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Grantmaking

The Board of Trustees makes E.W. Hallett and Jessie Hallett discretionary grants for projects that meet the Trust 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.

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.

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, they 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.

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 Halletts’ legacy.

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.

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.

Grant Making 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.

1882-1911

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.
1911-1977

"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.
1977-1983

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.