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 2017
It is a bit of a formidable grant application but I think that's reasonable given the size of the grants. Although everything is online (application) I've had good luck reaching out to them via email or phone, I always get a timely response to my questions.
Risk taker, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2017
Good
Average
I know that you are perhaps under pressure streamline your funding to make more of an impact. Please just remember that there are many of us doing really great and important work that don't necessarily fall into any specific "issue" like housing. Thanks for your work in the community. You make a huge difference.
I love that they still fund a broad array of programs. So many funders are becoming more and more narrow in who and what they will fund. They are still really open to many things and I'm grateful for that.
6
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback about the Otto Bremer Trust.
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Everything is done on-line -- no communication or availability to speak with someone about your project.
Bureaucratic
Michigan
Applied and not funded
2017
Bad
Average
10
Thanks for your feedback. The Otto Bremer Trust’s review process is described in the How to Apply section of our Social Return page. Grant seekers are always welcome to call and speak with program staff. Please visit ottobremer.org to find the program staff member who serves your region.
https://ottobremer.org/social-return/#How-To-Apply
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
I would be very clear about what you are working on and what their policies and procedures are. There are a lot of areas, like fiscal sponsorship, where they say one thing and do another. It is important to have those conversations up front to save time and frustration.
Minnesota
Applied and not funded
2018
Bad
Be more clear about who you fund and who you don't. I know many people that fit your guidelines, but were turned away for one reason or another. If your policies were clearer, it would save everything the hassle.
The program officer we interacted with was disrespectful, dismissive, and actively misinformed about some of the basic facts that inform our work.
They have relevant funding areas.
0
We appreciate your feedback. Fiscal sponsorships can be complicated. Our fiscal sponsorship policies and other guidelines are located on the Social Return page of our website.
Reviewer 415 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
I reached out to the program officer to talk to her about our work. Keep in mind that we are a fiscally sponsored project and fully disclosed that before meeting with her. She was impressed with our work and encouraged us to apply.
We applied and had a phone call/site visit conversation over the phone. The program officer then disclosed to us questions the board had over our relationship with our fiscal sponsor. They wanted our missions to align, which makes no sense. They feared that if we couldn't fulfill the activities of the grant, the fiscal sponsor wasn't in the position of fulfilling them either. They wanted us to go find another fiscal sponsor that better aligned with our mission.
I found this to be a very ridiculous approach. We've received larger grants from other organizations that completely trusted our track record of performance and also our relationship with our fiscal sponsor. We were not in the position to go find another sponsor. We love our current sponsor and wouldn't be where we are without them. A funder should have no right in telling us who to be sponsored by.
We got rejected. I would never have applied if I knew this was how they assessed fiscal sponsorship. They should have been more transparent about it.
Friendly
Minnesota
Applied and not funded
2018
Average
Oh they are easy to reach. Just the experience just made everything stressful.
Average
This foundation wants to fund changemaker work but acts like big brother when it comes to who you partner with.
Don't ask fiscally sponsored projects to apply if you have an opposite view of what that relationship should be.
20
Thank you for your feedback. Fiscal sponsorships can be complicated. Our fiscal sponsorship policies and other guidelines are located on the Social Return page of our website. At OBT we require a fiscal sponsor to be in alignment with the work of the sponsored organization because the sponsor is ultimately responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the grant and therefore must be familiar with the funded work.
https://ottobremer.org/social-return/#How-To-Apply-Sponsorship
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
They've changed their program funding direction over time. If you don't meet their social program area exactly, don't bother to apply. A better bet is to contact the local branch of Bremer Bank. They are much more responsive to local concerns.
Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues
(Unknown)
Applied and not funded
Other
2016
Average
Average
Goals need to be reassessed to help the local communities the Bank serves. Use your local branches as a fund directing resource.
Expand beyond social services programs. Small, local heritage programs provide a major service to small communities and there is a crying need there due to a lack of available funding sources.
Declined and told to check with the local bank.
6
Thank you for your feedback. The Otto Bremer Trust continues to respond to community needs. Detailed information about our organization and our approach to philanthropy, including our relationship to Bremer Bank, can found on our website, ottobremer.org.
Reviewer 511 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
The program director was very interested in learning more about our program and had a strong base of knowledge to draw from when reviewing our proposal.
Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2016
Good
Good
Please continue to fund successful programs and not always be looking for something that is new or "innovative." Many times non-profits just need funding to keep up successful programs.
Otto Bremer is very responsive to questions ahead of the grant application submission.
15
Thanks so much for your feedback and insights.
Grant Applicant - applied before 2014
A former reviewer said it best: your program officer makes or breaks your relationship. Ours was very difficult at best and downright rude at worst.
Risk taker, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
Before 2014
Good
Average
Pray that you get a good program officer.
Accessibility
0
Professional in the field
The range of knowledge and awareness about community issues REALLY varies, depending upon the staff person you deal with.
Inadvertently exerts negative influence in the field, Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Culturally incompetent
Minnesota
Professional in the field
Funded for lesser amount
2017
Good
Average
They have broad aims for social betterment, but appear to take a "white knight" approach, rather than an approach that deeply engages communities in identifying both barriers and solutions.
Do not send clueless program officers out to meet with community groups. Bremer needs more program officers who have a deep understanding of systemic barriers to success for communities, particularly an understanding structural racism and Bremer's institutional role in the systems that exist that prevent communities and community members from moving forward.
The particular program officer who conducted a site visit I witnessed was VERY culturally obtuse, had an extremely mainstream perspective on the issue at hand, and made comments about the community that not only demonstrated a lack of understanding of the institutional racism that creates barriers to success members of the community but also were directly offensive to the community members present. The program officer also came in with a "know it all" attitude that was very off-putting. I was shocked at the lack of cultural sensitivity and the lack of a deeper knowledge of the community the program officer displayed. I would never have thought a major funder like Otto Bremer would send someone so insensitive and unaware to a site visit.
20
Thank you for taking time to provide your insights and feedback.
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
I find the Funder very accessible and willing to take the time to offer direction.
Culturally sensitive, Friendly
Minnesota
Grant currently pending
Other
2017
Good
Good
Pending.
12
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
Great source of funding for agen cies working with poor and vulnerable people. One of the very few that will support Statewide (as well as Dakotas and, I believe, Wisconsin?)
Positive leader in the field, Culturally sensitive, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2016
Good
Bremer staff mostly very responsive and respectful. Some more than others, but all take their responsibility seriously it seems.
Good
They often conduct site visits which is very important, but not as common among foundations as it used to be.
Staff really seems to understand and appreciate the big picture and the role of non-profit service agencies in trying to carry out their work.
20
