Our communities have the power to create a place where everyone is included and thriving.
We help by providing tools and resources, like grants. Grantmaking is at the heart of our role as a community foundation. We accept grant ideas on an ongoing basis as well as providing defined grant rounds throughout the year. Our grants are open to nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies and projects that use one of these entities as a fiscal partner.
Grants generally range from $1,000 to $20,000.
We will consider funding for up to 50 percent of a project. The remaining 50 percent must be provided through other sources including in-kind and a cash contribution.
We don’t award grants to individuals or to start a business. Instead, entrepreneurs can talk to our loan team. If the business plan seems like it could be a fit for Southwest Initiative Foundation, our loan team will help you apply for financing.
Read our grant guidelines to get more details about our funding focus and policies.
Open Grant Opportunities
2025 Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund
As a trusted partner to the Otto Bremer Trust, Southwest Initiative Foundation will grant out a total of $400,000 to southwest Minnesota organizations from the Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive fund. Our Community Responsive Fund grant application will be available April 15 to May 22.
In 2024, Southwest Initiative Foundation partnered with the Otto Bremer Trust for the first time to provide grants across four funding priority areas in southwest Minnesota. For 2025 the program has updated eligibility requirements and funding criteria. If you are interested in applying, it is essential to carefully review the revised guidelines to ensure you meet the new qualifications.
If you’re seeking funding for work that doesn’t fit one of our open grant rounds, or there is not a grant round open currently, you can fill out our grant request form to tell us more about the project.
Before completing the form, please review our grant guidelines to be sure your project fits within our guidelines and criteria.
Questions can be directed to Nancy Fasching at (320) 484-9104 or by email.
