Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Awarding $780,000 to southern Minnesota nonprofits through partnership with Otto Bremer Trust
Through a partnership with the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) and its Community Responsive Fund, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) will award $780,000 in grants to organizations that directly respond to immediate challenges and opportunities in southern Minnesota.
Grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded to organizations whose work aligns with one or more of the OBT Community Responsive Fund focus areas, including: literacy, adoption and foster care, children’s health, children’s disability services and mental health.
Organizations must be IRS determined 501(c)3 organizations located in SMIF’s region, which includes 20 counties and one Native nation. The grant cycle opens on April 1, 2025 and will close on May 6, 2025 at 3 p.m. Learn more at smifoundation.org/communitygrants. Contact Chelsie Hansen-Stratton at chelsieh@smifoundation.org with questions.
“We are honored to once again partner with the Otto Bremer Trust in our shared mission to enrich crucial services across rural Minnesota, including our region” said Tim Penny, president and CEO of SMIF.
A combined $3 million will be invested in Greater Minnesota through this partnership with OBT. SMIF is one of six Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs) that will accept applications through this program. Each MIF, which serves specific regions of Greater Minnesota, will establish its own timeline and guidelines in alignment with Otto Bremer Trust’s grant goals.
“The Otto Bremer Trust is proud to work with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to administer and distribute grant funds in Minnesota,” said Caroline S. Johnson, co-CEO and trustee, OBT. “The Trust’s mission has always been to provide funding to organizations and programs supporting the needs and opportunities of local communities, and SMIF deeply understands where those needs and opportunities are. We look forward to working together to make significant impacts.”
