Bush Foundation

Bush Foundation

The Bush Foundation was established in 1953 by Archibald Bush, then a 3M executive, and his wife Edyth. Its original endowment consisted of 3M stock. The foundation operates as a grantmaker and leadership investor focused on the Upper Midwest and Native nations in that geography. Investment activity centers on private equity, which accounts for 48 percent of assets, alongside fixed income and cash for liquidity needs. Confirmed holdings include limited-partner positions in Sequoia Capital, Sequoia Capital China, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, Brown Venture Group and Exodus Lending. The foundation issued a $100 million social impact bond in 2020 to expand grantmaking. Geographic reach covers Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the region. The organization employs 94 people and maintains its headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where it shares space with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Adjacent vehicles include the Bush Fellowship Program, established in 1964, and the Native Governance Center, spun out in 2016. October 2025: Brendon Reay serves as Managing Director of Investments. President Jen Ford Reedy sits on the board of the Council on Foundations. The foundation's structure separates grantmaking and investment functions while preserving a direct legacy tie to 3M through its founding endowment. This architecture allows long-term private-market exposure alongside mandatory annual distributions without an operating-company overlay typical of single-family offices.