THE BUSH FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$53.7M-41% YoY
Grants
148
Median Grant
$150K
Organizations Funded
154
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Foundation Overview
Mission
The Bush Foundation inspires and supports creative problem solving—within and across sectors—to make the region better for everyone. We invest in great ideas and the people who power them in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share this geography. Founded in 1953 by Archibald and Edyth Bush with 3M company wealth.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$950M+ endowment from 3M wealth, $158M impact investments by 2025, $100M Community Trust Fund racial justice initiative 2021, 30 annual Bush Fellows $150K each, Community Innovation grants $10K-$200K range, Ecosystem grants $450K multi-year support
How to Apply
Multiple programs: 1) Community Innovation grants ($10K-$200K) open year-round, contact before applying, 2-12 month evaluation; 2) Bush Fellowship ($150K over 2 years) annual deadline Oct 7 for individuals 24+; 3) Ecosystem grants ($450K over 3 years) open every 3 years, next in 2026.
Does Not Fund
Geographic restriction to MN/ND/SD/23 Native nations only, must be 501(c)(3) or government entity, Bush Fellowship requires 1+ year regional residency, Community Innovation average 7-month evaluation timeline can be lengthy
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$53.7M
Grants
148
Median
$150K
States
13
$90.4M
Grants
138
Median
$160K
States
12
$100.7M
Grants
163
Median
$100K
States
13
Grant Size Distribution
$150K
Typical Grant (Median)
$1K
Smallest
$25K
25th Pctile
$381K
75th Pctile
$4.2M
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $25K and $381K.
Largest Recent Grants
$4.2M
2024
EXODUS FINANCIAL SERVICES
MN · TO SPREAD AN INNOVATIVE LENDING MODEL TO PROVIDE AN UPSTREAM ALTERNATIVE TO PREDATORY LOANS WITH PATHWAYS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS
$3.1M
2024
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
DC · TO SUPPORT WORK TO ESTABLISH AN ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
$2.6M
2024
OWAMNIYOMNI OKHODAYAPI
MN · TO DEVELOP A NEW MODEL OF LAND RECLAMATION WITH MULTI-TRIBAL NATION CONTROL
$2.5M
2024
WAKAN TIPI AWANYANKAPI
MN · TO DEVELOP AND TEST A NEW MODEL OF INDIGENOUS URBAN LAND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH NONPROFIT AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CO-MANAGEMENT
$1.7M
2024
COMUNIDADES LATINAS UNIDAS EN SERVICIO INC
MN · DEVELOP AND TEST A NEW MODEL OF SHARED SPACE AND ACCESSIBLE TRAINING FOR CHILDCARE BUSINESSES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LICENSED LATINA PROVIDERS
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.