The Bush Foundation
The Bush Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1953 by Archibald and Edyth Bush, it invests in ideas and people in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share that geography.
The Bush Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bush Foundation gave $53.7M across 148 grants in 2024 (avg $363K), mostly in Minnesota. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $53,713,449
- -40.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 148
- +7.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $362,929
- -44.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $1,451,128,753
- +3.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (19 of 113, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (69% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Bush Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Application processes, materials, and award restrictions vary by program. For Community Innovation, the foundation encourages applicants to discuss their idea with it before applying.
- Review Cycle
- Varies by program. Community Innovation applications are accepted at any time; deadlines for other opportunities depend on the program and its partners.
- Deadline
- Varies by program.
- Contact
Mailing address: 428 Minnesota Street Suite 400, St Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 227-0891
Website: https://bushfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
13 open opportunities from The Bush Foundation
Bush Fellowship Grant
The Bush Foundation
Amount
Up to US $150,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Bush Prize: Minnesota
The Bush Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Bush Prize: Native Nations Grant
The Bush Foundation
Amount
Up to US $250,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Bush Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Exodus Financial Services ($4.2M). Together the top 10 received $24.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($3,006,946), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
982 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 365 grants of 982 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography as its region of focus. In 2024, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 12% to South Dakota, 9% to Washington, D.C., and 7% to North Dakota; 1% went to Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 148 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Bush Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 113 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.1M; repeat grants $326K. How we count
Medians: $719K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $35.8M (2020) to $100.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 148 grants totaling $53.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus Financial Services St. Paul, MN | To spread an innovative lending model to provide an upstream alternative to predatory loans with pathways to financial success | $4,200,000 |
| Bureau of Indian Affairs Washington, DC | To support work to establish an oral history collection | $3,150,000 |
| Owamniyomni Okhodayapi Minneapolis, MN | To develop a new model of land reclamation with multi-tribal nation control | $2,625,000 |
| Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi Saint Paul, MN | To develop and test a new model of indigenous urban land stewardship through nonprofit and municipal government co-management | $2,482,095 |
| Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio Inc Saint Paul, MN | Develop and test a new model of shared space and accessible training for childcare businesses to increase the number of licensed latina providers | $1,700,000 |
| Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation Saint Paul, MN | To operate two grant programs with the purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving across Minnesota and the native nations that share that geography. | $1,600,000 |
| South Dakota Community Foundation Pierre, SD | To operate two grant programs with the purpose of inspiring and supporting creative problem-solving across South Dakota and the native nations that share that geography. | $1,600,000 |
| Northcountry Cooperative Foundation St. Paul, MN | Northcountry cooperative foundation will scale an innovative financing model to support cooperative resident ownership of affordable manufactured housing communities | $1,410,000 |
| Build Wealth MN Inc Minneapolis, MN | Support for work related to a program-related investment intended to scale an innovative mortgage lending program to support black homeownership in the twin cities | $1,375,000 |
| Minneapolis Foundation Minneapolis, MN | To test a special-purpose credit program that is backed by a loan guarantee to increase access to capital for black wealth builders and shift bank underwriting and lending standards | $1,350,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Bush Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,451,128,753 | $58,904,289 | $88,793,329 | $53,713,449 | 148 | $76,643,501 | $112,776,917 | $66,814,514 |
| 2023 | $1,399,508,111 | $43,880,423 | $102,810,614 | $90,417,980 | 138 | $103,590,753 | $125,596,792 | $64,204,795 |
| 2022 | $1,371,910,758 | $111,555,530 | $156,104,669 | $100,742,254 | 163 | $117,352,696 | $90,231,508 | $71,330,697 |
| 2021 | $1,812,229,088 | $192,250,269 | $69,107,767 | $54,708,916 | 213 | $70,926,382 | $174,990,003 | $74,404,166 |
| 2020 | $1,619,077,828 | $100,391,043 | $52,861,473 | $35,813,968 | 320 | — | $98,175,121 | $52,901,352 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bush Foundation reported a distributable amount of $66.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s purpose is to inspire and support creative problem-solving, within and across sectors, to make its region better for everyone. Its website says it considers ideas on any issue that aligns with this purpose and its values, and supports efforts to develop, test, and spread ideas and to equip and connect leaders.
Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizational work. For example, Exodus Financial Services describes its mission as advancing economic justice through consumer lending, community organizing, and advocacy. Owamniyomni Okhodayaapi describes itself as a Dakota-led nonprofit working to strengthen Dakota culture and transform land at Owamniyomni into a place of restoration, education, healing, and connection. Build Wealth MN says it works to help underserved communities achieve social and economic wealth through community, economic, and housing development. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 148 grants totaling $53,713,449. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $4,200,000, with a median of $150,000.
Among its largest 2024 awards were $4,200,000 to Exodus Financial Services for an innovative lending model as an alternative to predatory loans; $3,150,000 to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to support an oral history collection; $2,625,000 to Owamniyomni Okhodayaapi for a model of land reclamation with multi-tribal nation control; and $2,482,095 to Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi to develop and test Indigenous urban land stewardship through nonprofit and municipal co-management. Other large grants included $1,700,000 to Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio for shared space and accessible training for childcare businesses, and $1,410,000 to Northcountry Cooperative Foundation to scale financing for cooperative resident ownership of affordable manufactured housing communities.
The foundation’s Community Innovation grants and program-related investments accept applications year-round. The foundation encourages prospective applicants to connect with it before applying. Its stated eligibility includes qualifying nonprofits, government entities, coalitions or collaboratives, and organizations with a fiscal sponsor; it also invites organizations with unusual eligibility circumstances to discuss them. The foundation says it considers plans for transformative impact, feasibility, inclusive collaboration, leadership capacity, learning, and fit with its other investments. Other programs may be operated with community grant partners, and application details vary by program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jennifer Reedy as president and Tharangi Cumaranatunge as finance director and treasurer. Deanna Cummings is listed as chair and director. Other directors listed are Morotoluwa Adebiyi, Jodi Archambault, Paul Batcheller, Mary Brainerd, Armando Camacho, Kevin Goodno, and Mary Grove.
The Bush Foundation is led by Jennifer Reedy, President on every filing since 2020; all 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jennifer Reedy
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$494K (2020) → $606K (2024)
Deanna Cummings
Chair & Director
Director → Chair & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $24K (2024)
Armando Camacho
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Jodi Archambault
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Kevin Goodno
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Mary Brainerd
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Morotoluwa Adebiyi
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Paul Batcheller
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Tracy Zephier
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Mary Grove
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2024)
Mathew Kilian
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2024)
Alan Solano
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$20K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Cynthia Lindquist
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$20K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Malini Srivastava
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$20K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Tharangi Cumaranatunge
Finance Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$211K (2023) → $227K (2024)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Anthony Heredia (2020–2023) — Chair & Director
- Former: Gregory Keane (2020–2023) — CFO · Filing note: Retired
- Former: Kathy Annette (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Pamela Moret (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Curtis Johnson (2020) — Director
- Former: Eric J. Jolly (2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Alstad (2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Solberg (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $606K, to Jennifer Reedy (President). 15 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Bush Foundation
How much does The Bush Foundation give each year?
The Bush Foundation gave $53.7M across 148 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $90.4M across 138 grants.
What is The Bush Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bush Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $150,000, and its average grant was $362,929, across 148 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Bush Foundation that year got $1.1M on average.
Where does The Bush Foundation give grants?
The Bush Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Dakota (12%) and District of Columbia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (35 grants), Minneapolis, MN (34 grants), Washington, DC (12 grants) and Fargo, ND (7 grants).
Does The Bush Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 27% of The Bush Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 148) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Bush Fellowship Program" (4 grants).
Who are The Bush Foundation's largest grantees?
The Bush Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Exodus Financial Services ($4,200,000), Bureau of Indian Affairs ($3,150,000) and Owamniyomni Okhodayapi ($2,625,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($3,006,946), which are not listed by name. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Bush Foundation?
The Bush Foundation reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $76.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Bush Foundation fund?
The foundation’s purpose is to inspire and support creative problem-solving, within and across sectors, to make its region better for everyone. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bush Foundation?
Application processes, materials, and award restrictions vary by program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Bush Foundation's EIN?
The Bush Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6017815. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bush Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bush Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bush-foundation-morg_e9640e39f5d7472782bcbe7dbd0511b0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416017815_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bush Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bush-foundation-morg_e9640e39f5d7472782bcbe7dbd0511b0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Bush Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Bush Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?