Ecosystem Grants
Information Packet
May 2016
Application open May 3 – May 26, 2016 (closes at noon Central)
This information packet covers the topics listed below. To apply or find additional information,
please visit BushFoundation.org/Ecosystem.
Overview of Ecosystem Grants Program............................................................................... 2
Eligibility and Selection Criteria ............................................................................................. 2
How to Apply ......................................................................................................................... 3
Selection Process and Timeline ............................................................................................ 5
Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................. 6
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Overview of Ecosystem Grants Program
The Bush Foundation invests in great ideas and the people who power them. Ecosystem grants
provide general operating support to help sustain organizations that create unique and significant
value for our grantees, Fellows, Rebuilders and others.
Some might call these infrastructure organizations or intermediary organizations or just “can’t-dowithout” organizations. We call them ecosystem organizations because they help create an
environment for big things to happen in the region.
Ecosystem grants are offered across all Foundation programs and strategic initiatives. They provide
general operating support to organizations that our grantees, Fellows, Rebuilders and others rely on to:
• Provide critical data and analysis
• Spread great ideas and build capacity
• Advance public awareness and policy
• Build and support leadership networks
Organizations may apply to receive as much as $200,000 over two years in general operating support.
The grants are not to exceed 25 percent of an organization’s operating budget. We will talk with finalists
to determine if there is any reason to give less than this amount – for example, if it is a funder’s
collaborative with set funding amounts.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Wondering if your work is a fit with our Ecosystem Grants Program? We’re here to help. If you have
specific questions about eligibility or selection criteria, contact us at [email protected] or
651-379-2218.
Eligibility
1. Grants may be awarded to 501(c)(3) public charities or government entities. Coalitions or
collaborative efforts are eligible to apply, but only one organization may receive the grant.
2. Organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) status may submit an application through a fiscal
sponsor. The fiscal sponsor must submit the grant application. If the grant is approved, the fiscal
sponsor becomes the grantee and receives the funds. Read our fiscal sponsorship overview for
more information.
3. Grants must be used for a charitable purpose that supports people and organizations in
Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.
Selection Criteria
Fit with a Foundation program or initiative
Does the applicant organization advance the goal of a Foundation program or strategic initiative?
• Community Innovation Program: Inspire and support community problem solving
• Leadership Program: Inspire, equip and connect leaders
• Community Creativity Initiative: Make art central to problem solving
• Education Initiative: Make education more relevant for all students
• Native Nation Building Initiative: Strengthen tribal governance
• Social Business Ventures Initiative: Help people do good through business
Does the applicant organization support other organizations and leaders in one or more of the following
ways?
• Provide critical data and analysis
• Spread great ideas and build capacity
• Advance public awareness and policy
• Build and support leadership networks
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Impact on other organizations and leaders
Does the applicant create unique and significant value for other organizations and leaders? For example,
the scale and depth of impact could be in terms of the number of organizations and leaders impacted or
in terms of filling specific, critical gaps in the field.
How the applicant organization operates
Is the applicant organization stable and strong in terms of governance and finance?
Does the applicant organization operate in a way that aligns with the Bush Foundation’s operating
values?
Across all our work, we are committed to addressing racial and economic disparities. As we consider
potential Ecosystem grantees, we will consider whether applicant organizations have the skills and
orientation to support leaders and organizations working toward that end.
Additional Considerations
We will also consider the diversity of our portfolio across:
 Size of community served
 Size of applicant organization
 Demographics of communities served
 Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same
geography.
How to Apply
The deadline for Ecosystem grant applications is Thursday, May 26, 2016 at noon Central. Our
online application system will automatically close at that time and we will not accept applications after that
time. If applying online presents a barrier for you, please let us know—we’d be happy to help.
Once you’ve started an application in our online system, you can save it and return later to continue
working. To return to an in-progress application, login to our online application program using the link and
the password contained in the confirmation email you received when you created your account.
Application questions for Ecosystem Grants are provided below as a reference.
Applicant Organization
All of the information provided in this section should be for a single applicant organization. If working with
a fiscal sponsor, the fiscal sponsor is the applicant organization.

Applicant organization: organization name, organization legal name, mailing address, city, state,
zip, phone, website, Employer Identification Number

Application Primary Contact: first name, last name, title, email

Our organization is certified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. (Select Yes or No)

Our organization is a public agency/unit of government or Indian tribal government under Section
7871 of the Internal Revenue Code. (Select Yes or No)
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
Current fiscal year operating budget. Select one from the list below.
Up to $49,999
$500,000 - $999,999
$50,000 - $99,999
$1M - $4,999,999
$100,000 - $249,999
$5M +
$250,000 - $499,999

What issue area does your organization address? Select up to three. The options below are from
the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities.
Arts, Culture and Humanities
Human Services
Education
Other
Environment
Public and Societal Benefit
Health

Which of the following describes where the majority of your work takes place? Select up to five.
Minnesota
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
North Dakota
Oglala Sioux Tribe
South Dakota
Prairie Island Indian Community
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Red Lake Nation
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe
Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Spirit Lake Nation
Grand Portage Band of Chippewa
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
Upper Sioux Community
Lower Sioux Indian Community
White Earth Nation
MHA Nation
Yankton Sioux Tribe
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Sponsored Organization
If you're applying using a fiscal sponsor arrangement, this section applies to you. This is not the case for
most applicants. If you do not have a fiscal sponsor, you do not need to complete this section.
The information below should be about the organization that is being sponsored. Questions? Reference
our fiscal sponsorship overview for additional information.
Sponsored program: sponsored organization or program name, mailing address, city, state, zip,
phone, website
Primary contact: contact prefix, first name, last name, title, email
Narrative Questions
1. Provide a brief overview of your organization, history and mission. Maximum of 3,000 characters
(approximately 300 words).
2. The Bush Foundation works in six strategic initiatives and program areas: Community Innovation,
Leadership, Community Creativity, Education, Native Nation Building and Social Business
Ventures. Please select which of these six strategic initiatives or program areas best describes
your organization’s work. If your organization works in more than one initiative or program area,
please choose the one that best fits with your work.
a. Community Innovation Program: Inspire and support community problem solving
b. Leadership Program: Inspire, equip and connect leaders
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c.
d.
e.
f.
Community Creativity Initiative: Make art central to problem solving
Education Initiative: Make education more relevant for all students
Native Nation Building Initiative: Strengthen tribal governance
Social Business Ventures Initiative: Help people do good through business
3. Describe how your organization addresses the goal of the Bush Foundation initiative or program
you selected in question two. Maximum of 3,000 characters (approximately 300 words).
4. Does your organization support other organizations and leaders in one or more of the following
ways? Choose one or more that best characterize your work.
a. Provide critical data and analysis
b. Advance public awareness and policy solutions
c. Spread great ideas and build capacity
d. Build and support networks of leaders
5. Based on what you selected in question four, answer one or more of the following questions, only
as applicable to your organization’s work. It is not necessary to provide an answer to every
question.
a. Describe how your organization provides critical data and analysis. Maximum 3,000
characters (approximately 300 words).
b. Describe how your organization advances public awareness and policy solutions.
Maximum 3,000 characters (approximately 300 words).
c. Describe how your organization spreads great ideas and builds capacity. Maximum 3,000
characters (approximately 300 words).
d. Describe how your organization builds and supports networks of leaders Maximum 3,000
characters (approximately 300 words).
6. Describe the scale or depth of your organization’s impact on other organizations and leaders.
Provide at least two specific examples of the value you provide to these organizations and
leaders. Please share any relevant outcome data or other evidence. Maximum 3,000 characters
(approximately 300 words).
Attachments
For any uploaded document, please include the applicant organization’s name in the file name and in the
document itself. We will not review or consider any additional documents other than those listed below.
Acceptable file types are .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx and .pdf. We may ask for additional information and/or
documents during the review process.

Operating Budget: Please submit your operating budget reflecting revenue and expenses from
the most recently completed fiscal year. Please use whatever format is easiest for you.

References: Please provide a document listing three people that can serve as references. These
individuals should be people who can describe how your work makes their work more successful.
Only finalists’ references will be contacted and each finalist applicant will receive advance notice
before calls are made. The contact information should include the following: individual contact
name and title, organization name, mailing address, email address and phone number. Please
use whatever format is easiest for you.

Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement: If a fiscal sponsor relationship is part of this application, the fiscal
sponsorship agreement must be included. An application without the agreement is not considered
complete and will not be reviewed or considered.
Selection Process and Timeline
The deadline for Ecosystem Grant applications is Thursday, May 26, 2016 at noon Central.
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Initial Review. Bush Foundation staff will conduct an initial review of applications and notify applicants of
their status in July.
Finalist Review. We will conduct phone interviews with finalists, contact references and review finalists’
finances in July and August. We will let finalists know in September whether or not they have been
selected as an Ecosystem grantee.
All selections are based on eligibility requirements and criteria.
Next Opportunity to Apply. Ecosystem grants will be awarded bi-annually. The next opportunity to apply
will be in 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. If I am having trouble completing my application online, what do I do?
Try to address the following common issues:
 To continue working on an in-progress application, login to the online application program using
the username and password you used to create your account.
 The application will not submit if the required questions are not answered.
 We recommend using Chrome or Firefox to access your application.
We encourage you to begin your application in the online system as early as possible in the application
period so that we’ll time to offer you support.
2. Should I apply on behalf of a program or an entire organization?
You may apply on behalf of a specific program or department within a large organization or university
system, or you may apply on behalf of an entire organization.
3. How many Ecosystem grants will you award?
The number of grants will vary per program area or strategic initiative.
4. May I talk with someone at the Foundation about my application?
We are happy to answer questions about eligibility and criteria before you submit an application.
However, to maintain a level playing field, we won’t review your application before you submit it.
Contact us at [email protected] or 651-379-2218.
5. What can Ecosystem grantees do with the grant money?
Ecosystem grants are for general operating support and must be used for a charitable purpose that
supports people and organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or the 23 Native nations
that share the same geography.
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