Bush Foundation Fellowships

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In General

• Review Creating Broader Impact: How Individuals Contribute to the Strength of Communities, Institutions and Fields report and the Summary of Key Findings, which examine how previous Bush fellows have contributed to the greater good.

• Carefully review the program’s eligibility requirements and selection criteria.

• Determine if you are prepared to take a leave of absence from your paid employment and volunteer activities during the fellowship. Leadership fellowships are for full-time study and fellows are not permitted to work while engaged in the fellowship.

• Review your finances. Fellowship financial support likely will not cover the full cost of your proposed learning experience. As part of your planning it is important that you are prepared to cover educational expenses that either are not covered by or exceed fellowship funds.

• Discuss your interest in applying for a Leadership fellowship with others, especially family members and mentors. These conversations will likely provide you with constructive criticisms and valuable insights that will lead to a stronger application.

• If you know current or former Leadership fellows talk to them about their experience of applying for and pursuing their fellowship.

• Identify your three reference writers. It is their job to help you make your case to selection committee members. Ideally, you should provide them with a copy of your completed application before they write their references. If that is not possible, be sure that they are prepared to comment on you, your fellowship plans and goals, and the potential impact of the fellowship on you and the wider community.

• Identify the individual(s) that will mentor you during your fellowship. What are their names and qualifications and how will they help you evaluate your progress? What are the terms (monthly in-person meetings, weekly email exchange …) of their participation in your fellowship?

• Talk with a tax advisor about the implications of being granted a fellowship. The Foundation does not make withholdings for state or federal taxes from fellowship payments.

• Attend a public information meeting if there is one in your area. This will provide you with a chance to meet program staff and ask questions.

• Contact us if you have questions.