The Bush Prize: South Dakota, offered in partnership with the South Dakota Community Foundation and the Bush Foundation, celebrates and supports extraordinary organizations that are deeply valued within their communities and have demonstrated transformational impact through creative solutions. This program provides flexible funding to honor the organizations’ ongoing work, allowing them to build reserves, test new ideas, or otherwise strengthen their capacity to lead their communities creatively.

Starting in 2025, two organizations will each receive a $250,000 grant. The Bush Prize is awarded annually across South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Native Nations in these states, with each region administered by a specific partner foundation. Applicants in South Dakota must apply through the South Dakota Community Foundation’s new grant portal, GOapply, and new users must create an account and be approved before accessing the application system.

The Bush Prize aims to support organizations that consistently engage and lead their communities in solving challenges in innovative ways. Selection is based on an organization’s history of community engagement, proven record of creative problem-solving, and the transformational impact of its work. Grants are highly flexible, empowering recipients to decide how best to advance their mission.

Applications for the 2025 Bush Prize: South Dakota must be submitted by April 30, 2025. Interested applicants who are also considering applying for the Native Nations Prize through the Good Relatives Collaborative are encouraged to contact the grants team for guidance. Support is available from Senior Program Officer Ginger Niemann and Program Assistant Stephanie Harmon at the South Dakota Community Foundation.