The Bush Foundation
Accepts applications
The Bush Foundation is a private foundation in St Paul, Minnesota. In tax year 2024 it gave $71.1 million in 148 grants; the typical grant was $150,000 and the largest $4.2 million. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$71.1 million
- Number of grants148
- Typical grant$150,000
- Largest grant$4.2 million
- Assets$1.5 billion
- New grantees34%
Giving in 2024 was down from $85.7 million the year before.
34% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $85.7 million | 138 | $1.4 billion |
| 2024 | $71.1 million | 148 | $1.5 billion |
How to apply
| Contact | Varies by Program Please See Our We 428 Minnesota Street Suite 400, St Paul, MN 55101 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (651) 227-0891 |
| What to submit | Varies by program, please see our website |
| Deadlines, restrictions | Varies by program, please see our website. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Bush Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 13 states, the most to Minnesota.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 87 | $37.0 million |
| South Dakota | 15 | $6.4 million |
| District of Columbia | 12 | $4.7 million |
| North Dakota | 17 | $4.0 million |
| Tennessee | 1 | $787,500 |
| Virginia | 3 | $414,000 |
| Arizona | 1 | $150,000 |
| Ohio | 1 | $150,000 |
| New York | 5 | $75,750 |
| Oregon | 2 | $26,750 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus Financial Services | To spread an innovative lending model to provide an upstream alternative to predatory loans with pathways to financial success | $4.2 million |
| Bureau of Indian Affairs | To support work to establish an oral history collection | $3.1 million |
| Owamniyomni Okhodayapi | To develop a new model of land reclamation with multi-tribal nation control | $2.6 million |
| Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi | To develop and test a new model of indigenous urban land stewardship through nonprofit and municipal government co-management | $2.5 million |
| Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio Inc | Develop and test a new model of shared space and accessible training for childcare businesses to increase the number of licensed latina providers | $1.7 million |
| Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation | To operate two grant programs with the purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving across minnesota and the native nations that share that geography. | $1.6 million |
| South Dakota Community Foundation | To operate two grant programs with the purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving across south dakota and the native nations that share that geography. | $1.6 million |
| Northcountry Cooperative Foundation | Northcountry cooperative foundation will scale an innovative financing model to support cooperative resident ownership of affordable manufactured housing communities | $1.4 million |
| Build Wealth MN Inc | Support for work related to a program-related investment intended to scale an innovative mortgage lending program to support black homeownership in the twin cities | $1.4 million |
| Minneapolis Foundation | To test a special-purpose credit program that is backed by a loan guarantee to increase access to capital for black wealth builders and shift bank underwriting and lending standards | $1.4 million |
| Leavitt Partners | To develop a new strategic alliance to change federal policies to improve health care access and outcomes in indian country | $1.3 million |
| Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network | To spread ojibwe language revitalization by developing a bigger, shared infrastructure | $1.3 million |
| Individual | $1.2 million | |
| Individual | $1.2 million | |
| Four Bands Community Fund Inc | To provide grant funding for good relatives collaborative grantees in native nations and native communities in minnesota, north dakota and south dakota. | $1.2 million |
| Northwest North Dakota Community Foundation Inc | To establish the creative community solutions grantmaking fund at northwest north dakota community foundation to support and recognize creative community solutions and innovations within the state of north dakota | $1.2 million |
| Native Governance Center | To improve the financial management and capacity of native nations by spreading a tested model that promotes sustainable financial practices and builds native self-determination | $1.1 million |
| City of Saint Paul | To further test and spread the implementation of collegebound saint paul, a targeted, universal college savings accounts for every child born in the city of st. Paul, minnesota | $1.0 million |
| Indian Land Tenure Foundation | Support for tribal sovereignty and native nation rebuilding in the region | $1.0 million |
| Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers | To develop and test a driver-owned rideshare cooperative that promotes better working conditions for drivers, and exists as an alternative to mainstream rideshare options | $982,665 |
| Lake Street Council | To inspire, equip and connect bipoc and immigrant entrepreneurs to equitable clean energy opportunities | $950,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc | To implement an innovative model for regional conservation of grasslands that is designed to benefit farmers and ranchers across south dakota | $787,500 |
| Native American Community Clinic | To test a concept called the community hub, a groundbreaking harm reduction approach and overdose prevention site supporting unsheltered communities and people who use drugs in minneapolis | $750,000 |
| Renewable Energy Partners | To test a clean energy workforce model that delivers equitable clean energy benefits to black, indigenous, and people of color | $750,000 |
| The Equity in Action Way Foundation | Develop and test a black women and girls vulnerability index and pilot related trainings for agencies and organizations to support the work in minnesota to address issue of missing and murdered black women and girls | $718,858 |
| Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation | For bush prize: minnesota winners and finalists | $628,000 |
| Individual | $568,417 | |
| South Dakota Community Foundation | For bush prize: south dakota winner and finalists | $560,000 |
| Four Bands Community Fund Inc | For bush prize: native nations winners and finalists | $556,000 |
| Northwest North Dakota Community Foundation Inc | For bush prize: north dakota winners and finalists | $556,000 |
| South Dakota Education Equity Coalition (Sdeec) | To develop and test a new, statewide model of collective tribal leadership to address education disparities and strengthen tribal sovereignty | $535,000 |
| Makoce Agriculture Development | To develop and spread a new and comprehensive model for a sustainable tribal food system through innovative food sovereignty initiatives | $500,000 |
| Northside Economic Opportunity Network | To develop and test an innovative black food business incubator that supports entrepreneurs and promotes a regenerative economy in north minneapolis | $500,000 |
| Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment Through Research | Building a network of latine organizations | $472,500 |
| Four Bands Community Fund Inc | To develop a shared cooperative model of economic development on the cheyenne river indian reservation | $439,000 |
| Enhancing and Strengthening North Dakota Nonprofits & Communities | To operate two grant programs with the purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving across north dakota and the native nations that share that geography. | $400,000 |
| Sacred Pipe Resource Center | To operate two grant programs with the purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving within native nations and native communities across the bush foundation region | $400,000 |
| Family Tree Inc | To spread a gender-affirming care model to serve communities across the region | $375,000 |
| Global Health Alliance Inc | To develop and test a culturally responsive model called hooyo's perinatal navigation system that delivers enhanced perinatal offerings, revitalizes traditional somali birthing practices, and improves maternal and child outcomes | $367,500 |
| Family Tree Inc | To test a community-led public safety approach that offers an emergency hotline and response team while improving community capacity to address crisis | $320,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Jennifer Reedy
- Tharangi Cumaranatunge
- Deanna Cummings
- Morotoluwa Adebiyi
- Jodi Archambault
- Paul Batcheller
- Mary Brainerd
- Armando Camacho
- Kevin Goodno
- Mary Grove
- Mathew Kilian
- Cynthia Lindquist
- Alan Solano
- Malini Srivastava
- Tracy Zephier
Questions people ask
Does The Bush Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Varies by program, please see our website..
How much does The Bush Foundation give?
$71.1 million in tax year 2024, across 148 grants, with a typical grant of $150,000.
Who runs The Bush Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Jennifer Reedy (President), Tharangi Cumaranatunge (Finance Dir & Treasurer), Deanna Cummings (Chair/Director) and Morotoluwa Adebiyi (Director) among 15 officers and trustees.
What does The Bush Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly community development, faith communities and arts and culture.