Anita Patel

Vice president, grantmaking

As someone who grew up in greater Minnesota and went to high school in Granite Falls (Archie Bush’s hometown!), I believe in the abundance of talent that can be found across Bush’s grantmaking region.

Anita is the vice president of grantmaking for the Bush Foundation. Her leadership provides direction and guidance for the grantmaking team, ensuring that the team is actively connecting with people and organizations in Bush’s grantmaking region and providing support throughout the grantmaking process.

Anita also connects and partners with people, communities and organizations to grow relationships that help Bush better serve the region through its purpose and strategies. Anita is a key member of Bush’s management team and leads work that supports board committees.

Anita joined Bush in 2015 and served as the leadership programs director before moving into her current role. She spent more than a decade developing leadership, equity and justice programs as vice president for Racial Justice and Public Policy at the YWCA of Minneapolis, and continues to be active in a wide range of community conversations, supporting equitable change across the region.

Her other experiences include work in the domestic violence field, immigrant and refugee services, and a creative role as the walking molar representing her family’s dental practice in local parades.

Additional experiences and leadership

Bachelor’s degree, Valparaiso University
Master’s degree, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Change Leader in Philanthropy Fellow
Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award
40 under 40 honoree, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
Top Six Business Leader Under 30, Minnesota Business Magazine
Board member, Voices for Racial Justice
Board member, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
Board member, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations