Bush Prize: Minnesota

About the Bush Prize

The Bush Prize celebrates organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of successful community problem solving.

Each partner operates the Bush Prize using similar criteria and has the flexibility to ensure that the program is guided by community members with equity at the center. The four partners (with Bush Foundation in an advisory role) select and announce the Bush Prize winners, as well as provide any support along the way.

Bush Prize grants are flexible and can be used to build reserves, test a big idea or for anything else that would best support the organization's ongoing good work. The grant amounts are up to 25% of an organization’s most recent fiscal year expenses, with a maximum of $500,000.

Bush Prize: Minnesota

The Bush Prize celebrates organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of successful community problem solving.

The Bush Prize award is flexible and can be used to build up reserves, test that next big idea or whatever else would best support the organization's ongoing good work.

Creating solutions to today’s issues requires a collaborative approach.

Selection Criteria

Does the organization have a pattern of innovative solutions?

• Are these breakthroughs in addressing community needs more effective, equitable or sustainable than existing approaches?
• Did these innovative solutions make a significant difference?
• Could the organization inspire or inform others?

Does the organization have a pattern of using inclusive, collaborative and resourceful processes?

• Inclusive: meaningfully engaging key stakeholders, thoughtfully identifying those needed to create the intended change and, whenever possible, including those directly affected by the problem.
• Collaborative: a true joint effort, with partners willing to share ownership and decision-making as they pursue an innovation together.
• Resourceful: using existing resources and assets creatively to make the most of what a community already has.

Does the organizational leadership foster a culture of innovation?

• Is the organization stable and strong in terms of governance and finance?

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• All Bush Prize: Minnesota award funds must be used for charitable purposes to benefit communities in Minnesota.
• Organizations that are 501(c)(3) public charities or government entities (including schools) are eligible for the Bush Prize.
  • Groups of organizations (such as coalitions or collaboratives) are eligible to apply, but only one organization may receive the award.
• The Foundation accepts Bush Prize applications from organizations or programs that are fiscally sponsored.
  • These organizations or programs may register on the grant application portal and serve as the applicant. They will be asked to provide information on their fiscal sponsor and will need to complete a fiscal sponsor agreement form \[PDF\] to submit with the application. Fiscal sponsors must be 501(c)(3) public charities or government entities (including schools).
  • If the applicant is selected as the award recipient, their fiscal sponsor will serve as the grantee and receive the funds.
• Bush Prize: Minnesota award recipients must be located in Minnesota.
• The specific community innovations highlighted in the Bush Prize: Minnesota application must also have occurred within the state of Minnesota.

Ineligibility

• Organizations that have received a Bush Prize in the last 10 years are not eligible to apply.