Bush Fellowship Program 2025

Application Deadline: October 15, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2025 Bush Fellowship Program. Up to 30 Bush Fellows are selected to receive up to $150,000 over two years to grow their capacity, knowledge and network to lead. Fellows come from all sectors, including business, nonprofit, and government.

You might have heard stories about people who have applied for a Fellowship multiple times before they found success. And other stories of people who stick the landing on their first try. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine if a Fellowship is right for you at this time:

• Do you have time for the Fellowship at this point in your life? For some people, that means pausing other things to focus on the Fellowship
• Depending on the change you are hoping to help make happen, are you connected enough to the community or communities impacted and knowledgeable enough about the issue(s) to be credible as a leader? There is a lot you can do to get grounded and connected before seeking a Fellowship to make you a stronger applicant and make the Fellowship experience more powerful for you. 
• Have you been thinking about how you want to develop your leadership? Have you considered how your leadership will help advance big ideas within your community?
• Do you have a clear idea for how you would use a Fellowship — both the funds and the time it provides you?

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible for a Bush Fellowship if:

• You are at least 24 years old at the time of the application deadline.
• You are a resident of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or one of the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.
• You have lived in the region for at least one (1) continuous year before applying.

You are not eligible if:

• You previously received a Bush Fellowship, Bush Artist Fellowship, Bush Leadership Fellowship, Bush Medical Fellowship or Enduring Vision Award.
• You are a family member of a Bush Foundation staff member or board member. Family members include a spouse, parent, grandparent, great grandparent, child, grandchild, great grandchild and spouses of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Application Timeline

Application key dates

• Applications open at 8:00 a.m. CT on Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2024
• Applications close at noon CT on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024
• Semifinalists receive email notification between Thursday, Nov. 21 and Monday, Nov. 25, 2024
• Finalists receive email notification between Thursday, Feb. 27 and Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2025
• Finalists in-person interviews between Thursday, Apr. 3 and Thursday, Apr. 10, 2025

More Info: Bush Fellowship Program