatives, community planning, long-term housing programs, transportation, literacy, and adult education—all focused on building strong community assets.
Health and Well-Being:
We fund a range of care, including medical, dental, vision services, and wellness programs for families and the elderly, particularly supporting services in underserved and rural communities.
Other examples include early education and parenting programs, community recreation, physical and mental health services, youth support and enrichment, post-secondary education, and job skills.
Restorative and Emergency Services:
We believe it is critical to support organizations working to bring stability to individuals and families facing disruptive forces in life.
Grants include those that address domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and recovery, disaster response, economic stabilization, and helping people navigate the judicial and legal system.
Previous award recipients can be viewed at https://ottobremer.org/news-publications/newsroom/
It is recommended you contact the foundation prior to applying if any of the following is applicable;