Southwest Initiative Foundation recently awarded 9 grants totaling $400,000 through the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund to support local organizations that address literacy, adoption and foster care services, children’s health, children’s disability services, mental health, and capital projects for hospitals and clinics. Read more about the funding priorities, eligibility, and grant criteria.
Congratulations to the following grantees:
- Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center to enhance maternal health outcomes at Avera Marshall by training up to 30 clinical staff in Spinning Babies techniques and replacing outdated bassinets with modern, hygienic, and ergonomic units to support safer, more comfortable deliveries
- Glencoe Regional Health Services; Glencoe Regional Health Services Foundation, Inc. to purchase new Spacelabs Qube Mini machines to monitor and track patient vital signs, in addition to alerting medical staff when concerns arise
- Heartland Ranch in Benson to support girls ages 12-19 who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, homelessness, food insecurity, sexual assault, and exploitation by providing a safe haven of housing, education, life/job skills, and hope
- Hutchinson Health; Hutchinson Health Foundation to replace two essential pieces of equipment in the Hutchinson Health Surgery Department: a steam sterilizer and Zoom cart
- Madison Healthcare Services to support a Hospital Education Center, improving staff skills and enhancing patient care quality
- Prairie Five Community Action Council in Montevideo to support students, staff, and families for enhanced opportunities for mental health and social emotional development
- Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council in Worthington to improve Head Start’s Trauma-Based Care Response, aimed at improving social and emotional growth in children aged 3 to 5 years to help develop empathy, self-awareness, cooperation and healthy relationships
- United Community Action Partnership, Inc. in Marshall to improve behavioral support to Head Start classrooms and increase the social emotional skills, including self-regulation, of Head Start students
- Woodland Centers in Willmar to provide strong administrative support to manage logistics, develop culturally responsive materials, and track outcomes to improve future programs
“We are proud to recognize and celebrate the outstanding organizations receiving this year’s grants. Their work is vital to creating resilient communities in southwest Minnesota. These grants are more than just funding—they are an investment in brighter futures, stronger families, and healthier lives,” said Nancy Fasching, SWIF Vice President of Community Impact. “We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Otto Bremer Trust and the funding that has been invested into our communities through the Community Responsive Fund.”
As a trusted philanthropic intermediary partner to Otto Bremer Trust, SWIF serves as a local resource by providing guidance to regional challenges and opportunities, helping to ensure that OBT makes a positive impact in the regions it serves.
“The Otto Bremer Trust is proud to work with Southwest Initiative Foundation to administer and distribute grant funds in 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 Southwest Initiative Foundation, which is fully integrated into the communities and regions we serve. We look forward to working together to increase our impact.”
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, Otto Bremer Trust has invested more than $1 billion in its region’s people, places and opportunities. For more information about Otto Bremer Trust, visit https://ottobremer.org.
