Bush jargon & definitions

Jargon is tricky. The words themselves aren’t necessarily bad. The problem is when we assume that we all interpret them the same way. Sometimes, jargon can be useful and familiar.

For the jargon we use, we provide the context and definition for what we mean.

• Equity: We mean this to describe an approach that helps make our region work well for everyone. That means understanding who is left out and/or not being served well and focusing efforts on them. Equity is deeply rooted in our grantmaking approach, from the application to the program criteria to the selection process to what we ask of grantees in reporting.

• Transformative impact: This speaks to meaningful and lasting change. Transformative impact is, to some degree, in the eye of the beholder. As we consider proposals, we will ask ourselves: Is it addressing a challenge or opportunity that is significant for the region—in terms of impact on people’s lives and/or number of people impacted? Is it an approach that could be a real breakthrough—more effective or sustainable or easier or expansive (or better in some other way) than the current approach? Is it an idea/practice that we can imagine spreading—so that lots of (or even all) the people/communities in our region with similar issues might benefit? Will the impact be lasting and make a meaningful difference toward making the region better for everyone? None of these are simple yes or no questions. We will be considering applications in comparison with other ideas—and funding those we think could be overall highest impact for the region. Sometimes that means funding large-scale efforts designed to directly impact a system in a big way. Sometimes it means funding a small-scale community experiment that, if it works, could be adopted by lots of others or built out to a larger impact.

• Leadership capacity: This is an individual’s skills and knowledge and connections and mindsets and other supports that they draw on to lead. The Bush Fellowship is about growing leadership capacity, in all these forms. to supporting a leader to expand their own boundaries for what they need to keep leading change well. For a Bush Fellow, that might mean getting a credential that helps you grow in your job, or it might mean taking a break for a creative pursuit that gives you new perspectives and energy.

• Systems or systems change: When we talk about systems we mean how interconnected groups of people interact with each other. This can include formal systems—like a city government or a bunch of organizations all working on child welfare – or informal systems—like how people in a community interact and support each other. Systems are made up of people. Sometimes the interactions of people in a system are determined by rules and policies and sometimes their interactions are just from culture or habit. We all have to live within systems. Sometimes they serve us well and sometimes they do not. So, systems change is about trying to shift what happens within a system to make it work better for everyone. For example, tutoring is an individual-level intervention. Working to ensure all students get the tutoring they need throughout an entire school district is a systems-level intervention. We try to encourage people to think bigger about the level at which they can make systems change.