The Bush Foundation

09/04/2026

We're excited for Jen to be part of this year's SoCal Grantmakers 2026 Annual Conference on Sep. 16! She'll be joining her friends, Dr. Akilah Watkins and Alicia Procello to talk about "Renewing Our Commitments Through Partnership and Trust."

And special thanks to the SoCal folks for handing out copies of "Please Be Good at Philanthropy" to conference attendees!

Learn more about the conference line up:

The philanthropic and nonprofit sectors are at a critical juncture. Cuts to federal funding and services have widened inequities and weakened the nonprofit sector’s ability to respond to increasing community needs. Ongoing mischaracterizations of civil society’s work have been used to erode publ...

09/04/2026

If you've got a creative solution for your community in North Dakota, be sure to check out Strengthen ND's Creative Community Solutions opportunity. Applications are open now through September 30. Strengthen ND is one of our community grant partners who helps us support and invest in great ideas throughout the region. Read more about the program and how to apply below!

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵!

Creative Community Solutions is designed for North Dakota communities and organizations working to solve real problems in new and innovative ways. This grant program invests in ideas that have the potential to be developed, tested, and spread across communities. We want to hear about the problem you are working to solve, the solution you are developing, and how your idea could create opportunity and make North Dakota better for everyone.

Learn more and explore the application process:
https://strengthennd.com/creative-community-solutions/

09/04/2026

Rea is leading with her personal and professional experiences to change how others rebuild their lives after they are released from prison.

She is a formerly incarcerated person who is helping people successfully return to their communities after incarceration, while elevating their voices as they rebuild their lives.

Rea's goal is to create a community where people who are released from prison can find support and hope.

Learn more about Rea's work here: bit.ly/4cEh75w We'll be back with more 2026 Bush Fellow intros next week!

09/02/2026

Still on the fence about applying for a 2027 Bush Fellowship? Not quite sure if your idea makes for a strong plan and strong application?

Then join us for a live Q&A. We offer 3 different dates to choose from:
Thursday, September 3, 9-10 a.m. CT — Register: https://bit.ly/4zdxyzB
Tuesday, September 15, 12-1 p.m. CT — Register: https://bit.ly/45Z6RkC
Tuesday, September 22, 12-1 p.m. CT — Register: https://bit.ly/3TK3oUq

To make the most of the Q&A, you'll want to get a basic understanding of the program from our website, then use the Q&A to go a little deeper. You'll be able to get answers to your questions and hear what others are asking, too. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3U61JbU

We do record one of the sessions, so if you can't make any of the dates, you'll be able to watch it later from our website. And save the date: 2027 Bush Fellowship applications officially open Sep. 22 and close Oct. 6.

08/31/2026

Are you someone who gets things done and has a big idea for how you might use a 2027 Bush Fellowship? If so, let us be a sounding board!

Schedule a 1:1 call with our grantmaking staff. It's a great way to test your idea and get some feedback so you can decide if you're ready to apply. Schedule a call: https://bit.ly/4xCQXbB

You'll get the most out of the call if you come with an idea and some basic understanding of the Bush Fellowship program. Learn more:

We look forward to hearing from you! And save the date: 2027 Bush Fellowship applications officially open Sep. 22 and close Oct. 6.

📷 Photos from this year's Bush Fellows retreat.

08/27/2026

Thanks to Vanessa Wakeman at The Social Change Diaries podcast for inviting Jen Ford Reedy to talk about "Please Be Good at Philanthropy". It was a great conversation, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to share!

Take a listen: https://bit.ly/4zi1D0S

Want to dive deeper into these ideas?

"Please Be Good at Philanthropy," is available now! And if you live in our grantmaking region (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share this geography), you can request a copy for FREE.

Get your copy here: https://bit.ly/4wxSVZP

08/26/2026

Are you a leader with a track record for making things happen in your community? Then you'll want to know that the 2027 Bush Fellowship info is now available on our website. We encourage window shopping! It's a great way to see if a Bush Fellowship is a fit.

On our website, you can find out if you are eligible, what we're looking for in a Fellow, what it takes to apply, what questions we ask in the application, what ideas make for a strong submission, who the 2026 Fellows are - and so much more!

Get started today: https://bit.ly/3U61JbU

And save the date: 2027 Bush Fellowship applications officially open Sep. 22 and close Oct. 6.

08/25/2026

Join us in celebrating Michael Jackson, a tech entrepreneur from Farmington, Minnesota, who is opening doors for people across our region!

Michael is expanding access to innovation, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity for more Minnesotans. He wants to position Minnesota as a hub for inclusive innovation.

Read more about Michael's plans for his Fellowship, and check back later this week for another 2026 Bush Fellow intro: https://bit.ly/4fTJr5W

08/21/2026

There are lots of BIG ideas and creative problem solving happening in South Dakota!

One great example is the work of Team Buche Cares and their Mobile Hunger Hero food truck - which takes the popular food truck concept and turns it into a mobile pantry to bring affordable food to Tribal communities across South Dakota.

It's a cool concept that's working and growing, and they received a Beyond Idea Grant (BIG) from South Dakota Community Foundation earlier this year to spread the idea and the story behind it with more people.

Read more about their inspiring work: https://bit.ly/3ROBqpT

And congrats to all the BIG recipients (see the full list: https://bit.ly/3RJv6QB)! It's a delight to continue our partnership with South Dakota Community Foundation and provide this opportunity in South Dakota!

Mobile Hunger Hero, a food truck that delivers meals to remote locations, is increasing available meals to tribal communities across South Dakota.

08/20/2026

José is a connector — of people and places — who is working to build communities that work better for everyone.

José Antonio Zayas Cabán, DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts), uses cultural storytelling, grassroots organizing and policy change to repair communities harmed by disinvestment and the side effects of infrastructure choices, such as highways that divide communities. His vision is to become a national movement strategist who can help repair and reconnect neighborhoods affected by past infrastructure decisions, while reframing public infrastructure as a tool for cultural and economic healing.

Learn more about him: https://bit.ly/456K7it

Check back next week for more 2026 Bush Fellow intros!