Bush Foundation to change course of giving efforts

A large philanthropy foundation is changing its focus, which could leave out some groups that have gotten grants in the past.

The Bush Foundation doles out more than $40 million each year to groups in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Foundation president Peter Hutchinson said the organization will now focus on funding efforts to help people solve problems in their communities, help American Indian nations realize their sovereignty, and increase educational achievement.

Hutchinson says the 23 nations in the three states have huge challenges, which all revolve around each nation's inability to fully achieve self-determination.

"We want to help each one of the tribes, one at a time, figure out what's the best way to govern; what's the best way to organize; how do you create the institutions of nationhood that, frankly we take for granted," Hutchinson said.

The foundation gives most of its grants over a two or three year period. But Hutchinson said he envisions giving fewer grants with larger sums, spread out over five or 10 year periods.

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