The George W Bush Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Revenue: $55.9 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Notified in Spring (approximately 3-4 months after December deadline)
Grant Range: $5,000 (standard award for school libraries)
Geographic Focus: National (United States)
Application Method: Rolling annual deadline (December 31)

Contact Details

George W. Bush Presidential Center 2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75205

Phone: (214) 346-1650
General Email: info@bushcenter.org
Laura Bush Foundation Email: laurabushfoundation@bushcenter.org
Website: www.bushcenter.org

Overview

The George W Bush Foundation was established to operate the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which was dedicated on April 25, 2013, on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. With annual revenue of $55.9 million (2024), the foundation operates a presidential library and museum, and houses the George W. Bush Institute, an action-oriented policy center. While the foundation primarily operates direct programs focused on freedom and democracy, economic growth, education, veterans support, and global health, it does make grants through one public program: the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries. Since its inception in 2002, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded $23 million to over 4,000 schools across the country to support school library book collections. In early 2018, the Bush Institute received two $10 million endowments from Boeing and Highland Capital Management, demonstrating significant corporate support for its work. The foundation holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 96%.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries

Grant Amount: $5,000 (standard award)
Total Annual Giving: Approximately $1-1.5 million per year
Application Method: Online portal via Communities Foundation of Texas
Deadline: December 31 annually (11:59 p.m. CT)
Access Code: LBF2025 (for 2025-2026 cycle)
Decision Timeline: Spring notification (3-4 months after deadline)
Funds Must Be Spent By: December 31 of the year following the award

Recent Grant Cycles:

2024-2025: $1+ million to 220 schools across 38 states
2023-2024: $1 million to 200 schools across 40 states
2022-2023: $1.5 million to 300 schools across 36 states

Priority Areas

School Libraries (Laura Bush Foundation):

Updating and diversifying book collections
E-books and digital resources
Print magazines
Spanish language titles and multilingual resources
High-demand books for students
Serving underserved, low-income schools

Policy Work (Direct Operations - Not Grant-Making): The Bush Institute operates programs directly in:

Freedom and Democracy initiatives
Global Health
American Ideals and Respectful Discourse
Developing Principled Leaders
Economic Growth policy
Immigration reform
Education and Opportunity
Veterans and Military Families support

What They Don't Fund

For Library Grants:

Furniture or equipment
Computers, tablets, or technology hardware
Software or digital tools
Videos or DVDs
Teacher guides or instructional materials
Tests or assessment tools
Classroom book sets (as opposed to library collections)

General Exclusions:

The foundation does not have a public application process for organizational grants outside the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries program
Does not appear to make grants to policy organizations, think tanks, or research institutions (instead operates these programs directly through the Bush Institute)

Governance and Leadership

The George W Bush Foundation operates the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes the presidential library, museum, and the George W. Bush Institute. The foundation maintains professional staff with salaries and wages totaling $10.1 million and executive compensation of $2.4 million (2024).

The Bush Institute describes itself as a "results tank" that "roots ideals in a new practical conservatism," focusing on action-oriented policy solutions rather than traditional think tank research.

Partnership with SMU: In June 2018, SMU and the George W. Bush Presidential Center launched the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, which funds Ph.D. Fellowships and brings together university faculty as panelists, mentors, and guest lecturers for Bush Institute programs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Grants:

Access the Portal: Visit www.bushcenter.org/lbf
Create Account: Click "Begin or Continue An Application" which directs to Communities Foundation of Texas website
Enter Access Code: Use code LBF2025 for the 2025-2026 cycle
Complete Application: Applications cannot be saved as drafts—must be completed in one session
Submit by Deadline: 11:59 p.m. CT on December 31, 2025

Required Documentation:

Principal's digital signature
W-9 form
Voided check or bank letter on bank letterhead
Contact district business office if needed for financial documents

For Other Grant Opportunities: The George W Bush Foundation does not have a public application process for organizational grants outside the library program. The foundation primarily operates direct programs through the Bush Institute rather than making grants to external organizations.

Decision Timeline

Application Deadline: December 31 annually
Notification: Spring of the following year (approximately 3-4 months)
Grant Agreement: Must be completed within 30 days of award notification
Spending Deadline: December 31 of the year following the award (e.g., 2026 for 2025 grants)

Success Rates

The Laura Bush Foundation does not publicly disclose:

Total number of applications received
Acceptance/success rates
Ratio of applications to awards

Historical Context: Since 2002, the foundation has awarded grants to over 4,000 schools, with recent annual cycles awarding 200-300 grants per year.

Reapplication Policy

Schools may reapply in future grant cycles. There is no publicly stated restriction on reapplication for schools that were previously unsuccessful or that have received grants in the past.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility Requirements (Critical)

Library Staffing:

Must employ a certified librarian or other paid professional overseeing library operations
Must maintain an accessible library or designated book checkout space

School Financial Status:

Public schools (including charter and magnet): Must hold Title I designation
Private and parochial schools: Must have at least 50% of student body qualifying for financial aid

Application Quality

Complete Applications:

Applications must be complete at submission—no draft saving capability
Ensure all required documentation (W-9, voided check/bank letter, principal signature) is ready before starting
Contact district business office early to secure financial documentation

Allowable Purchases (Be Specific):

Focus on school library books, e-books, and magazines
Emphasize diversity and updating collections
Highlight high-demand titles and multilingual resources
Spanish titles and culturally diverse materials are mentioned frequently in award announcements

Recent Funding Patterns: Award announcements emphasize schools using funds to:

Update library collections with more in-demand books
Add e-books and digital resources
Include Spanish titles and multilingual materials
Diversify book collections to reflect student populations

Strategic Considerations

The foundation serves the "schools with the greatest needs," so applications should clearly demonstrate:

High-need student population (reflected in Title I status or financial aid percentages)
Gap in current library resources
How $5,000 will meaningfully impact students' access to reading materials

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Single Program Focus: The George W Bush Foundation's only public grant program is the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries—do not apply if you're not a school library
Eligibility is Strict: Title I designation (public schools) or 50%+ financial aid students (private schools) is non-negotiable, as is having a certified librarian or paid professional
Standard Award Amount: Expect $5,000—all awards appear to be at this level
Complete Before Starting: Application cannot be saved, so gather all documentation (W-9, voided check, principal signature) before beginning
Emphasize Diversity and Demand: Recent awards highlight schools updating collections with in-demand, diverse, and multilingual titles
Timing Matters: December 31 deadline with Spring notification means planning a 4-5 month timeline from application to award
No Public Process for Other Grants: If you're seeking policy program funding, organizational support, or research grants, this foundation does not offer a public application process—it operates programs directly

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The George W Bush Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/204119317
GuideStar Profile - The George W Bush Foundation. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-4119317
George W. Bush Presidential Center - Home. https://www.bushcenter.org/
Laura Bush Foundation for Americas Libraries. https://www.bushcenter.org/topics/education/laura-bush-foundation-for-americas-libraries
LBF Application Details | George W. Bush Presidential Center. https://www.bushcenter.org/lbf-application-details
Laura Bush Foundation awards over $1 million in library grants (2024-2025). https://www.bushcenter.org/newsroom/laura-bush-foundation-awards-over-1-million-in-library-grants-to-schools-across-the-country
Laura Bush Foundation awards $1 million in library grants (2023-2024). https://www.bushcenter.org/newsroom/laura-bush-foundation-awards-1-million-in-library-grants-to-schools-across-the-country
George W. Bush Presidential Center - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush_Presidential_Center
Contact Us | George W. Bush Presidential Center. https://www.bushcenter.org/about-us/contact-us
Charity Navigator - Rating for George W. Bush Presidential Center. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/204119317
InfluenceWatch - George W. Bush Foundation. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/george-w-bush-foundation/

All sources accessed December 2024