Bush Fellowship 2027 – Up to $150,000 for Leadership Development
The Bush Fellowship 2027 is a self-designed leadership programme that gives selected leaders time and resources to strengthen their capacity to create change. Up to 30 Fellows are selected each year, and each Fellow can receive up to $150,000 to support an individual leadership-development plan. Fellowships can last up to two years. Applications close on October 6, 2026, at noon CT.
Quick Overview
Programme: Bush Fellowship
Opportunity Type: Leadership Fellowship
Host Organization: Bush Foundation
Duration: Up to 2 years
Funding: Up to $150,000
Number of Fellows: Up to 30 each year
Eligibility: Eligible residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 23 Native nations that share the same geography
Deadline: October 6, 2026, at noon CT
About the Bush Fellowship 2027
The Bush Fellowship is a self-designed programme for leaders who want to invest in their own development and become more effective in creating change.
Rather than funding a specific organisation, programme, or business, the Fellowship supports the individual Fellow and their leadership-development plan.
Applicants are expected to have a track record of creating impact, a vision for equitable and large-scale change, and a clear plan for strengthening their own leadership capacity.
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Fellowship Funding
Up to 30 Bush Fellows are selected each year.
Selected Fellows can receive:
✓ Up to $150,000 to support their self-designed leadership plan
✓ Up to two years to carry out their Fellowship plan
✓ Flexibility to design development experiences based on their individual leadership goals
The Fellowship can support activities that help Fellows gain skills, experiences, relationships, networks, or knowledge needed to strengthen their leadership.
Examples provided by the Bush Foundation include participating in leadership-development programmes, learning from movements or organisations in other locations, or reducing work commitments to dedicate time to major leadership goals.
How Fellowship Funds Can Be Used
Bush Fellows decide how to use the resources based on their approved Fellowship plan. However, the Foundation places limits on certain uses.
Fellowship funds cannot:
• Be directed to another person or organisation
• Be used to fund a business or programme
• Be used to pay off debt
• Be used for lobbying
• Be used for political contributions
• Be used for campaign-related expenses
Additional restrictions apply to government and elected officials.
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Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are eligible if they:
• Are at least 24 years old at the application deadline
• Are residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or one of the 23 Native nations that share the same geography
• Have lived continuously in the region for at least one year before applying
There are no specific citizenship requirements for the Bush Fellowship.
Applicants are not eligible if they previously received a:
• Bush Fellowship
• Bush Artist Fellowship
• Bush Leadership Fellowship
• Bush Medical Fellowship
• Enduring Vision Award
Family members of current Bush Foundation staff members or board members are also not eligible under the programme’s stated rules.
What the Bush Foundation Looks For
The selection process focuses on three major areas.
Leadership Impact
Applicants should demonstrate a record of creating change and achieving results. The Foundation looks for experienced problem solvers who show integrity, inclusive leadership, curiosity, and openness to learning.
Vision for Change
Applicants should have a clear vision for equitable, large-scale change in their community.
They should also explain their own role in making that change happen and show how their leadership connects to the communities affected by the issue.
Fellowship Plan
Applicants should identify clear leadership-development goals and explain the experiences they need to change the trajectory of their leadership.
The Fellowship plan should focus on personal leadership growth that would be difficult to achieve without Fellowship support.
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Selection Process
Bush Foundation staff and board members, past Bush Fellows, and community leaders participate in the selection process.
Selection is based on:
• Application responses
• References for semifinalists
• In-person interviews for finalists
Bush Fellow alumni review applications and select roughly 90 semifinalists.
Bush Foundation staff conduct reference and background checks for finalists. Finalists then interview with panels of community reviewers, who select the next class of Bush Fellows.
Important Dates
Applications Opened: September 22, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CT
Application Deadline: October 6, 2026, at noon CT
Semifinalists Notified: December 1–4, 2026
Finalists Notified: March 10–15, 2027
Finalist Interviews: April 15, April 19, and April 22, 2027
Bush Fellowship Retreat: May 19–21, 2027
2027 Fellows Announced: June 2027
Application Process
Applicants must complete the online Bush Fellowship application.
The application asks candidates to explain their leadership record, vision for change, role in their community, leadership-development goals, and proposed Fellowship plan.
Applicants can save their progress while completing the online form.
Application Deadline
Applications for the 2027 Bush Fellowship must be submitted by:
October 6, 2026, at noon CT
Official Link
Submit your application through the official application link below.
