Opportunity Overview
The Bush Foundation accepts applications year round for its Community Innovation grants and program related investments. The program supports promising ideas with the potential to create lasting, transformative change and spread across communities. It is open across issue areas, including community health, education, rural access and other priorities when the proposed work meets the Foundation’s selection criteria.
Funding and Timing
Applications are open year round and reviewed on a rolling basis. Bush Foundation does not place a current cap on the amount or duration of Community Innovation grants or PRIs. For context only, grants made in 2024 ranged from $472,000 to $8.2 million and had terms of three to eight years; those historical awards are not current minimums or maximums. The Foundation strongly encourages applicants to contact staff before applying because the program is highly competitive.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include organizations based in or supporting work in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or the 23 Native nations sharing that geography. Standard eligible structures are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities, including schools; coalitions or collaboratives with one eligible organization receiving the grant; and organizations operating with an eligible 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. The Foundation states that other organization types are considered only in very rare exceptions.
The current public program pages do not state a universal mandatory applicant match or cost share requirement. Applicants are evaluated on the strength and feasibility of the plan, the people and partnerships positioned to lead the work, the potential for transformative and equitable impact, and how the proposed investment fits the Foundation’s portfolio.
Application and Selection
The application is submitted online. The Foundation asks applicants to describe the organization, the issue and proposed idea, the potential for lasting impact, the project plan, the people leading the work and required collaborators or capacity. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Proposals that advance may require calls or interviews, and larger investments require board approval.
Strategic Fit
Atlas Opportunity Score: 84/100. This is a verified, genuinely year round Minnesota foundation opportunity with flexible funding, broad eligible issue areas and no current funding cap. Its competitiveness and emphasis on transformative, community led systems change mean a strong applicant specific concept is essential.
N9+ Fit: 60/100 conditional. The Nonagon N9+ device and platform should not be inserted into a proposal unless an eligible Minnesota organization has a community led healthcare access model in which remote physical examination capability, guided examinations, vitals or telehealth enabled clinical encounters are integral to a broader transformative solution. The program does not specifically fund telehealth technology.
QC Healthcare Fit: 45/100 conditional. A healthcare implementation or services role could be appropriate only within a strong eligible applicant led project that meets the Foundation’s transformative impact criteria.
Dr. Miltie direct applicant fit: not ordinarily eligible on current criteria. Dr. Miltie, LLC does not fit the standard nonprofit or government applicant classes. A partner or vendor role may be possible through an eligible applicant, while any rare exception for another organization type would require direct Foundation confirmation.
Official Sources
Controlling sources are the Bush Foundation Community Innovation grants & PRIs page and application and criteria page. Last verified September 13, 2026.