Who We've Funded

Fargo, ND — Prairie Public Broadcasting is a trusted public service dedicated to building an exciting and productive future for the prairie and its people. Prairie Public offers a window on the world through national and regional television and radio programming; creates a forum for the most important issues facing our region with locally produced, topical programming; partners with others to foster education for all ages; and utilizes digital technology and web services to expand those valued services. Beginning with a single television transmitter in Fargo, Prairie Public Broadcasting has grown to become the premier broadcaster of public television and radio services throughout the prairie region. Through a media sponsorship, we are able to support local news media and reach people throughout the region to make them aware of our program offerings and resources throughout the year.

Minneapolis, MN — Propel Nonprofits is an intermediary and community development financial institution that supports nonprofits primarily in Minnesota. They provide a number of capacity-building services and access to capital. They also serve as fiscal sponsor for organizations that do not yet have 501c3 status. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Minneapolis, MN — Renewable Energy Partners (REP) and Minneapolis Climate Action (MCA) will launch and operate an innovative clean energy training center in North Minneapolis. This first-of-its kind center will test and spread a proven clean energy workforce model and scale a green economy through an integrated model of nonprofit, public sector, and social mission partnerships centered on equitable clean energy benefits for low-income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) residents throughout our region.

Minneapolis, MN — Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood (RISE) provides unique supports for Muslim women leaders through leadership development, capacity building, inspiring storytelling and advocacy. One of their primary programs, Muslim Women in Nonprofit Leadership, is an incubation program that provides training for emerging leaders and helps supply a leadership pipeline for organizations across sectors in Minnesota. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Saint Paul, MN — Sahan Journal works to provide fair, groundbreaking news coverage that illuminates issues affecting Minnesota immigrants and communities of color and to chronicle how these communities are changing and redefining what it means to be a Minnesotan. The nonprofit digital newsroom is dedicated to exceptional journalism and coverage that truly represents the changing face of Minnesota and recognizes that democratic engagement and power belong to everyone. Their stories reach audiences across many platforms, including their website, social media, video, newsletters, and community events. To reach more audiences, they also share their stories with small community papers and the state’s biggest mainstream newsrooms, in print and public radio. Through a media sponsorship, we are able to reach people throughout Minnesota to make them aware of our program offerings and resources throughout the year.

Saint Paul, MN — The Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program will distribute grants to businesses and nonprofit organizations to support economic recovery from the impacts of civil unrest, the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges to commercial corridors in Saint Paul since March 15, 2020.

Saint Paul, MN — Social Enterprise MSP (SE-MSP) works to develop a purpose-driven economy in the Twin Cities. They are an alliance of nonprofits and businesses building networks, providing education, hosting events, and advocating for legislation to support the growth of social purpose businesses. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Pierre, SD — To support the South Dakota Community Foundation to offer matching grants that support nonprofits of all sizes across South Dakota to build endowments that allow for more stable support of nonprofit services over time.

Black Hawk, SD — The South Dakota Education Equity Coalition will develop and test a new model for organizing communities and building partnerships in South Dakota to amplify Indigenous voices and raise up the critical needs of Native students. This 5-year project will include community education and training, network strengthening and capacity building to support change across jurisdictions and at multiple levels. The ultimate aim of this work is to address long-standing education disparities and promote Indigenous self-determination by supporting leaders to advocate for their communities.

Saint Paul, MN — Springboard for the Arts supports artists with tools to make a living and to make a positive difference for communities. They provide business development assistance, create toolkits for artists, support rural arts development efforts, offer fiscal sponsorship and operate leadership programs and fellowships. They have offices in Fergus Falls and Saint Paul. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Duluth, MN — St. Luke’s Hospital of Duluth will develop and test a new model of a subsidized doula program that is integrated into a hospital system that serves a rural population. This model removes barriers to doula care and builds up the doula workforce while targeting BIPOC needs. This six-year project will include program development, implementation, capacity building, and evaluation and learning components. The ultimate aim of this work is to address rural health care disparities and spread a model that elevates the doula profession.

Fort Yates, ND — A three-year program-related investment (PRI) to SAGE Development Authority to support the successful completion of the pre-development process for the Anpetu Wi (Morning Light) wind farm. This will be a 235MW wind farm owned by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to develop energy self-reliance while upholding cultural values, meeting economic goals, and combating climate change.

Anpetu Wi is expected to be the single largest revenue source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. It will be developed on tribal land and aims to fundamentally change the Tribe's relationship with renewable energy to foster sustainability, sovereignty and good stewardship of Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth).

Chicago, IL — Bush Foundation membership dues for Technology Association of Grantmakers for 2024, 2025 and 2026

Minneapolis, MN — The Circle is a monthly, nonprofit newspaper that covers Native American news, arts, sports, and culture and is one of the oldest Native American newspapers in the country. Through a media sponsorship, we are able to reach people throughout Minnesota to make them aware of our program offerings and resources throughout the year.

Bismarck, ND — Consensus Council helps groups in North Dakota with differing opinions craft creative solutions to address community challenges. Using a consensus model of decision-making, they facilitate inclusive conversations around difficult topics, resulting in agreements that empower people, transform communities and advance public good. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Saint Paul, MN — Tiwahe Foundation is a community foundation that works to bridge disparities in opportunities and outcomes in Native American communities. They support individuals and organizations through direct resourcing, culturally grounded leadership development and network weaving. The American Indian Family Empowerment Program (AIFEP) is the centerpiece of their work, which provides direct support to American Indians throughout the Twin Cities metro area through microgrants to individuals. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Boston, MA — Bush Foundation membership dues for Leadership Development Funders Group. Their goal is to advance the potential for nonprofit organizations to have an impact in building movement for progressive social change.

St. Paul, MN — Twin Cities PBS (also known as TPT) is one of the most innovative public media organizations in the country. TPT uses the power of media to advance the arts, spur learning, help young people succeed and help adults age vitally. TPT presents extraordinary PBS programming and also produces award-winning content for the national PBS system. TPT’s programs and productions have been honored with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmys. Through a media sponsorship, we are able to support local news media and reach people throughout Minnesota to make them aware of our program offerings and resources throughout the year.

Tucson, AZ — Native Nations Institute (University of Arizona) is a national organization that is a go-to organization for research on Native nation building and tribal governance. They are a resource for tribes, policymakers and community changemakers through their education programs and research and analysis of governance and development in Native communities. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Minneapolis, MN — The Minnesota Design Center (University of Minnesota, College of Design) is a national leader in design thinking. They work with nonprofits and municipalities to apply design thinking to solve challenges. They support efforts to design or redesign policies and systems, guided by stakeholder input, to better serve community needs. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Dickinson, ND — Vision West ND is a consortium of leaders across many sectors in western North Dakota, focused on economic sustainability for rural communities impacted by the oil industry. The consortium uses a data-driven and knowledge-discovery model to address collective problem solving across issues ranging from childcare, housing, mental health and economic vitality. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Minneapolis, MN — Voices for Racial Justice works to nurture an ecosystem of restorative racial justice movements in Minnesota. They help partners across sectors to better serve Black, Indigenous and people of color communities through effective engagement. They equip people with tools and support to be effective leaders, organizers and culture workers. They support and connect hundreds of alumni from their training programs engaged in racial justice work across the state. Ecosystem grants provide general operating support for organizations that support others to solve problems in their communities.

Minneapolis, MN — Achieve Twin Cities will spread the implementation of student-centered learning practices in high schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools district through their Achievement Centers and collaboration with school staff.

Minneapolis, MN — Continue development of Legal Revolution, an innovative legal education program for individuals that have experienced incarceration to bring their missing and important perspective to the legal field.

Saint Paul, MN — Partnership work in support of data gathering for the 'Who Leads' project.

Saint Paul, MN — 2023 Media Sponsorship to support Ampers, a unique association of 18 independent community radio stations across the state of Minnesota. Each station is independently managed and programmed by the local communities they serve with an emphasis on Black, Indigenous and communities of color.

Fort Yates, ND — A ten-year program-related investment (PRI) to SAGE Development Authority for Anpetu Wi (Morning Light) Wind Farm - a 235MW wind farm owned by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to develop energy self-reliance while upholding cultural values, meeting economic goals, and combating climate change. Anpetu Wi is expected to be the single largest revenue source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Anpetu Wi will be developed on tribal land and aims to fundamentally change the Tribe's relationship with renewable energy to foster sustainability, sovereignty and good stewardship of Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth).

Rapid City, SD — Support for work related to a program-related investment intended to develop and spread a private-public model to support the development of strategic housing.

Sturgis, SD — Technology & Innovation in Education (TIE), which is a division of Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, will spread the implementation of student-centered learning practices in South Dakota through their Learning Pathways program.

Minneapolis, MN — Build Wealth Minnesota (BWM) will scale low-barrier mortgage lending programs to increase Black homeownership by 15% in the Twin Cities. The 9,000 Equities Fund will leverage philanthropic and public investment to transform mortgage lending by providing 9,000 low-barrier mortgage loans to borrowers with low incomes. BWM plans to raise $100 million in capital needed for a permanent revolving mortgage loan fund to achieve its goal over 10 years. Financial coaching and training will prepare a pipeline of homebuyers to receive down payment assistance and an affordable mortgage for sustainable homeownership. Affordable mortgage loans and long-term assistance by BWM will grow equity in their homes and lead to wealth creation by Black families.

Minneapolis, MN — The Tending the Soil Coalition, a sponsored organization of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL), will implement the Rise Up Construction Campaign, a comprehensive approach to shifting power towards workers to decrease exploitative practices, increase access to apprenticeship programs, and create alternative pathways to union membership in the building trades

Saint Paul, MN — CollegeBound St. Paul is the first college savings account program in the nation where every child born in the city is eligible, most are auto-enrolled, and all participants receives a $50 seed deposit. The program includes “bonuses” for activities such as completing well-child clinic visits and attending financial health programming. Through the program incentive structure, the accounts become a mechanism that can be utilized to support whole families thrive related to a range of issues through increased engagement with city agencies and social support organizations.

Minneapolis, MN — This grant will support the work of Relationships Evolving Possibilities (REP), fiscally sponsored by Family Tree Clinic. REP is developing steps to build community response capacity and preparing vetted resources as an approach to public safety. The two umbrellas of REP are Revolutionary Emergency Partners and Radical Ecosystem Pods. The first element, Revolutionary Emergency Partners, will provide emergency care to community members via a secure hotline. The second element, Radical Ecosystem Pods, will facilitate and build community capacity to respond to crises through trainings and relationship building. This work will fortify neighborhood resources and skills around mental health incidents, situational management, and de-escalation, which will overall minimize the need to reach beyond our own community for crisis support.

Eagle Butte, SD — A grant to Four Bands Community Fund to support the Mountain | Plains Regional Native Community Development Financial Institution Coalition as they work together to build regional clusters of partners that are working towards systems change addressing the racial wealth gap in Native communities.

Sioux Falls, SD — 2023 Media Sponsorship to support South Dakota Public Broadcasting, a multimedia network of TV, radio, print and digital media that reaches 98% of South Dakotans.

Saint Paul, MN — Communities in North Dakota and South Dakota will implement a gender equity model with an emphasis on trans inclusion in partnership with individuals and systems. This model will be an adaptation of Gender Justice’s powerful model in Minnesota that combines impact litigation, public education, and narrative change in ways that are locally-owned and driven.

Edina, MN — For GiveMN general operating support and for additional prize grants for spring giving days as well as Give to the Max Day 2022 and 2023.

Washington, DC — Sponsorship of Grantmakers for Effective Organization's 2022 National Learning Conference.

Fargo, ND — 2022 and 2023 Giving Hearts Day prizes and incentives as well as operating support.

Washington, DC — Sponsorship of the Upswell Summit 2022.

Little Canada, MN — Support for tribal sovereignty and Native nation rebuilding in the region.

Rapid City, SD — Institute of Indigenous American Legacy (aka I.Am.Legacy) an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3)] and Pennington County will be working closely to utilize the idea of the warm hand-off referral process to reduce racial disparities of Indigenous persons in Pennington County criminal justice system. I.Am.Legacy's will scale up capacity to provide programmatic services. Pennington County will solidify the referral process with departments of the county and support replication with non-county entities to allow more community members to accesses culturally specific services.

The model would demonstrate that individuals with lived experiences are well suited to be part of a systemic approach to reduce recidivism that has been tested and hopes to be expanded.

Saint Anthony, MN — The Land Bank Twin Cities will spread the practice of community organizations taking site control of real estate for community-driven affordable housing and small business development. Acquired properties were at risk of speculative investment and are held until a community organization can engage in community-driven visioning and planning while increasing its capacity for ownership. Site control is a proven practice for creating wealth when properties are transferred to local ownership and providing a pipeline of creditworthy owners in BIPOC communities.

Porcupine, SD — Makoce Agriculture Development is developing a new and comprehensive model for a sustainable local food system that will support good health and create new economic opportunities on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This 5-year project will include community education and training, network strengthening and securing access to and building on tribal land to create community food centers. This will be done through five initiatives that will work across sectors and in partnership with one another to build an interconnected regenerative local food system. The ultimate aim of this work is to advance tribal sovereignty in the region by supporting tribal leaders and communities to build their own systems for wellness and modes of self-determination.

Winchester, MA — Mastery Transcript Consortium will expand its 7-member cohort to 12-25 school districts across North Dakota to expand competency-based learning and test and spread the use of the Mastery Transcript™. This is a key part of the North Dakota strategy to transform education to be student-centered and ensure every student gets the support they need to be choice-ready and document their learning.

Minneapolis, MN — Funding the Groundbreak Coalition to define a new paradigm for community development finance that addresses deeper issues of systemic racism; rights historical wrongs; closes racial gaps in income and wealth; and boldly meets the climate moment.

Minneapolis, MN — To support equitable distribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act and Minnesota state budget surplus funds through a Minnesota Council on Foundations pooled fund.

Minneapolis, MN — 2023 Media Sponsorship to support MinnPost, a community-supported news enterprise exploring the critical and challenging issues facing Minnesota to increase accountability of government and public institutions, foster civic engagement and conversations, and illuminate the human lives affected by decision-making.

Minot, ND — Three partner institutions (Minot State University, Dakota College at Bottineau, and Certification Central) will develop a new coordinated model of special education teacher preparation pathways. The effort will focus on addressing the special education teacher shortages in the most rural parts of North Dakota. If successful, the approach could be applied to address other rural teaching shortages.

Brooklyn Park, MN — MN Zej Zog will spread the implementation of student-centered learning practices in Minnesota through building and supporting their network of Hmong educators.

Washington, DC — Modern Classrooms will spread the implementation of student-centered learning practices in Minnesota through training and support to individual educators.

Albuquerque, NM — NACA Inspired Schools Network will spread the implementation of student-centered learning practices across the Bush Foundation Region through their Fellows program and other professional development support centered in Native American culture, language, and values.

Minneapolis, MN — Southside Harm Reduction Services (SHRS), a sponsored organization of Native American Community Clinic (NACC) will work in partnership in the development of a Community Hub. The Community Hub will open as a drop-in center providing a range of harm reduction strategies for those who use substances, with an emphasis on people who live outside. This hub will lay the groundwork for a space that could transition into an Overdose Prevention Center if or when the community and city are ready.

Washington, DC — This grant supports the Power In Solidarity 2022 gathering.

Minneapolis, MN — This grant will support Native Governance Center (NGC) in building its capacity to develop and embed learning and evaluation across its work in service to its mission. The funds are intended to be flexible in helping NGC grow these practices through a self-determined approach.

Rapid City, SD — NDN Collective is one of two steward organizations selected to design and administer a $100 million Community Trust Fund seeded by the Bush Foundation to address wealth disparities caused by historic racial injustice in our region. NDN’s Collective Abundance Fund will address wealth gaps in Native communities across MN, ND and SD and redefine wealth on Indigenous terms in order to build a life of abundance.

Saint Paul, MN — Communities in Minnesota's Regions 2 & 5 will implement a comprehensive community safety model that is specific to the rural experience. This model will be an adaptation of NP’s work in developing locally led, nonviolent, and non-partisanship peacekeeping and peacemaking infrastructure.

Minneapolis, MN — North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) will support the development and spread of Indigenous foods and cuisine through increased food production, growth and education, and will advance Indigenous economic opportunities through restaurants, consumer products, and agriculture. These efforts will lead to improved health and strengthened cultural connections to land and food among Indigenous peoples.

Bismarck, ND — The North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, a sponsored organization of North Dakota Community Foundation, will develop and test a new model of tourism that creates tour packages specific to and created by Nation Nations in North Dakota. This model combats a history of colonizing narratives and practices within tourism where non-Native entities primarily dominate the narratives and own the sites most frequently encountered within tourism experiences. This five-year project will include product development, implementation and capacity building. The ultimate aim of this work is to educate visitors about Native American heritage and Tribal Nationhood and to create economic opportunities within Native communities.

Duluth, MN — Maada'ookiing, an Indigenous designed and led effort to increase investment in Indigenous communities across northeast Minnesota.

Pine Ridge, SD — This grant supports the development and launch of the Oglala Lakota Structural Fire Department, which will be the first community-led structural fire department to serve the Pine Ridge Reservation. In addition to bringing firefighting services to life, the Fire Department will collaborate across Pine Ridge to develop better-coordinated emergency services and to deliver fire prevention education.

Minneapolis, MN — 2023 Media Sponsorship for Pillsbury United Communities to support Minneapolis Documenters, a new community-driven initiative to remove barriers to civic participation by increasing equitable access to and participation in local government meetings, resulting in a community-owned public record.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — 2023 Media Sponsorship to support Pollen Midwest’s unique approach to storytelling that is centered on narrative change that fosters empathy, grows connections and inspires meaningful action that changes the collective story for the better.

San Francisco, CA — To continue as a Foundation Partner in the network of organizations working on leadership development and racial equity.

Rapid City, SD — 2022 and 2023 South Dakota Day of Giving - prize grants and program support.

Walnut, CA — Sex Workers Outreach Project will help working dancers utilize the Adult Entertainment Ordinance to create a guild that protects their labor on their own terms, as well as build Minnesota chapter staff capacity and leadership.

Saint Paul, MN — Shared Capital Cooperative will develop and test a commons-based approach to acquire and steward a network of farms across Minnesota focused on supporting BIPOC farmers. This approach would enable farmers to access affordable land long-term while advancing shared agro-ecological stewardship and supporting strong community ownership. The design process would establish the social and operational systems needed to establish a successful farm enterprise within vibrant communities.

Sioux Falls, SD — A fund that provides a combination of support for leaders of color and skill-building on diversity, equity and inclusion through workplaces and community trainings in an effort to create a community of engaged and empowered leaders within the city’s growing number of diverse populations who are ready to take on cross-sector leadership in the community

North Mankato, MN — The SCL Collective will spread the implementation of student-centered learning practices in Minnesota. The SCL Collective is made-up of Longview Education, Regional Service Cooperatives, and Core Schools, which are best practice student-centered learning schools and districts (namely New Century School, Spring Grove Public Schools, Thrive Ed/Hopkins Public Schools, and Fairmont Public Schools.) They will coach and support schools and districts in implementing more culturally responsive student-centered learning practices.

Hutchinson, MN — Southwest Initiative Foundation will manage the Archibald Bush Legacy Fund, an endowed fund to make post-secondary education accessible for high school students in Yellow Medicine East (YME) school district in Granite Falls, Minnesota. As administrator of the fund, SMPF will partner with a scholarship provider to award scholarships and other services to YME students seeking to pursue higher education opportunities, with an emphasis on students from underrepresented communities. The Archibald Bush Legacy Fund expands the Foundation's long-term commitment established by Archie Bush to education and the cities of St, Paul and Granite Falls, MN.

Sioux Falls, SD — The Compass Center will scale the Little Navigators Empowerment Program, growing the number of students, locations and staff. The program builds a network of support within childcare centers to promote healthy social development and prevent child abuse for young children who have experienced trauma.

Porcupine, SD — Thunder Valley CDC will spread the implementation of student-centered learning practices in the Bush Foundation region, especially on Pine Ridge reservation, through their Lakota language and culture immersion programs.

Saint Paul, MN — Honoring Archibald Bush’s legacy through scholarships in Granite Falls and St. Paul

Duluth, MN — 2023 Media Sponsorship to support Duluth-Superior Area Educational Television Corporation (WDSE/WRPT), which has served as the region’s storytellers and story preservers since 1964, through its education programming, such as the award-winning Native Report.

Minneapolis — Provide support to the Liberian community as the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness act expires

Brooklyn Park, MN — This grant builds on a previous Community Innovation Grant aimed at elevating the profile of microbusinesses, accessing data on needs and practices, and creating a pipeline to resources and funding. This important work is developing and testing an idea that has the potential to transform the ecosystem of support for microbusinesses that have not received adequate visibility or resources to date. ACER will uplift those unmet needs and work to improve the ability of public agencies to provide rapid response to microbusinesses impacted by crises.

Saint Paul, MN — Supporting the development of an African immigrant leadership coalition in Minnesota

Callaway, MN — Intertribal hemp cooperative development and demonstration project

Eagle Butte, SD — To test and support Akiptan's agriculture-lending model for Native American farmers and ranchers

Minneapolis, MN — This grant builds on a previous Community Innovation Grant to surface innovative strategies that prevent gentrification and displacement. With this work, the Alliance and its partners hope to use the critical momentum around eviction prevention to explore and establish sustainable wins for renters in Minnesota that will provide benefit long after the temporary eviction moratorium ends.

Minneapolis, MN — #NativeRise is a power-building event for Minnesota's urban Indian community with the goal of catalyzing coalition power among Native community members to advance policy that benefits the community, and to introduce philanthropists, business leaders, and legislators to challenges that impact Minnesota's urban Indian population

2021 Unity Summit Sponsorship

New York, NY — Bush Foundation annual membership dues for Association of Black Foundation Executives

Arlington, VA — The Aurora Institute Symposium 2021 will provide education leaders with the knowledge and tools to advance student-centered, personalized, competency-based learning in their communities. It aims to spotlight research on innovative practices, strengthen connections across the field, and provide a forum for policymakers to work together toward stronger education ecosystems