Bush Foundation

Our interest in building a participant-led learning cohort is anchored in our belief that organizations in this region have a lot of expertise and knowledge, including what they need to improve their work and strengthen their organizations. We have also heard from people—particularly people of color, Indigenous people and people working in rural communities and smaller cities—that they feel isolated and want to connect with and learn from others doing similar work.

To help build the participant-led learning cohort, we will host annual in-person gatherings designed to provide inspiration, build relationships and offer opportunities for peer learning. Organizations will be expected to have two representatives (staff, board members or other volunteers) participate in these in-person gatherings. The first gathering will be November 2018, in the Twin Cities. Travel support, separate from the grant amount, will be provided for these representatives.

Participants will identify and design learning activities to improve their work and strengthen their organizations throughout the three-year program. This may include organizing or participating in a training on specific issues, convening local gatherings for peer learning, building a one-to-one coaching or mentoring relationship, conducting learning tours, or attending conferences. We will provide a pool of resources separate from the grant amount, to support these participant-driven learning activities.

We will provide general operating grants of up to $100,000 over three years to allow organizations to be participant-leaders in this learning cohort and to support their on-going efforts to integrate art and culture into problem solving in their communities.

Participants will be asked to generously share with other participating organizations, the Foundation and the broader field. This sharing is necessary to enable peer learning. We also hope to gather information and ideas that can be shared with other organizations seeking to make art central to problem solving.

Participants will also be asked to fully engage in our evaluation efforts for this program.

We will choose organizations that:

1. Demonstrate a commitment to making art and culture central to problem solving in their communities.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to learning; are self-aware and reflective, learning from both successes and mistakes; share what has worked and what hasn't, and actively seek out learning from others.
3. Are committed to sending two participants to each of the annual convenings—including November 2018, in the Twin Cities—and to be involved, as a leader and a learner, in participant-driven learning activities.

To have a balanced participant-led learning community, we will select organizations based on a number of characteristics including, but not limited to:

• POCI and rural organizations (at least 50% of each).
• Art and culture and non-arts organizations.
• Organizations integrating art into problem solving for years and those just starting.
• Geographic distribution throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.
• Ethnic/racial diversity of populations served.
• Size of organization.
• Size of community served.
• Issue areas.
• Artistic disciplines.

Bush Foundation staff will review and select grantees. During the selection process some applicants may be asked to provide additional information, and references may be contacted.

Organizations will be notified in July 2018.

All selections are based on program eligibility requirements and criteria.