Bush Fellowship 2027: Up to $150,000 Leadership Fellowship | Apply by October 6, 2026

The Bush Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2027 Bush Fellowship, a leadership development opportunity designed for individuals who are making meaningful change and want to invest in their own leadership capacity. Selected Bush Fellows can receive up to $150,000 to support a self-designed leadership plan over a period of up to two years.

The Bush Fellowship 2027 is designed for leaders across different sectors, including business, government and nonprofit organizations. Rather than funding a specific project or business, the fellowship provides successful applicants with time and resources to strengthen their leadership and develop their capacity to create meaningful change.

Applications for the 2027 Bush Fellowship are currently open, with applications closing on October 6, 2026, at noon CT.

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About the Bush Foundation

The Bush Foundation supports leaders who want to become stronger and more effective in making positive change happen. The foundation has invested in more than 2,000 Fellows since the Bush Fellowship began in the 1960s.

The Bush Foundation Fellowship focuses on individual leadership development. Bush Fellows are people who have demonstrated that they can make things happen and who have a clear vision for the change they want to create.

The Bush Fellowship gives selected leaders the flexibility to design their own leadership development plan according to their goals, experiences and future ambitions.

Bush Fellowship 2027 Overview

The Bush Fellowship 2027 provides selected Fellows with substantial resources to invest in their leadership development.

Key details

• Fellowship: Bush Fellowship 2027
• Organization: Bush Foundation
• Award: Up to $150,000
• Duration: Up to 2 years
• Program type: Self-designed leadership fellowship
• Eligible sectors: Business, government, nonprofit and other sectors
• Applications opened: September 22, 2026
• Application deadline: October 6, 2026, at noon CT
• Finalist interviews: April 15, April 19 and April 22, 2027
• Fellowship retreat: May 19–21, 2027
• 2027 Fellows announced: June 2027

What Does the Bush Fellowship Fund?

The Bush Fellowship is focused on developing the individual leader rather than funding a particular project, business or program.

The Bush Foundation looks for applicants who demonstrate three important areas.

1. A track record of impact

Bush Fellows are expected to have a history of making things happen. The foundation describes successful leaders as problem solvers who get things done and demonstrate strong character and openness to learning.

Applicants should therefore be able to explain the change they have helped create and the role they personally played in making that change happen.

2. A vision for change

The Bush Fellowship 2027 is intended for leaders who have a clear vision for the change they want to make.

Applicants should think about the larger change they want to contribute to and explain why they are uniquely positioned to help make that vision a reality.

3. A leadership development plan

A central part of the Bush Fellowship application is the applicant’s plan for personal leadership development.

The Bush Foundation wants applicants to think broadly about how they can use the fellowship’s time and resources to grow as leaders and change the trajectory of their leadership journey.

Who Is the Bush Fellowship For?

The Bush Fellowship may be suitable for individuals who have already demonstrated leadership and impact and who understand what they need to develop further.

The fellowship welcomes leaders from different sectors, including:

• Business
• Government
• Nonprofit organizations
• Other professional and community settings

The Bush Foundation emphasizes that leadership is not necessarily defined by having a formal leadership title. People who make things happen and whose contributions are essential to creating change may consider themselves leaders.

Bush Fellowship Plan

A strong Bush Fellowship plan is at the heart of the application.

The plan should explain how the applicant intends to use the fellowship to develop their leadership capacity. There is no single way to design a Bush Fellowship plan.

Examples provided by the Bush Foundation include pursuing leadership or public policy education, learning from international movements such as language revitalization efforts, or taking significant time away from existing work responsibilities to pursue an ambitious leadership development goal.

The important consideration is how the proposed activities will help the applicant become a stronger and more effective leader.

Bush Fellowship Benefits

The major benefit of the Bush Fellowship 2027 is access to substantial financial resources and time for leadership development.

Selected Fellows can receive:

• Up to $150,000
• Fellowship support for up to two years
• Flexibility to design an individual leadership development plan
• Time and resources to invest in leadership growth
• Opportunities to pursue learning and experiences connected to leadership goals
• Participation in the Bush Fellowship community
• A Bush Fellowship retreat for the selected 2027 cohort

The fellowship is designed around the individual’s leadership journey rather than a standardized program that requires every Fellow to follow the same development path.

What the Bush Fellowship Does Not Fund

Applicants should understand that the Bush Fellowship is not intended to fund a business, project or program.

The Bush Foundation specifically states that fellowship funds cannot be:

• Directed to another person or organization
• Used to fund a business
• Used to fund a program
• Used to pay off debt
• Used for lobbying
• Used for political contributions
• Used for campaign-related expenses

Applicants should therefore focus their application on their own leadership development, rather than presenting the fellowship as project funding.

Bush Fellowship Eligibility and Application Criteria

Applicants should carefully review the official eligibility requirements, application questions and selection criteria before submitting an application.

The Bush Foundation states that it looks for applicants who have demonstrated impact, have a vision for meaningful change and have a clear plan for their own leadership development.

Because the fellowship is highly competitive, applicants should spend time developing a clear and authentic application.

The Bush Foundation received almost 1,200 applications for the 2026 Bush Fellowship, demonstrating the level of interest in the program.

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Bush Fellowship Application Process

The Bush Fellowship 2027 application process begins with a written application.

Applications are reviewed by Bush Fellow alumni, with roughly 90 semifinalists selected.

Semifinalists proceed through additional stages that can include references and background checks. Finalists participate in interviews with panels of community reviewers.

The selection process includes:

1. Written application
2. Alumni review
3. Selection of approximately 90 semifinalists
4. References and background checks for finalists
5. Finalist interviews
6. Selection of the new Bush Fellows
7. Fellowship celebration and kickoff retreat
8. Public announcement of the 2027 Bush Fellows

Bush Fellowship 2027 Important Dates

Applicants should keep the following Bush Fellowship 2027 deadlines and dates in mind:

• September 22, 2026: Applications opened at 8:00 a.m. CT
• October 6, 2026: Applications close at noon CT
• December 1–4, 2026: Semifinalists notified
• March 10–15, 2027: Finalists notified
• April 15, 19 and 22, 2027: Finalist interviews
• May 19–21, 2027: Bush Fellowship retreat
• June 2027: 2027 Bush Fellows publicly announced

The Bush Fellowship application deadline is October 6, 2026, at noon CT, so applicants should allow enough time to prepare and review their application.

How to Prepare a Strong Bush Fellowship Application

The Bush Foundation encourages applicants to spend significant time preparing their written application.

A strong application should clearly communicate the applicant’s own perspectives, experiences, context and leadership goals.

Applicants should focus on:

Explain your leadership journey

Describe the experiences that demonstrate how you have made things happen and contributed to meaningful change.

Explain your vision

Clearly communicate the change you want to help create and why that vision matters.

Develop a specific leadership plan

Explain what you need to learn, experience or develop and how the Bush Fellowship will help you achieve those leadership goals.

Be authentic

The Bush Foundation emphasizes the importance of applicants communicating their own ideas and plans.

Applicants may use AI tools to simplify writing or remove jargon, but the foundation states that applicants should remain the main writer and editor of their applications. AI should not be used to create the applicant’s ideas or plans or write the application on their behalf.

Is the Bush Fellowship Competitive?

The Bush Fellowship is a highly competitive leadership opportunity.

The Bush Foundation reports that it received almost 1,200 applications for the 2026 Bush Fellowship, while approximately 90 semifinalists are selected during the application process.

This means applicants should carefully consider how their leadership experience, vision and personal development plan align with the fellowship criteria.

Bush Fellowship for Government and Elected Officials

There are additional restrictions for certain government officials and elected officials because of applicable IRS regulations.

According to the Bush Foundation, government and elected officials may have specific limitations on how a fellowship can be used. For example, certain officials may only use a fellowship for a degree-granting program.

Applicants who hold government or elected positions should carefully review the specific rules that apply to their circumstances before applying.

Career and Leadership Development Through the Bush Fellowship

The Bush Fellowship 2027 can support different types of leadership development depending on the Fellow’s individual plan.

Possible development activities may include education, professional learning, international learning experiences, leadership development or taking time away from existing responsibilities to pursue a significant leadership goal.

The fellowship is therefore designed to give leaders flexibility to identify the experiences they believe will most effectively strengthen their leadership capacity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid treating the Bush Fellowship as a conventional project grant.

Common issues to watch for include:

• Focusing primarily on funding a project
• Presenting a business funding proposal
• Failing to explain personal leadership development
• Providing an unclear leadership vision
• Not explaining why specific development activities are necessary
• Waiting until the final days to prepare the application
• Using generic language instead of explaining personal experiences
• Allowing AI to create the applicant’s ideas or leadership plan

The application should clearly connect the applicant’s past impact, future vision and proposed leadership development.

Other Leadership Opportunities

The Bush Foundation supports other programs and resources for people who want to become more effective leaders.

Applicants who are primarily looking for project funding, business funding, courses or other forms of professional development may find that another leadership program is more suitable for their needs.

The Bush Foundation provides additional leadership resources for people who want to explore different approaches to developing their skills and capacity.

Final Thoughts on the Bush Fellowship 2027

The Bush Fellowship 2027 is a self-designed leadership fellowship for individuals who have demonstrated impact, have a vision for meaningful change and understand how they want to develop as leaders.

With up to $150,000 available for up to two years, the fellowship gives selected Bush Fellows significant resources and flexibility to pursue an individual leadership development plan.

The Bush Fellowship application deadline is October 6, 2026, at noon CT. Applicants should carefully review the official criteria and application questions and ensure that their application clearly communicates their leadership experience, vision and development plan.