The Bush Foundation has supported capital projects from its early days, focused primarily on higher education institutions, arts and human services organizations. From 1970 to 2008, the Foundation was a major source of capital support in Minnesota and the Dakotas.
 
This support stemmed from the belief that grants to help organizations physically expand, improve or relocate their facilities often have a way of dramatically improving more than bricks and mortar. The Bush staff realized that good facilities are critical to strengthening organizations and enabling them to better serve their communities.
 
In addition, the Foundation recognized that capital projects can be time consuming and have long-term impacts, affecting an organization’s culture, programming capacity and financial sustainability. For this reason, the Bush Foundation’s capital review process focused not only on aspects of physical design, cost effectiveness and fundraising, but also on plans for operating and maintaining the organization in its new or expanded facilities.
 
Summary of Giving
From 1970 to 2008, the Bush Foundation awarded 990 capital grants, totaling $190.3 million (see full list). Here’s a sampling of organizations that received one or more capital grants:

	ARTS
		Fergus Falls Center for the Arts (Fergus Falls, Minnesota) – 1 grant in 1995 totaling approximately $98,500
		Minnesota Children’s Museum (St. Paul Minnesota) - 2 grants from 1985-2003 totaling approximately $3.65 million
		Minnesota Public Radio (St. Paul, Minnesota) – 6 grants from 1979-2003 totaling approximately $2.42 million
		North House Folk School (Grand Marais, Minnesota) – 1 grant in 2008 totaling approximately $55,000
		Prairie Public Broadcasting (Fargo, North Dakota) - 2 grants in 1980-1998 totaling approximately $427,000
		Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 1 grant in 1985 totaling approximately $300,000

	EDUCATION
		Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) – 5 grants from 1970-2004 totaling approximately $2.13 million
		Dakota Wesleyan University (Mitchell, South Dakota ) – 3 grants from 1985-2004 totaling approximately $885,000
		Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 4 grants from 1978-2007 totaling approximately $1.5 million
		Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota) – 4 grants from 1982-1998 totaling approximately $3.9 million

	HUMAN SERVICES AND HEALTH
		Accessible Space (St. Paul, Minnesota) – 4 grants from 1993-2003 totaling approximately $420,000
		Boys and Girls Clubs in Minnesota (Twin Cities, Bemidji, St. Cloud, Detroit Lakes, Red Lake, and Elk River) and South Dakota (Aberdeen, Brookings, Pierre, Rapid City and Watertown) – 22 grants from 1976-2007 totaling approximately $3.2 million
		Bridge for Runaway Youth (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 5 grants from 1987-2006 totaling approximately $582,000
		Cheyenne River Youth Project (Eagle Butte, South Dakota) – 2 grants from 1998-2004 totaling approximately $440,000
		Children’s Home Society of South Dakota (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) – 6 grants from 1983-2001 totaling approximately $589,000
		Dakota Boy’s Ranch Association (Minot, North Dakota) – 6 grants from 1976-1998 totaling approximately $487,000
		Minnesota Indian Primary Residential Treatment Center (Sawyer, Minnesota) – 5 grants from 1987-2005 totaling approximately $356,000
		People Serving People (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – 2 grants from 1991-2000 totaling approximately $1.02 million
		Prairie Learning Center (Raleigh, North Dakota) – 6 grants from 1994-2007 totaling approximately $580,000
		Youth and Family Services (Rapid City, South Dakota)- 2 grants in 1979-2002 totaling approximately $825,000

Throughout its history, the Foundation’s emphasis was on major projects that were part of comprehensive capital campaigns, as opposed to incremental renovations, like roof replacements or ongoing maintenance. Capital grants were also part of the Foundation’s guideline programs in higher education and the arts.

Learn More....
     Lessons Learned
     Grants Overview and List
   

Related Reports
 
Building Stronger Organizations: The Impact of Capital Projects – Lessons for Human Services Agencies and Their Funders, Susan Showalter and Vicki Itzkowitz, 2002

Return to Bush Legacy Home Page