Bush Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $90.4 million (2023)
Total Assets: Approximately $1.4 billion
Success Rate: Fellowship program ~7.5% (75 semifinalists from 1,000 applications)
Decision Time: 2-12 months (average 7 months for Community Innovation grants); Fellowship program 6-7 months
Grant Range: $250,000 - $8.2 million (Community Innovation); $150,000 (Bush Fellowship); $250,000 (Bush Prize)
Geographic Focus: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations sharing that geography

Contact Details

Address: 101 Fifth Street East, Suite 2400, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101

Phone: 651-379-2249

Pre-Application Support: The Foundation strongly encourages applicants to contact them before applying to discuss ideas and receive guidance. They will talk with anyone who wants to discuss an idea or proposal. Applicants can schedule brief calls via Calendly on their contact page.

Overview

Founded in 1953 by Archie and Edyth Bush with an original investment of 3M stock, the Bush Foundation has grown to become one of the Upper Midwest's most significant philanthropic institutions. Archibald Bush, a Granite Falls, Minnesota native, rose from bookkeeper to executive at 3M, and with no children of their own, he and Edyth established the foundation with simple instructions: "Do the most possible good for the community." With approximately $1.4 billion in assets and annual grantmaking of over $90 million, the foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 23 Native nations. Under president Jennifer Ford Reedy's leadership since 2012, the foundation has embraced an equity-centered approach, declaring its commitment to Native nations in the Upper Midwest and taking reparative action to address racial wealth gaps. In 2022, the foundation made a record $120 million payout (7.7% of assets), driven by increased community need from racial injustice and COVID-19.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Innovation Grants & Program-Related Investments (PRIs)

Amount: $472,000 - $8.2 million (2024 range)
Duration: 3-8 years
Description: The foundation's largest and most flexible grant program funding bold ideas that have potential to make the region better for everyone. Open to any issue a community believes is important. Makes only a small number of grants each year.
Application Method: Rolling basis—applications accepted at any time throughout the year. Applicants strongly encouraged to contact the foundation first.

Bush Fellowship

Amount: Up to $150,000 (increased from $100,000)
Duration: 12-24 months
Description: Investment in individuals and their capacity to do more good for the region. Fellows receive funding to grow their capacity, knowledge, and network to lead through self-designed leadership plans.
Application Method: Annual application cycle (typically September-October)
Fellowship Size: Up to 30 fellows selected annually (increased from 24)

Bush Prize

Amount: $250,000 per organization
Description: Celebrates organizations highly valued within their communities with a track record of successful community problem solving. Flexible funds that can be used to build reserves, test new ideas, or support ongoing work.
Application Method: Separate selection processes for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations, implemented in partnership with four community grant partners.

Ecosystem Grants

Description: Supports organizations upon which other organizations and leaders rely—those playing critical roles for others in the ecosystem.
Application Method: Applications open every 3 years (next open round in 2026)

Partnership Fund

Description: Does not support requests that support a single organization or coalition for needs that other organizations also have, or projects that could fit into other open competitive grant programs.

Priority Areas

The foundation is open to funding on any issue important to a community, with the following strategic emphases:

Community Innovation: Supporting bold ideas and creative problem-solving at the community level
Leadership Development: Building leadership capacity across the region
Equity and Racial Justice: Taking an equity approach to all grantmaking, particularly focused on advancing racial equity
Native Nation Building: Committed support to the 23 Native nations in the region
Systems Change: Large, long-term commitments to efforts thinking big about what is possible

Recent funded projects include innovations in rural child care, community-level programs for children and youth, strengthening local food systems in rural areas, culturally competent health and wellness programs, and violence prevention focusing on men.

What They Don't Fund

Bush Fellowship Program:

Cannot fund a business or program
Cannot pay off debt
Cannot be directed to another person or organization
Not for creating, expanding, or completing a project
Not for funding a business
Government and elected officials may only use Fellowship for degree-granting programs (IRS restrictions)

Bush Prize:

Funds must be used for charitable purposes to benefit communities in the specified region (MN, ND, SD, or Native nations)
May not be used to fund work in other states or regions
May not be used for non-charitable purposes

Partnership Fund:

Does not support single organization needs that other organizations also have
Does not support projects fitting into other open competitive grant programs

Geographic Restriction: All programs serve only Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations sharing that geography.

Governance and Leadership

President: Jennifer Ford Reedy (also known as Jen Ford Reedy), serving since September 2012

Board Leadership:

Board Chair: Tony Heredia (recently elected)
Recent Board Additions: Ro Adebiyi and Armando Camacho

Investment Committee: Comprised of four board members and three outside experts, coordinated by internal investment staff including a Chief Investment Officer and an outside investment advisory firm.

Governance Structure:

Defined by articles and bylaws filed with the State of Minnesota Attorney General's Office
Each board committee uses a charter and work plan defining roles, responsibilities, and meeting agendas
Conflict of interest/code of conduct policy applies to board, staff, key partners, and vendors
Board members receive annual allowances ($5,000-$20,000) to recommend grants to nonprofit organizations in their region

Leadership Quotes

Jennifer Ford Reedy on organizational culture: "It's about the culture you create that helps other people feel a part of something big and want to work toward something bigger."

On leadership themes: "We want to spread optimism and encourage creativity."

On accessibility: "There's a famous quote in our industry that a foundation is a large amount of money completely surrounded by people who want some. Given this, lots of foundations build moats to keep people out. We're trying hard to make the Bush Foundation permeable so that we can hear the perspectives and the good ideas of others."

On the $100M community trust funds initiative: "It is a reparative action. An acknowledgment of how racial wealth gaps in our country reflect accumulated advantage and disadvantage from public policies."

On life philosophy: "I believed that if I was not living life joyfully, I was doing it wrong."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Before Applying: The Bush Foundation strongly encourages applicants to contact them before submitting an application. The foundation will talk with anyone who wants to discuss an idea or proposal and can help answer questions. Contact via email at staff@bushfoundation.org, phone at 651-379-2249, or schedule a call via Calendly on their website.

Community Innovation Grants:

Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
Pre-application conversation with foundation staff is strongly encouraged
All opportunities use open application processes as part of the foundation's commitment to equity

Bush Fellowship:

Annual application cycle, typically opening in early September and closing in early October
For reference, 2026 Fellowship applications opened September 2, 2025, and closed October 7, 2025 at noon CT
Applications submitted through online portal

Ecosystem Grants:

Applications open every 3 years
Next open grant round in 2026

Bush Prize:

Administered through four community grant partners (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Good Relatives Collaborative, South Dakota Community Foundation, and Strengthen ND)
Separate selection processes for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Native nations

Decision Timeline

Community Innovation Grants:

Average time from initial contact to decision: 7 months
Range: 2-12 months for successful applications (2024 data)
The foundation provides feedback if an application is declined

Bush Fellowship:

Semifinalists: Notified early December (approximately 2 months after application deadline)
Finalists: Notified mid-March (approximately 5.5 months after application deadline)
Interviews: Conducted in April
Final Selection: Announced in spring (approximately 6-7 months total from application to final decision)
Approximately 75 semifinalists selected from all applications, with up to 30 fellows chosen annually

Notification Methods: The foundation communicates with applicants throughout the process and provides feedback to unsuccessful applicants who request it.

Success Rates

Bush Fellowship: Highly competitive program receiving approximately 1,000 applications annually, with roughly 75 semifinalists selected (~7.5% semifinalist rate) and up to 30 fellows ultimately chosen (~3% final success rate).

Community Innovation Grants: Specific success rates not publicly disclosed. The foundation makes "only a small number of grants each year" in this program, with 2024 grants ranging from $472,000 to $8.2 million, suggesting this is a highly selective program.

Reapplication Policy

The Bush Foundation will provide feedback if an application is declined. While no explicit waiting period or restriction is stated, the foundation operates on open application cycles:

Community Innovation Grants: Rolling applications allow reapplication at any time, particularly after incorporating feedback from the foundation
Bush Fellowship: Annual cycle allows reapplication in subsequent years
Ecosystem Grants: Applications reopen every 3 years

The foundation's commitment to providing feedback and maintaining open application processes suggests they welcome improved reapplications.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Bold Ideas and Risk-Taking: The foundation explicitly states they use their "capacity for risk by investing in bold ideas and making large and long-term commitments to efforts that are thinking big about what is possible—even when the organization is small or new."

Potential and Momentum Over Perfection: They "look for the potential and momentum of an idea" and "will consider organizations of all sizes and ideas at all stages of development, looking for big transformation while knowing big ideas can start small."

Specific Evaluation Criteria

Leadership Capacity: The foundation assesses whether "the people leading the effort are positioned to be successful, including whether they have the support, relationships, experience and capacity." They want to support people "who are learning and growing in their ability to advance equity, in particular racial equity, and who are committed to learning, improving and sharing what they learn with others."

Strong, Doable Plan: They evaluate "whether the plan is doable and whether it uses resources in a way that is likely to lead to success."

Value to Others (for Ecosystem Grants): Other organizations and leaders must find your organization "uniquely and significantly valuable." The foundation speaks with references to verify that applicants "play a critical role for others."

Equity Lens: All work needs to align with an equity approach, with particular emphasis on racial equity.

Recent Successful Grantees (2025 Bush Prize Recipients)

Foster Advocates (Minnesota): Champions reforms improving experiences and outcomes for foster children across Minnesota
Dakota Wicohan (Minnesota): Selected as Bush Prize honoree
Makoce Agriculture Development: Lakota-led nonprofit developing Indigenous agriculture and food systems to regenerate equitable, healthy communities, economies, and the environment
Hip Hop & Hope: Engages youth and adults affected by incarceration, addiction, and homelessness through mentorship, music, and community outreach
Abbott House Foundation: Provides long-term, trauma-informed support to children and young adults, including therapy, education, life skills training, and consistent relationships

Process Tips

Engage Early: The foundation's strongest advice is to contact them before applying. They emphasize they will talk with anyone and can help shape proposals.

Be Prepared for a Multi-Month Process: With an average timeline of 7 months for Community Innovation grants, applicants should plan accordingly and maintain ongoing communication with foundation staff.

Focus on Learning and Growth: Demonstrate commitment to "learning, improving and sharing what they learn with others," particularly regarding equity advancement.

Think Big, Even If You're Small: The foundation explicitly encourages bold thinking regardless of organization size or idea maturity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Make contact before applying: This is the foundation's strongest recommendation. They want to discuss your idea and will talk with anyone—use this resource to strengthen your proposal and ensure alignment.
Equity lens is non-negotiable: All work must align with the foundation's equity approach, with particular emphasis on racial equity. Demonstrate your commitment to learning and growing in this area.
Bold and transformative trumps safe and incremental: The foundation explicitly seeks "bold ideas" and is willing to take risks on small organizations with big visions. Don't downplay the transformative potential of your work.
Plan for a relationship, not a transaction: With 7-month average timelines and multi-year grant terms (3-8 years for Community Innovation), the foundation invests in long-term partnerships. Demonstrate leadership capacity and commitment to learning.
Flexibility is a feature: Community Innovation grants are described as the "most flexible" program with no caps on amount or duration, and funds can address any issue important to a community. Ensure your proposal clearly articulates community importance.
For Ecosystem Grants, prove your value to others: Success depends on other organizations finding you "uniquely and significantly valuable." Be prepared for the foundation to check references about your critical role.
Don't be discouraged by rejection: The foundation provides feedback on declined applications and maintains open reapplication processes. Use feedback to strengthen future proposals.

References

Date accessed: December 17, 2025