THE
OTTO BREMER FOUNDATION
“The mission of the Otto Bremer Foundation
is to promote human rights and create opportunities
for economic and social justice.”
Otto Bremer came to Minnesota as a German immigrant
in 1886 and started a career in the St. Paul
banking industry. Over the next thirty-five
years, he was actively engaged in a range of
civic, financial, and corporate activities.
Many of his investments were in independent
rural banks. His commitment to these institutions
and to the surrounding communities was unwavering.
During the Depression of the 1930s, Bremer liquidated
many of his personal assets to strengthen the
countryside banks and help them ride out hard
times.
Mr. Bremer’s life experiences shaped and
directed the work of the Foundation from its
inception in 1944. His knowledge and concern
for the strengths and hardships of the rural
and immigrant experience, coupled with his commitment
to his countryside banks, led to the establishment
of the Otto Bremer Foundation. The Otto Bremer
Foundation today has made a commitment to strengthen
the non-profit sector and help ensure that the
organizations serving communities are healthy,
strong, and focused on their mission. Since
its early days the Foundation has changed, growing
from a small trustee-run organization with an
informal granting process, to a professionally
staffed organization with funding guidelines
and regular processes and procedures. The funds
available for granting and the number of requests
awarded each year have risen exponentially over
the years. The work of the Foundation however,
continues to reflect the expressed interests
and concerns of Otto Bremer. His vision and
spirit continue to live through the Foundation’s
investment and partnership with the people and
non-profit organizations in the region.
The
Otto Bremer Foundation looks to support projects
that meet its mission of promoting human rights.
They provide funding not because a nonprofit
provides services for those that are underserved
or have had fewer opportunities in life, but
rather because they provide services that enable
people to claim the rights that are already
theirs.
Within that human rights framework, the Foundation
has developed several strategies that address
issues relevant to our mission, as well as providing
general funding. At this time, the Foundation
is committed to the following:
— Shelter
— Health Care Access
— Civic Engagement
— Organizational effectiveness
The Foundation asks nonprofit applying for a
grant to describe how their work enhances the
dignity of people, recognizes minimum rights
and standards, or affects systemic change in
local communities.
