Ecosystem grants

We support the organizations that support problem solvers throughout our region.

Photography by Bruce Silcox

We know we can directly fund only a small fraction of the great work happening throughout our region. We want to be more broadly helpful by supporting organizations that others feel are most helpful to them.

Ecosystem grants help us do just that. Through this program, we offer flexible funding to organizations that help other people and organizations do creative problem solving in the region.

What’s more is that we hear from other people throughout the region who tell us that these are the organizations that are valuable to them in their work.

We provide multi-year support, so applications open every 3 years for this program. Our next open grant round will be in 2026.

We select Ecosystem grantees then promote their offerings—which you can find throughout our website!

What we fund

We are looking for organizations that other people rely on to do one or more of the following:

  • Provide critical data and analysis
  • Advance public awareness and policy
  • Spread great ideas and build capacity
  • Build and support leadership networks

We are seeking organizations that either work across a variety of issues or on one of 3 specific approaches:

  • Supporting the sovereignty of Native nations
  • Spreading student-centered learning, or
  • Using art to solve community problems

Organizations receive a maximum of $450,000 over 3 years in operating support. Annually, that is up to $150,000 (limited to 25% of an organization’s annual expenses).

We also provide an additional $10,000 to help organizations build or increase their skills to work across differences.

Ecosystem grants through the years

We provided grants to 38 organizations through this program in 2023.

We share occasional news and stories about Ecosystem grants we’ve made. We also regularly promote the many offerings of Ecosystem grantees. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to find all the latest offerings.

See how Ecosystem orgs can help you

People tell us that they value what these organizations have to offer. We think you’ll find them helpful, too!

Everything you need to know to apply

Applications open in 2026.

  • Organizations that are based in or support efforts in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.
  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government entities, including schools; OR coalitions or collaboratives (only one organization may receive the grant); OR organizations working with a fiscal sponsor that has 501(c)(3) status; OR in very rare exceptions, other types of organizations.

Please contact us to discuss your situation if there is some reason that you do not meet the above eligibility requirements.

If you become a finalist in the grant selection process, we will learn more about your fiscal sponsor and ask for a fiscal sponsorship agreement.

We encourage you to review all the application information provided in this section.

We use an online form application and can work with you if that option doesn’t meet your needs. Just let us know as soon as you can at staff@bushfoundation.org.

When using the online form, we recommend Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox as your web browser.

If you are applying with a fiscal sponsorship agreement, the fiscal sponsor is the applicant organization, and the group they are supporting should be listed as the fiscally sponsored organization in the online form.

We provide the application questions and criteria we use to select Ecosystem grantees for your reference.

This is based on the 2023 process for your reference and may change in the next application round.
 
Here’s what you can expect as you move through the process (based on past timelines):

  • We review applications in April and May.
  • We let you know if you are moving forward or not in late May.
  • We schedule phone calls with finalists in June to gather more information about your organization, how it fits with this program and any financial materials needed.
  • We conduct due diligence and reference calls for finalists in June and July to understand how your work is valued by others.
  • We share decisions in early August.

As part of our due diligence, we ask for some financial information to understand the health and capacity of your organization so that we can better support you. Financial health is only one of many factors we consider. Mostly, we want to encourage an open conversation about any financial challenges or struggles you are facing so that we can be a resource to you.
 
Examples of the financial materials we might request include audits, IRS Form 990s or internal financial statements.

One of the primary reasons our Ecosystem grantees were selected is because others have told us that they are critical to supporting organizations and leaders in our region. When Ecosystem organizations see an extraordinary opportunity to support problem solvers in the region, we are open to providing additional funding in support of that opportunity.
 
What would an extraordinary opportunity look like?

  • It is an unusual—likely one-time—activity. It is not part of the organization’s regular strategy and operations.
  • It would significantly inspire and support creative problem solving that makes the region better for everyone – in ways that are consistent with the purpose of the Ecosystem grant program.
  • Problem solvers in the region say they need or value it.
  • It would have broad reach in our region—with lots of leaders and organizations benefiting from it.

We are picturing things like events, research, or other activities intended to inspire, equip and connect people to address challenges within and across communities. We know unexpected things come up every year. This potential additional funding is for truly unusual situations, where our support can help the organization do something extraordinarily useful for the region.
 
To apply, current Ecosystem grantees should reach out to their primary support staff if they would like us to consider funding an extraordinary opportunity.

Jargon is tricky. The words themselves aren’t necessarily bad. The problem is when we assume that we all interpret them the same way. Sometimes, jargon can be useful and familiar.

When we use jargon, we provide the context and definition for what we mean.

Working with us as a grantee

We’re so excited to support your work along the way! Our intent in working with Ecosystem grantees is to build a supportive and reciprocal relationship.

We’ll also stay in touch along the way and hope you will, too. We promote the resources you offer on our website and any timely offerings through our social media channels. We keep an eye out for them but if you think we’re missing anything, let us know!