46 survey respondents
Location: 30 7th St E, Ste 2900, Saint Paul, 55101 MN
EIN: 41-6019050
82%
18%
12 hours
Median
82%
18%
80%
20%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Grant Applicant - applied in 2022
We were encouraged to apply and our initial conversation with the foundation was positive. The site visit was brutal - the officer laughed at an item in our budget and said there was no way it could be so low. We have received funding before, but were denied this request this year. This foundation's decisions are made by 2 trustees, which makes it a bit more subjective than other foundations.
Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Difficult to work with
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Other
2022
Good
Average
Funded in past cycles, not funded this year.
They are responsive to emails.
8
Grant Applicant - applied in 2019
It is probably the most user friendly granting foundation, a phone call away, they will walk you through.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
North Dakota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2019
Good
Very accessibile
Good
They seem to serve a diverse population. Equality and seeing that all people deserve a fair shot at a good life.
Continue to see the big picture of how these grants make such a difference for people in our communities.
The funder is willing to help you correct or add things you need to do to make your outcomes work for the people you serve.
Walk you through the process.
15
Grant Applicant - applied in 2020
The troubles that the trustees, and the foundation in general, are now experiencing have filtered down to to negatively impact the nonprofits who need them. In Wisconsin especially, there are very few grant dollars available. So the fact that the new process for 2021 is so laborious and taxing to nonprofit staff is difficult to understand. A new portal, new process, new leaders and change in their schedule all exacerbate the COVID/Social unrest/economic down turn/etc...issues of 2020.
Wisconsin
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2020
Average
Bad
simplify the portal process and help us save resources
15
Reviewer 1449 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2019
After reading the other comments here, it seems your experience may vary greatly depending on who you get as a rep. I will say that I've had two different Bremer reps at two different organizations, and both put us through the ringer at the site visit. The first one was an outright bully. He wanted certain data that we hadn't gathered, and when we explained that it was not part of our outcomes, he demanded to know what we expected him to tell the trustees. I revisited the arguments I had made to address every guideline in the proposal, and then he cut me off and said he knows the guidelines! He later apologized, but it was really unprofessional.
The second rep wasn't nearly as hostile, but acted as if she knows more about the work than we do. She also encouraged us to outright choose someone for a volunteer role based on their race. We are more than willing to ensure a diverse applicant pool. But what she was suggesting would be discrimination.
Just be ready for anything at your site visit. Go through your proposal with a fine tooth comb, including your financials, and imagine every question that could be asked.
Inadvertently exerts negative influence in the field, Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Difficult to work with, Culturally incompetent
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2019
Average
I had a lot of trouble with the first rep, who always "had to get back to me later because he was traveling." The second rep has been fine so far.
Average
Once they fund you, they don't stick with you. They are initially generous, but will gradually decrease the amount each year. And if you are growing and have greater need, they will not usually consider an increase.
Examine your internal culture and make sure that reps are treating grantees consistently across the board. Nurture a stance of partnership with grantees, not a "we own you" attitude. When reps nitpick finanancials, it comes off as a lack of trust. And don't take so long between submission and site visit that you have to request updated financials. You are making organizations do double the work with no guarantee of funding.
The proposal is fairly easy and the gifts are generous. Make sure you employ an extreme level of accuracy and carefully proof before submitting because if you make a mistake, they will find it. Overall, it's worth dealing with the reps as a necessary evil. You may get lucky and have one that's respectful.
I think it's good to hold organizations accountable when they have actually failed to deliver on promises. And I think it's good to have well-informed, knowledgeable reps as long as they respect that the organizations providing the services are the experts.
10
Reviewer 6381 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2019
Otto Bremer Trust is easy to work with, explicit and approachable for information about their foundation and what they fund. They do their due diligence and are thorough with every application. they will comb though your financials, and ask questions. But, they fund generously. Once you have been funded by Otto Bremer, you are often seen by other funders as fundable - everyone knows they have vetted your organization well.
Positive leader in the field, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2019
Good
The Grants team at Otto Bremer are personable, and you are assigned one person as your on-going contact. They get to know you and are able to guide your asks.
Good
The Trust will fund you more than once, though not multi-year grants, but the timing of the applications leaves gaps. While they do not promise back-to-back funding, it would be nice to see a project though to a place where it shows true impact, and/or enough outcome data to make the case for new funding.
Reach out to the grants managers ahead of your application. Run the ideas by them. They will be intimately tied to your application, and your advocates and will guide you to propose your best ideas.
The Otto Bremer Trust has only one directive from the founder: serve people in poverty. It opens many doors.
12
Reviewer 2341 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2019
Their staff is great; their trustees are a hot mess and often have conflicting opinions to one another. The trustees feel the power differential between them and grantees and aren't afraid to use it if they feel like you've stepped out of bounds. The trustees totally blindsided us by telling us to request a six-figure ask amount and awarding a grant that was 5% of the ask (seriously). I feel for the staff who have to navigate the trustee relationships and grantees.
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2019
Average
Program officers will get back to you semi-regularly; trustees are hit or miss if you already have a relationship with them.
Average
Their priorities are so broad that it could fit almost anything, which means they're making a wide, shallow impact, in my opinion.
The trustees need to trust that the nonprofits they fund know what they're doing.
Google "Otto Bremer Foundation trustee pay" for some insight.
I love their grant application. The questions aren't duplicative and they give lots of character spaces.
10
Reviewer 4069 - Grant Applicant - applied before 2014
This funder is a great community resource, but their funding is somewhat harder to obtain. They are very precise in what they will fund, and you must ensure thst their guidelines are a perfect match with theirs.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
Before 2014
Good
They are very accessible but tend to refer you to their grant guidelines rather than discuss them. You can always speak with their grant coordinator if you have a question but their guidelines are very self-explanatory.
Good
Read the guidelines very well before making contact with them.
Guidelines, guidelines, guidelines...make sure your funding requests meet them perfectly.
They are a local landmark in the world if local community funders and have a great reputation for their philanthropy.
40
Grant Applicant - applied in 2019
Our organization was encouraged to apply, unfortunately, our grant writer changed just before we started the grant process. That part was unavoidable and faultless.
Difficult to work with
Minnesota
Applied and not funded
2019
Bad
The grant administrator did not communicate efficiently despite our organization reaching out multiple times to complete the application.
Average
Follow-up and Feedback. Once they let us know we were no longer being considered we reached out once again to ask for feedback. They did not respond at all. It's okay to respond with a simple "due to high volume we are not able to fulfill your request." or even a "NO". Just no nothing, after I was already disappoint with their communication prior to the decision.
12
Reviewer 7889 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2019
Definitely call first. Our program officer really values having conversations with us, and has given us valuable advice.
Gives more than money, Builds relationships
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2019
Average
Good
The Trust dictates the funding priorities and those priorities will not change, we've been told. So they are very clear about what they will and will not fund.
10
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Site visits are part of the application (approval) process, but they're invaluable. The knowledgeable staff of Otto Bremer Trust ask intelligent questions because they already know the context in which you operate as a nonprofit. This is a generous organization and they want to be strategic in their funding distribution.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Array
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Good
Keep staff levels adequate to the task, since you try to manage 4 grant rounds a year, covering multiple regions. An amazing feat, really.
They trust that the nonprofit understands their own work and tries to come alongside (especially legacy, larger nonprofits) with proven track records and real needs.
6
