The Bush Foundation is a private foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth. The foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them across a multi-state region. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has made over one billion dollars in grants to thousands of organizations and individuals throughout its history.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$53.7M
-40.6% YoY
Grant Count
148
+7.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$363K
-44.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. The foundation works to inspire and support creative problem solving—within and across sectors—to make the region better for everyone.
Primary funding interests include education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation is possibly open to applications and appears to accept unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$150,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Bush Foundation funds in:
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- 23 Native nations that share the geography of these states
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $1.451 billion
- Total Revenue: $58.9 million
- Total Expenses: $88.8 million
- Total Liabilities: $176 million
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since December 1972 EIN: 41-6017815
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
13 open opportunities from The Bush Foundation
Bush Fellowship Grant
THE BUSH FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $150,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Bush Prize: Minnesota
THE BUSH FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Bush Prize: Native Nations Grant
THE BUSH FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $250,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Exodus Financial Services ($4,200,000), Bureau of Indian Affairs ($3,150,000), Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio Inc ($1,700,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM MINNEAPOLIS, MN | THIS ECOSYSTEM GRANT PROVIDES GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM TO HELP ADVANCE ITS MISSION AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF OTHERS | $150,000 |
| AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION SAINT PAUL, MN | THIS ECOSYSTEM GRANT PROVIDES GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR AMHERST H. WILDER FOUNDATIONS WORK WITH MINNESOTA COMPASS AND THE COMMUNITY EQUITY PROGRAM, TO HELP ADVANCE ITS CHARITABLE MISSION AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF OTHERS | $150,000 |
| ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ | THIS ECOSYSTEM GRANT PROVIDES GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR UNIV OF ARIZONAS NATIVE NATIONS INSTITUTE TO HELP ADVANCE ITS CHARITABLE MISSION AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF OTHERS IN MN, ND, SD AND THE 23 NATIVE NATIONS THAT SHARE THE SAME GEOGRAPHY | $150,000 |
| ARTS SOUTH DAKOTA SIOUX FALLS, SD | THIS ECOSYSTEM GRANT PROVIDES GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ARTS SOUTH DAKOTA TO HELP ADVANCE ITS CHARITABLE MISSION AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF OTHERS | $150,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN-PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN PHILANTHROPY OAKLAND, CA | BUSH FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR ASIAN AMERICAN-PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN PHILANTHROPY FOR 2024, 2025 AND 2026 | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF BLACK FOUNDATION EXECUTIVES INC NEW YORK, NY | BUSH FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF BLACK FOUNDATION EXECUTIVES FOR 2024, 2025 AND 2026 | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL RADIO STATIONS MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | 2024 MEDIA SPONSORSHIP TO SUPPORT AMPERS | $29,000 |
| 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 |
| BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT WORK TO ESTABLISH AN ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION | $3,150,000 |
| BUSH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM - COHORT 20 SAINT PAUL, MN | BUSH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM | $12,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Leadership:
- Jennifer Reedy, President ($606,000 annual compensation)
- Tharangi Cumaranatunge, Finance Director & Treasurer ($227,000 annual compensation)
- Christopher Romano, Chief Operating Officer
Board of Directors:
- Deanna Cummings, Chair/Director
- Morotoluwa Adebiyi, Director
- Jodi Archambault, Director
- Paul Batcheller, Director
- Mary Brainerd, Director
- Armando Camacho, Director
- Kevin Goodno, Director
- Mary Grove, Director
- Mathew Kilian, Director
- Cynthia Lindquist, Director
- Alan Solano, Director
- Malini Srivastava, Director
- Tracy Zephie, Director
The foundation employs 36-49 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER REEDY | PRESIDENT | 40 | $606,060 |
| THARANGI CUMARANATUNGE | FINANCE DIR & TREASURER | 40 | $226,923 |
| DEANNA CUMMINGS | CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 2 | $24,000 |
| MOROTOLUWA ADEBIYI | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| JODI ARCHAMBAULT | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| PAUL BATCHELLER | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| MARY BRAINERD | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| ARMANDO CAMACHO | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| KEVIN GOODNO | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| MARY GROVE | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| MATHEW KILIAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| CYNTHIA LINDQUIST | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| ALAN SOLANO | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| MALINI SRIVASTAVA | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| TRACY ZEPHIER | DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements include:
CoNorth received a $3.4 million award for affordable housing initiatives
CoNorth receives $3.4M award from Bush FoundationMni Sota Fund received a $7 million grant to expand statewide impact on economic self-determination
Mni Sota Fund Receives $7M Dollar Bush Foundation Grant to Expand Statewide\The foundation maintains active grantmaking with recent awards distributed across its priority areas and geographic regions in 2024-2025.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bush Foundation fund?
The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. The foundation works to inspire and support creative problem solving—within and across sectors—to make the region better for everyone. Primary funding interests include education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Bush Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 148 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period • Median grant size: $150,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $4.2 million • Recent notable grants include $4.2 million to Exodus Lending, $2.625 million to Owamniyomni Okhodayapi, and $2.482 million to Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi **Active Grant Programs:** • Bush Fellowship • Bush Prize: Minnesota • Bush Prize: Native Nations • Bush Prize: North Dakota (formerly known as Bush Prize for Community Innovation) • Bush Prize: South Da…
Where does The Bush Foundation make grants?
The Bush Foundation funds in: • Minnesota • North Dakota • South Dakota • 23 Native nations that share the geography of these states
What size grants does The Bush Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bush Foundation awarded 148 grants totaling $53.7M — an average of about $363K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bush Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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