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.
The Hallett Trusts have supported the Cuyuna Range Area for over 30 years with grants for education, community projects, youth programs, social services, economic development, arts, and senior services.
- - - Hallett Charitable Trusts - - -
Grant applications must be filed by September 1 of each year to be considered.
- - - Hallett Charitable Trusts - - -
The Hallett Charitable Trusts

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.

THE GRANT

Please click on the tabs below to learn more about our grant making conditions, priorities, preferences, and grant types. These apply to all grants awarded.

Grantmaking

Conditions

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. 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:

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, 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.

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 Halletts’ 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.

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.

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.

THE APPLICATION

Application Procedures and E.W. Hallett Grant Application

APPLICATION COVER SHEET

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.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please review the Hallett Trusts’ Mission and Priorities and Preferences to make sure your request falls within the Trust parameters. You may send a letter of inquiry to the Executive Director.

When complete, you may upload all application files here, or mail them to Hallett Charitable Trusts, C/O U.S. Bank Charitable Services Group, BC-MN-H08D, 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis MN 55402

EW Hallett Charitable Trust Amounts and Purpose

12/01/2022 through 11/30/2023 – $592,508

Social
Services
0%

$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

Community
Services
0%

$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

Education
0%

$128,000

Crosby Ironton School District #182 – Scholarships

Crosby Ironton School District #182 – After-School Enrichment Programs

Arts
0%

$16,000

Lakes Area Music Festival

Economic
Development
0%

$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

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.

E.W. AND JESSIE HALLETT

(1882-1983) and (1891-1976)

board

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