This summer we announced the 2026 Bush Fellows, a group of 30 community leaders from around the region who have been making things happen in their communities and have a plan for their Fellowship that will help them spark bigger, bolder change.
We’ve been featuring the work of each Fellow all summer long on social media, and we hope it’s inspiring you or maybe someone you know to consider this unique opportunity.
The 2027 Bush Fellowship information is now available on our website! We welcome leaders from all sectors — including business, government and nonprofit — to apply.
To apply for a Fellowship, you should have a plan for how you might use $150,000 to grow your ability to lead more effectively.
As you can imagine, we get scores of amazing applicants — which show the breadth of leadership in the region — yet we select just up to 30 people to become Bush Fellows.
If you’re even a little curious about the program, we offer a variety of ways to see if it’s the right opportunity for you and to help equip you to submit your best possible application:
Option 1: Feed your curiosity with some basic information. Our website has it all! You’ll be surprised at all the information we provide about the Fellowship, the process of applying, who’s eligible (and who’s not), and even the specific criteria and application questions. We highly recommend this as a first step.
Option 2: Test out your readiness and your idea for a plan. We offer 1:1 inquiry calls with our grantmaking staff to help you dive into your idea for a plan to see if it’s application-ready. Come with specific questions and ideas to get the most out of the call!
Option 3: Join us and others like you for a live Q&A with our staff. We’ll go over the Fellowship basics and leave lots of room for your questions. It’s a great way to learn with others, as you might hear questions you didn’t think to ask, and vice versa. We offer three different dates to choose from — we recommend selecting the date that best fits your schedule.
- Thursday, Sept. 3, 9-10 a.m. CT — Register here
- Tuesday, Sept. 15,12-1 p.m. CT — Register here
- Tuesday, Sept. 22, 12-1 p.m. CT — Register here
Save the date: Applications open on September 22, 2026.
And help us spread the word! Great leaders know great leaders, and we want to be sure folks throughout our entire region know about it!
MORE SPONSORED CONTENT BY THE BUSH FOUNDATION
Sharing Insights About the Bush Fellowship Program
Adora Land is a grantmaking director at the Bush Foundation who leads the Bush Fellowship program, supporting community leaders across our region. We asked Adora for her insights about the selection process and what makes the Fellowship unique. What are some of the guiding principles that shape the Bush Fellowship selection process? We’re looking for…
Meet the nine organizations selected as 2025 Bush Prize honorees!
The Bush Foundation celebrates and supports creative problem solving across the region through the Bush Prize. Bush Prize honorees are doing big things in partnership with their communities. They are organizations that have a strong track record of community problem solving and work with others to make the region better for everyone. The Bush Prize…
Become a more effective leader with a Bush Fellowship
We know that change only happens when people make it happen. It’s why we invest in all types of leaders to think bigger and differently for their community. The Bush Fellowship is an investment in people and their capacity to do more good for the region — and it’s super flexible. Up to 30 Bush…
