News

The Bush Fellowship is unique because it’s not about projects, it’s about people. It’s an investment in accomplished leaders with extraordinary track records who are ready to leap forward in their leadership. We’re offering three insights to help you think about designing your Fellowship plan.

Maria Medina (BF'19) reflects on her self-transformation as a Bush Fellow.

As a young college student, I knew one day I would apply for and receive a Bush Fellowship— no matter how many times it would take me to succeed. I admired the Fellows I knew personally, and I loved learning about others I did not know. 

Little did I know of the life-changing difference the application experience alone would have for me, in addition to the Fellowship itself.  

Leadership matters. Leaders shape our communities, institutions, nation and the world. They define culture, take action and make decisions that have long-standing and wide-ranging impact on people and communities.

All of us have a role to play in creating a region where each person can thrive, but the people we choose as leaders, and choose to follow, make a huge difference in our shared direction.

We’re pleased to introduce this year’s Bush Fellows, a group of 24 individuals whose bold vision is shaping communities around our region. They are committed to strengthening their own leadership to creatively solve problems for deep and lasting impact.

We are continuously inspired by the new ideas and creative thinking of leaders working to solve problems in our region. “Leader” conjures up different images for different people. When we talk about leaders, we mean those who activate to make change happen — regardless of their title, age, or where they live. We mean those who are inspiring and supporting others to solve problems and create new opportunities, within and across communities.

We believe that working to close systemic wealth gaps across racial and ethnic communities is one of the most important and highest impact things we can do. 

Back in March 2021, we committed $50 million — as part of our regular grantmaking — to help address wealth gaps that significantly affect racial and ethnic communities. And we thought it would take us 5 years to do it. 

We're celebrating our colleague, Molly Matheson Gruen, as she transitions from her role as program operations director at the Bush Foundation on March 17, 2023. 

We’re excited to announce that the Bush Prize is returning – with a twist! We will be awarding the Bush Prize to organizations identified by our four community grant partners – Good Relatives Collaborative, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, South Dakota Community Foundation and Strengthen ND.

It's hard to believe that we're celebrating 70 years! Rolling back the clock, it was on February 24, 1953, that Archie and Edyth Bush started the Bush Foundation. 

The Partnership Fund was previously known as the President’s Innovation and Partnership Fund. Learn more about its evolution and name change with this Note from Jen.