MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Hallett Charitable Trusts is to strengthen the Cuyuna Lakes Area and designated non-profit organizations through financial support, as well as maintaining the Hallett Charitable Trusts as a financial resource for future generations.
GRANTmaking process & guidelines
Applicants wishing to be considered for a grant from the E.W. Charitable Trust must submit a grant application in the online portal. The grant application should be filed by September 1 to be considered before the end of the fiscal year. The Trusts’ fiscal year ends on November 30.
The Trustees review the majority of grant applications annually in mid to late autumn. Grant applications received at other points of the year may be considered at the Trustees’ discretion. After reviewing an application, the Trustees may request additional information, make a final decision, or defer a decision until later. The Trustees will inform their applicants of their decisions in a timely manner. In some instances, Trustees may also decide to defer payment to the following year.
Grantmaking Conditions
The Board of Trustees makes E.W. Hallett and Jessie Hallett discretionary grants for projects that meet the Trusts’ mission. Grants will only go to designated organizations that are tax exempt under internal Revenue Code Sec. 501(c)(3), or that are tax exempt governmental entities. The Jessie Hallett Trust does not accept unsolicited grant applications, as the vast majority of the trust’s charitable dollars are designated in perpetuity to fourteen named educational, religious, and community-based organizations.
When requested by the Trustees, a grant recipient must furnish a written report of how the grant fund has been used.
The Trusts may pay grants in installments. Payments may be conditioned on the receipt of financial documentation substantiating the use of grant funds.
Unless specified in the grant award, failure to begin expending grant funds within one year of receipt or to fully use the grant funds within one year of receipt may result in forfeiture of the grant and return of unspent funds.
Grants will not be made to:
- an applicant whose intent is to use the proceeds as a grant to another primary beneficiary;
- benefit primarily officers, Board members, or employees of the applicant, individually or collectively;
- individuals;
- previous grant recipients who have not complied with prior grant requirements;
- endowments; or
- supporting organizations under 509(a)(3) of the IRS.
Priorities
The Trustees give priority to applications:
- From the Cuyuna Lakes Area which includes the Minnesota cities and towns of Crosby, Cuyuna, Deerwood, Ironton, Rabbit Lake, Riverton, Trommald and Woldford
- From organizations that, although headquartered outside the Cuyuna Lakes Area, extend services or benefits to the community and its citizens;
- To organizations that exemplify good nonprofit policies, ethical leadership and practices that promote equity, diversity, and inclusivity;
- To organizations that are designated for support by a trust.
Preferences
The Trustees prefer grant projects that:
- Directly impact a broadly defined population in a manner that will measurably enrich its educational, health, economic, community and cultural opportunities;
- Have wide public support;
- Have an existing equity investment and are expected to remain operational without additional funding from the trust;
- Are non-religious and non-partisan, directly or indirectly;
- Will not be a substitution for the applicant’s own available resources; and
- Will enhance the preservation of the Hallett’s legacy.
Grant Duration
Most approved grants are one year (12 months) in duration. However, in some cases, the Trustees may make multi-year commitments for grants. If applicants receive a multi-year commitment, they must submit a progress report for each successive year of the grant to assure the Trustees that they are satisfactorily carrying out the project for which the grant was made, or the Trustees may rescind the remaining portion of the grant.
- Limits on length of term;
- Dollar cap to the amount given; and
- Requirements of documentation of plans and progress to secure other funding.
Types of Grants
The Trustees make both program / project grants as well as operational grants, depending on a variety of factors.
Operational requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Most operational grants are made to recipients that have received operational dollars previously or historically from the Trust. All entities that choose to apply for operational funding must meet all other application eligibility, requirements, and terms.
Terms and conditions governing operational grants will include but are not limited to:
- Limits on length of term;
- Dollar cap to the amount given; and
- Requirements of documentation of plans and progress to secure grants from additional funders.
Grantmaking Procedures
Applicants wishing to be considered for a grant from the E.W. Charitable Trust must submit a grant application in the online portal. The grant application should be filed by September 1 to be considered before the end of the fiscal year. The Trusts’ fiscal year ends on November 30.
The Trustees review the majority of grant applications annually in mid to late autumn. Grant applications received at other points of the year may be considered at the Trustees’ discretion. After reviewing an application, the Trustees may request additional information, make a final decision, or defer a decision until later. The Trustees will inform their applicants of their decisions in a timely manner. In some instances, Trustees may also decide to defer payment to the following year.
GRant APPLICATION
Please review the Trust’s Mission and Priorities and Preferences before submitting an application using the online form below, no later than September 1. Attach all required submission documents as stated in the grant application guidelines. Please note that the file size limit is 50MB. Alternatively, you may send a letter of inquiry to the Executive Director before determining to apply.
Cover Sheet & Grant Application and Submission Guidelines PDF Downloads
Grant Application and Submission Guidelines Information
Grant Application and Submission Guidelines (revised 2025)
The E.W. Hallett Charitable Trust requires submission of the information below. Please note that this largely follows the Minnesota Common Grant Application. The Minnesota Common Grant Application may be used in place of these guidelines if preferred.
1. The Grant Application Cover Sheet template, which may be downloaded, completed, and submitted along with the narrative and application attachments. (We no longer require a separate cover letter as well.)
2. A Narrative describing your request, which should include the following as applicable:
A. Request Summary (Please write a concise response. Most people write about 2–3 sentences.)
B. Organization Information (Please share the most important information about your organization. Most people write about 3–5 paragraphs or about 2,000 characters.) Relevant information could include:
- Your organization’s mission statement and/or vision
- A brief organizational history
- Current programs and recent accomplishments or achievements.
- Recent major changes to financial and/or organizational circumstances (if applicable)
- Current organizational goals
C. About Your Community (Please share the most important information about the community where, or with whom, you do your work. Most people write about 3–5 paragraphs or about 2,000 characters.) Relevant information could include:
- The community opportunity, challenge, issue, or need that your organization works to address
- Information about the people you serve such as geographic area (as specific as possible), socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and language
- Details about how you work with other organizations, coalitions, or networks
- Details about how you listen to/involve constituents, community members, and/or volunteers
D. About Your Impact (Please share the most important information about your impact; what success looks like, how you track or evaluate your impact, and how you know you’re moving toward your goals. Most people write about 3–5 paragraphs or about 2,000 characters.)
E. About This Funding Request (Please share the most important information. Most people write about 3 – 5 paragraphs or about 2,000 characters.). Choose one type of grant below. You need not restate information already answered above.
(a) If you are applying for a program / project grant, relevant information could include:
1. Situation or issue
2. What you plan to do (activities) and the timeframe
3. Why you plan to do it (opportunity, challenge, issue or need)
4. Who will be impacted (target population or community)
5. Support secured and/or being sought for this work (e.g., funders, in-kind donations, volunteers, sponsors/partners, or other)
6. Project budget
(b) If you are applying for general operating funds, relevant information could include:
1. Overall goal(s) of the organization for the funding period
2. Objectives, strategies, or ways in which you will meet the goal(s)
3. Time frame in which this will take place
4. Long-term funding and/or sustainability strategies
5. Other information as relevant
(c) If you are applying for another type of grant (such as matching funds, capital funds, etc.), relevant information could include the situation and background, who is involved and how, expected timeline, fundraising goal and methods, secured or potential funding sources, bids/estimates, renderings, etc.
3. Attachments
I. Board list with affiliations
II. Organizational fiscal year operating budget (income and expenses) for the current year (any format will be accepted); budget should document how many FTE, if any, are included in any salary/benefits expenses.
III. Audit or financial review from most recently completed year showing actual income and expenses. This information should include a balance sheet, a statement of activities (or statement of income and expenses) and functional expenses.
When complete, please upload your application below by dragging the files or clicking on the green “Select files” box. If online submission is not successful, you may mail your application to:
Hallett Charitable Trusts, C/O U.S. Bank Charitable Services Group, BC-MN-H08D, 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis MN 55402
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EW Hallett Charitable Trust Amounts and Purpose
12/01/2022 through 11/30/2023 – $592,508
Services
$257,500
- Access North Center for Independent Living of NE Minnesota
- Advocates Against Domestic Abuse (HOPE)
- Bridges of Hope
- Community Care ‘N Share Cafe
- Crow Wing County Victim Services
- Cuyuna Range Youth Center
- Kinship Partners Inc
- Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project
- Interfaith Caregivers (formerly Lakes Area Interfaith Caregivers)
- Presbyterian Homes Foundation
- Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
- Sexual Assault Services
Services
$191,008
City of Crosby – Jessie Hallett Memorial Library
City of Crosby – Hallett Community Center
Hallett Community Center Foundati
JFHML Friends Foundation
MN Council on Foundations
$128,000
Crosby Ironton School District #182 – Scholarships
Crosby Ironton School District #182 – After-School Enrichment Programs
$16,000
Lakes Area Music Festival
Development
$0
Note: No economic development proposals were received by the EW Trust during the most recent fiscal year.
HISTORY OF THE HALLETTS
Ernest Wilbert Hallett and Jessie F. Hallett
Married in 1911, the Halletts made Crosby, Minnesota their permanent home. Here, they established the Crosby Hardware and Furniture Co., which Mr. Hallett owned and operated until the waning years of life. Crosby was also the headquarters for the Hallett Construction Co., one of the Midwest's largest and most respected paving and construction firms.
"Mr. Hallett" as even his closest associates fondly knew him, organized the First National Bank of Crosby and served as its president for many years. Throughout their sixty-five year marriage, Jessie was his closest confidant. Together, they became highly successful business entrepreneurs, developing over two-dozen materials and construction related companies across the United States.
The Halletts were very active and supportive of their community. They contributed generously to education, community projects, youth programs, and civic initiatives, including the Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library and the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.
HISTORY OF THE TRUSTS
E.W. and Jessie Hallett created two charitable trusts to perpetuate their philanthropy. Jessie established the Jessie F. Hallett Charitable Trust to continue to provide support to organizations that she had supported during her lifetime. Several years later, E.W. created the E.W. Hallett Charitable Trust and empowered his Trustees to carry out his philanthropic commitment.
The same Board of Trustees administers both Trusts. The conditions and criteria set out herein apply to all grants awarded by the Board of Trustees.
The Trusts award the greater of the net annual investment income or the Internal Revenue Code required distribution amount. In the last three years the Trustees have awarded an approximate average of $1 million in grants annually. Approximately 40% of this amount satisfies distributions required by the Jessie F. Hallett Charitable Trust. The balance is awarded at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
E.W. AND JESSIE HALLETT
(1882-1983) and (1891-1976)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Front Row: Margaret Poley, Trustee; Peggy Nierenhausen, U.S. Bank Corporate Trustee; Desiree Parker, Trustee
Second Row: Kirk Springsted, Trustee; Mary Fisher, U.S. Bank Corporate Trustee; Megan Powers, Executive Director; Jay Schliesman, Trustee
CONTACT US
For further information, contact Executive Director Megan Powers
C/O U.S. Bank Charitable Services Group, BC-MN-H08D,
800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis MN 55402
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