The 2025 Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) Community Responsive Fund, administered by the North Dakota Community Foundation (NDCF), offers grant funding of up to $75,000 to support nonprofit organizations in North Dakota that address urgent needs and opportunities in local communities. A total of $1 million is available through this program for the 2025 grant cycle.

The OBT Community Responsive Fund focuses on six key priority areas: literacy, adoption and foster care, children’s health, children’s disability services, mental health (especially for children ages 5-15), and capital projects for hospitals and clinics. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations conducting programs that directly align with one or more of these focus areas. Government entities, public schools, and organizations using fiscal sponsorships are not eligible.

Preference will be given to applicants with five or more years of successful operations and over $2 million in actual expenses in the prior fiscal year. However, up to five grants may be awarded to newer or smaller organizations working in the target areas. Applicants must serve beneficiaries primarily residing in North Dakota and may not hold an open OBT strategic grant. Prior recipients of a 2024 OBT Community Responsive Fund grant are eligible to reapply in 2025.

The application process is conducted online through the NDCF Grants Portal and includes three steps: reviewing the guidelines, registering or logging in to the portal, and submitting the application. The application deadline is April 30, 2025. Any applications left in draft status after this date will be deleted. Applications will be reviewed by NDCF’s Grants Review Committee and forwarded to the Otto Bremer Trust for final approval. Funding notifications are expected in late August or early September.

Applicants with questions should contact Kevin at (701) 222-8349 or via email at Kevin@NDCF.net. Full application guidelines and the portal can be accessed through the North Dakota Community Foundation’s website.