Questions and Answers
About the Bremer Emergency Fund

1. What is the Bremer Emergency Fund?
2. Why did you create the Fund?
3. What did you hope the Fund would achieve?
4. How did the partners work together on this Fund?
5. How did the Bremer Emergency Fund relate to other Foundation grantmaking?
6. What are you learning from Bremer Emergency Fund grantees?
7. Additional questions?

1. What is the Bremer Emergency Fund?

The Bremer Emergency Fund was a joint response by the Otto Bremer Foundation and Bremer Banks to the current economic crisis. Bremer Emergency Fund grants enabled organizations to provide emergency financial assistance to families and individuals in Bremer communities who were struggling to provide basics such as food, warm and stable housing, health care, and reliable transportation in the face of increased unemployment and high prices.

2. Why did you create the Fund?

We recognize that timely financial assistance can sometimes make the difference between instability and security, enabling families and individuals to meet emergency needs and retain housing or jobs.

The Bremer Emergency Fund honored the legacy and vision of our founder, Otto Bremer, who believed that people could survive and flourish if they had help at critical times. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Bremer used personal assets to help the "countryside banks" in which he had invested ride out the hard times. The Bremer Emergency Fund reflected this commitment to the bank communities and to the support of those working to make their lives better.

3. What did you hope the Fund would achieve?

Our goal was to help community agencies respond quickly and flexibly to the current economic circumstances. We believe that once families and individuals are able to meet their basic needs and avert a crisis situation, they are in a better position to access community programs that can help them achieve long-term economic stability. In turn, people who participate fully in economic, civic, and social life are the foundation of healthy, vibrant communities.

4. How did the partners work together on this Fund?

The Bremer Emergency Fund was a joint response by the Otto Bremer Foundation and Bremer Banks to the current economic crisis. The Foundation's grant dollars were supplemented by a donation from Bremer Banks.

5. How did the Bremer Emergency Fund relate to other Foundation grantmaking?

The Emergency Fund was part of the continuum of Foundation grantmaking to help communities become and remain vibrant by promoting full economic, civic, and social participation. In response to community needs, we support approaches that address both immediate concerns and long-term strategies. As part of our ongoing response to the current economic challenges, the Otto Bremer Foundation will focus Twin Cities funding on programs and initiatives to relieve poverty, including emergency assistance as well as longer-term poverty reduction. Our funding in other communities will continue to respond to a broad range of community opportunities and needs, including needs related to poverty.

We expect that lessons from the Emergency Fund will inform our future work.

6. What are you learning from Bremer Emergency Fund grantees?

A new Foundation report, The Bremer Emergency Fund: Helping Individuals and Families Navigate Crisis, highlights program progress and lessons.

7. Additional questions?

Please contact us at 651-227-8036 or toll free at 1-888-291-1123.