Southwest Initiative Foundation

Southwest Initiative Foundation / Building Resilient Communities / 2026 Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund Grants

2026 Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund Grants

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Southwest Initiative Foundation is a 2026 intermediary for the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) and its Community Responsive Fund. Through this partnership, SWIF will award grants to organizations whose work aligns with one or more of the OBT Community Responsive Fund focus areas of food, shelter, low-income healthcare clinics, disability services, and school-based mental health.

This capacity-building program supports organizations directly responding to immediate challenges in their communities. Grants of up to $75,000 per organization are available to support operations, programming, and/or capital projects.

Applications for the 2026 OBT Community Responsive Fund grants through the Southwest Initiative Foundation are by invitation from SWIF staff. If you feel you meet the outlined criteria below, please contact Nancy Fasching.

2026 Focus Areas

The following are the focus areas for 2026 OBT Community Responsive Fund grants.

  1. Food. Organizations and programs that directly operate meal sites and food pantries to meet basic daily needs. (Large, region- and state-wide food bank activities are not included.)
  2. Shelter. Organizations and programs that provide short-term and emergency shelter beds for people who are housing insecure or facing homelessness.
  3. Low-income healthcare clinics. Organizations and programs that primarily provide affordable medical, dental, and mental health services to people with limited financial resources or who are uninsured/underinsured.
  4. Disability services. Organizations and programs that support people with physical/cognitive disabilities.
  5. School-based mental health. Organizations and programs that have established school-based mental health services.

Eligibility

  • The work must align with the OBT Community Responsive Fund focus areas for 2026 (above).
  • The organization must have a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS. (Government entities, including public schools, are not eligible. Non-public schools are eligible.)
  • The organization must have at least five years of successful operations during which they have continuously held 501(c)(3) status.
  • The organization must complete annual audited financial statements prepared by an independent CPA.
  • The organization’s last fiscal year’s actual expenses must have been $2 million or more, excluding in-kind expenses.
  • The organization may not have an open OBT strategic grant.
  • The organization must currently work in SWIF’s region, which includes the counties of Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift and Yellow Medicine, as well as Caŋṡayapi Oyate (Lower Sioux Indian Community) and Peżihutazizi Oyate (Upper Sioux Community).

OBT Community Responsive Fund grant funds cannot be used for work to influence public policy, sponsorships or annual events, or fiscal sponsorships.