Announcing the 2026 Otto Bremer Community Responsive Fund Process for UW Valleys

May 6
2 min read

UW Valleys is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 OBT Community Responsive Fund process. In partnership with the Otto Bremer Trust, United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys will continue to help direct critical funding to local nonprofits serving the six-county region.

Nonprofits are invited to complete the eligibility assessment from May 1 until May 18, to be considered for an invitation to apply for funding through the OBT Community Responsive Fund at UW Valleys.

Eligible applicants should align their work with one or more of the following focus areas:

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.)

SHELTER- Organizations and programs that provide short-term and emergency shelter beds for people who are housing insecure or facing homelessness.

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.

DISABILITY SERVICES- Organizations and programs that support people with physical/cognitive disabilities.

SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH- Organizations and programs that have established school-based mental health services.

Eligibility criteria for OBT Community Responsive grants through UW Valleys are:

The work must align with the OBT Community Responsive Fund focus areas for 2026
Located and doing work in 6-county region, Burnett, Dunn, Pierce, Pepin, Polk and/or St. Croix Counties; a majority of people served by the organization must live in the six-county region.
Beneficiaries of the grants must reside in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and/or Wisconsin.
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.
Grant funds are not to be used for work to influence public policy, annual events, event sponsorships, or fiscal sponsorships.
The organization may not have an open OBT strategic grant.

For more information and to access the eligibility assessment and to preview the application questions, visit https://www.uwvalleys.org/otto-bremer-trust.

For more information about Otto Bremer Trust, visit https://ottobremer.org/.

For questions related to the Otto Bremer Community Responsive Fund Grant Process, please contact: Megan Hausch, Director of Development, megan.hausch@uwvalleys.org.