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Goals for a Decade: Letter from the President
Dear Friends,
In 2006, our Board of Directors began looking carefully at the past and future of the Bush Foundation. We looked back with pride at the breadth and responsiveness of our work. During the past decade, the Foundation has funded more than 900 organizations in fields ranging from domestic violence to faculty development, from ecological health to supportive housing and from cultural expression to programs for immigrants and refugees. During this time, we have also named more than 500 Bush fellows in arts, leadership and medicine. We are proud of the organizations and individuals we have been able to support and the work they have accomplished.
As we looked to the future, we concluded that we needed to focus our energies in order to have even greater impact. Last year, we embraced a new strategic vision:
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“To be a catalyst to shape vibrant communities in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. We will invest in courageous and effective leadership that significantly strengthens and improves the well-being of people in these three states.” |
We also affirmed our guiding principles of leadership, learning and impact. In everything we do we want to foster leadership, continually build on the knowledge we gain and choose activities that have a high potential to make a significant impact.
Paul Ylvisaker, a leader in philanthropy and a mentor to many, including me, characterized foundations as society’s “passing gear” – organizations uniquely situated to challenge and support communities, to be catalysts and, in doing so, to strengthen and improve the well-being of the people in those communities. As an independent foundation we believe we are uniquely positioned for this catalytic role.
During the past six months, we asked ourselves repeatedly, “What difference do we want to make?” In response, we have chosen three ambitious goals that we intend to pursue for at least the next decade. We realize that we cannot reach these goals on our own. While we know where we want to concentrate our efforts, we readily admit that we don’t have all the answers. We will be looking for partners across organizations, sectors, communities, the region and even the nation, with whom we can join in searching for the means to achieve these goals.
Goals for a decade: Courageous Leaders ~ Vibrant Communities
The Bush Foundation will seek partners and pursue strategies to:
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Develop Courageous Leaders and Engage Entire Communities in Solving Problems – with a goal that by 2018, 75% of people in all demographic groups in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota say their community is effective at solving problems and improving their quality of life.
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Support the Self-Determination of Native Nations – with a goal that by 2018, all 23 Native nations in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota are exercising self-determination and actively rebuilding the infrastructure of nationhood.
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Increase Educational Achievement – with a goal that by 2018 the percentage of students in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, from pre-kindergarten through college who are on track to earn a degree after high school, increases by 50% and disparities among diverse student groups are eliminated. |
These are big goals. They’re challenging. And we know we can’t achieve them alone. We will look for partners who can help show us the way. We plan to pursue a more active, strategic approach for the use of our resources. We will learn as we go. While we may occasionally stumble, we will learn from our mistakes as we move forward. We will also be accountable, transparent about our goals and upfront about our progress every step of the way.
A period of transition
In many cases, achieving these goals means we will be engaging new partners. It also means we will not be funding work that does not align with our goals. To help grantees through this transition, we have set aside funds for transition grants for specific organizations with whom we have had long and deep relationships. The organizations invited to apply for these transition grants will receive separate information directly from us. For the remainder of 2008, we will focus our resources on transitioning to the new strategy. As a result, we will not be accepting any new letters of inquiry or grant proposals for the rest of the year.
Looking ahead
While we have set a new direction, this is just the first step. As we build on the achievements, lessons and courage of those who came before us, we are committed to working collaboratively to achieve these goals. We invite your ideas, suggestions and feedback. We look forward to your partnership. Most of all, we thank you – for your past and future support as we embark on this journey.
Sincerely,
Peter C. Hutchinson
President
To learn more, refer to …
Letter from the President
Changes to current programs: What you can expect
Transition period
Frequently asked questions
If you have a specific question, email us at newdirection@bushfoundation.org.
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