Community Innovation: Application & criteria

Application question

What’s your idea and what problem does it solve?
Max: 1,800 characters or roughly 300 words

If your idea works, how would it be transformative? We encourage you to think big about shifts you could create in systems and structures. As part of your answer, please provide a list of some specific results you hope to achieve through your project or initiative (what would increase, decrease, improve, etc).
Max: 2,400 characters or roughly 400 words

Related criteria

Could the proposal have transformative impact? We are looking for proposals with the greatest potential to make the region better for everyone. This could mean concepts that are big in scale or ideas that start small with the potential to grow and spread. We will favor ideas that will change systems to make the region more equitable in opportunities and outcomes, especially for Black people, Indigenous people, people of color and people from rural communities.

Application question

What’s your project or initiative plan? Get as specific as you can here. As part of your answer, please provide a list of the steps you intend to take.

Max: 1,800 characters or roughly 300 words

Related criteria

Is the plan strong? We will consider whether the plan is doable and whether it uses resources in a way that is likely to lead to success. We are looking for thoughtful consideration of how change can happen. Who is affected? Who has power? How will key stakeholders be engaged along the way? We will favor proposals that are truly inclusive and collaborative.

Application question

Describe the people leading this effort. What are their roles and relationships to the project or initiative? How will they work together?

Max: 1,800 characters or roughly 300 words

Related criteria

Are the people leading the effort positioned to be successful? We will consider whether the people leading the effort have the support, relationships, experience and capacity to be successful. We want to support people who are learning and growing in their ability to advance equity, in particular racial equity, and work effectively across differences. We also consider whether they are committed to learning, improving and sharing what they learn with others.

Application question

How much are you requesting from the Bush Foundation for this work? Enter amount with no dollar sign and round to the nearest whole number

Instead of asking for a budget at this stage, we’d like to get a general sense of how you’d use the grant funds. Please provide a short description of the types of things you’d spend these funds on.

Max: 900 characters or roughly 150 words

Related criteria

Is the plan strong? We will consider whether the plan is doable and whether it uses resources in a way that is likely to lead to success. We are looking for thoughtful consideration of how change can happen. Who is affected? Who has power? How will key stakeholders be engaged along the way? We will favor proposals that are truly inclusive and collaborative.

Application question

Where will the proposed work take place?

Select all that apply from drop-down menu

What best describes the geographic community served by the proposed work?

Select from drop-down menu

Related criteria

How does it fit with our other investments? We aim to have a diverse group of investments over time, across a variety of issues, communities and organizations. At times, we invest in things that will complement or amplify grants we’ve already made. We are particularly interested in funding community-led organizations, especially those led by and for Black people, Indigenous people, people of color and/or people from rural communities.