Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) Community Responsive Fund

2026 OBT Community Responsive Fund

The North Dakota Community Foundation (NDCF) was selected by the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) as a philanthropic intermediary partner to administer and distribute funds in North Dakota through its 2026 Community Responsive Fund. Under the partnership, NDCF will work closely with OBT to administer $1.5 million in funds for grants up to $75,000 to support local organizations that directly respond to immediate challenges and opportunities in the state.

Qualified applicants and projects must fall under one of OBT's five focus areas to receive a grant.

Focus Areas for 2026 Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund Grants:

• 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.

Program Eligibility

• 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 work must align with one or more OBT Community Responsive Fund focus areas for 2026.
• Most grants will be awarded to organizations with at least five years of successful operations during which they have continuously held 501(c)3 status.  (Up to 10 grants can be awarded to organizations working in the five focus areas that have less than five years of successful operations.)
• OBT's priority is to award grants to organizations with more than $2 million in actual expenses in the last fiscal year.  (Up to 10 grants can be awarded to organizations working in the five focus areas that have less than $2 million in actual expenses.)
• The beneficiaries of the grants must primarily reside in ND.
• The organization may not have an open OBT strategic grant (They MAY have been a recipient of a 2024 or 2025 Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund grant from NDCF.)
• Grant recipients will be selected by the North Dakota Community Foundation with final approval by Trustees of the Otto Bremer Trust.

Funding Criteria

• Grant awards can be of varying amounts up to $75,000 to support operations, programming, and/or capital projects.
• The amount awarded may not exceed 10% of the organization’s previous fiscal year’s public philanthropic financial support.  (Up to 10 grants can be awarded to organizations working in the five focus areas that do not meet this criteria.)
  • Public philanthropic financial support includes dollars raised through private fundraising (individuals, businesses, foundations, etc.), giving campaigns, fundraising events, United Way awards, and so forth. It excludes government grants and contracts, earned income, investment gains, and so forth. In-kind contributions are also excluded.
• No more than 10% of grant funds may be used for administrative expenses – the bulk of grant funds must be used for direct services.
• Grantees must complete NDCF’s final report and share impact data with NDCF.

OBT Community Responsive Fund grants may not be used for:

• Work to influence public policy
• Sponsorships or annual events
• Fiscal sponsorships

Application Process:

• Applications will be accepted from March 1 through April 30, 2026.
• Applications must be submitted online through the NDCF Grants Portal.  A link to the Grants Portal will be provided here beginning March 1.
• Applications will be reviewed by a committee of NDCF Board members and granting recommendations reviewed by the full board prior to being sent to OBT for their review.
• Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in the fall.

For questions about the fund or application process, please contact Steve Lipp at Steve@NDCF.net or 701-222-8349.