The Bush Fellowship program eligibility requirements and selection criteria are listed below. 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants to the Bush Fellowship Program:

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Must be at least 24 years old at the time of the application deadline.
• Must have lived for one continuous year immediately prior to the application deadline in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or one of the 23 sovereign nations that shares the same geographic area with these states.
• Cannot have previously received a Bush Artist Fellowship, Bush Leadership Fellowship, Bush Medical Fellowship or Enduring Vision Award.

Selection Criteria

The selection committee will look for:

• A clear connection to and understanding of the identified community (who makes up the community; its history; strengths, weaknesses and potential).
• A realistic and deep understanding of the problem that is affecting the community and its impact.
• Compelling reason(s) for pursuing the fellowship, an ambitious and realistic learning plan for it, the ability to carry it out in a timely manner, and the belief that the time is right to pursue it.
• An understanding of the key individuals/groups who need to be involved in finding solutions to the problem and why.
• Appropriate and realistic strategies for mobilizing people from all sides of the problem to find solutions to it.
• A realistic understanding of the conflict that is likely to arise from the work of mobilizing others to find solutions to the problem; where it might come from and possible ways of dealing with it.

In addition, selection committee members will consider:

• An applicant's personal qualities and potential for leadership growth,
• The scale of the potential impact the applicant hopes to have on the identified community.