88mph Foundation Ecosystem Grants

88mph Foundation Ecosystem Grants is sponsored by 88mph Foundation. Supports projects that encourage and develop the Ethereum and 88mph ecosystem, including solutions that enhance user participation in DeFi, tools for understanding yield-bearing assets, and protocols for managing associated assets.

We support the organizations that support problem solvers throughout our region. Photography by Bruce Silcox We know we can directly fund only a small fraction of the great work happening throughout our region. We want to be more broadly helpful by supporting organizations that others feel are most helpful to them.

Ecosystem grants help us do just that. Through this program, we offer flexible funding to organizations that help other people and organizations do creative problem solving in the region. We select Ecosystem grantees then promote their offerings—which you can find throughout our website!

We regularly hear from people throughout the region that Ecosystem organizations are essential to their efforts to solve tough problems. Ecosystem grantees provide the conditions and infrastructure that make problem-solving possible, often serving as trusted partners during periods of unexpected and rapid changes facing the communities they work with. Their work is critical in making the region better for everyone.

Amid the uncertainty of the past year and current moment, Ecosystem grantees are helping organizations and leaders as they respond to change. To honor this reality, **we are extending the current Ecosystem grant term into 2027. We had previously planned to open applications in 2026**.

We look forward to accepting Ecosystem grant applications in 2027. Visit the list of current Ecosystem organizations.

We are looking for organizations that other people rely on to do one or more of the following: * Provide critical data and analysis * Advance public awareness and policy * Spread great ideas and build capacity * Build and support leadership networks We are seeking organizations that either work across a variety of issues or on one of 3 specific approaches: * Supporting the sovereignty of Native nations * Spreading student-centered learning, or * Using art to solve community problems Organizations receive a maximum of $450,000 over 3 years in operating support.

Annually, that is up to $150,000 (limited to 25% of an organization’s annual expenses). We also provide an additional $10,000 to help organizations build or increase their skills to work across differences. The contact hub is our universal front door, open to anyone who wants to talk with us about an idea or proposal or has a question about our grantmaking programs.

### **Everything you need to know to apply** Applications open in 2027. * Organizations that are based in or support efforts in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.

* 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government entities, including schools; _OR_ coalitions or collaboratives (only one organization may receive the grant); _OR_ organizations working with a fiscal sponsor that has 501(c)(3) status; _OR_ in very rare exceptions, other types of organizations. Please contact us to discuss your situation if there is some reason that you do not meet the above eligibility requirements.

We encourage you to review all the application information provided in this section. We use an online form application and can work with you if that option doesn’t meet your needs. Just let us know as soon as you can at staff@bushfoundation.

org. When using the online form, we recommend Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox as your web browser. If you are applying with a fiscal sponsorship agreement, the fiscal sponsor is the applicant organization, and the group they are supporting should be listed as the fiscally sponsored organization in the online form.

We provide the application questions and criteria we use to select Ecosystem grantees for your reference. _This is based on the 2023 process for your reference and may change in the next application round. _ Here’s what you can expect as you move through the process (based on past timelines): * We review applications in April and May.

* We let you know if you are moving forward or not in late May. * We schedule phone calls with finalists in June to gather more information about your organization, how it fits with this program and any financial materials needed. * We conduct due diligence and reference calls for finalists in June and July to understand how your work is valued by others.

* We share decisions in early August. As part of our due diligence, we ask for some financial information to understand the health and capacity of your organization so that we can better support you. Financial health is only one of many factors we consider.

Mostly, we want to encourage an open conversation about any financial challenges or struggles you are facing so that we can be a resource to you. Examples of the financial materials we might request include audits, IRS Form 990s or internal financial statements. One of the primary reasons our Ecosystem grantees were selected is because others have told us that they are critical to supporting organizations and leaders in our region.

When Ecosystem organizations see an extraordinary opportunity to support problem solvers in the region, we are open to providing additional funding in support of that opportunity. What would an extraordinary opportunity look like? * It is an unusual—likely one-time—activity.

It is not part of the organization’s regular strategy and operations. * It would significantly inspire and support creative problem solving that makes the region better for everyone – in ways that are consistent with the purpose of the Ecosystem grant program. * Problem solvers in the region say they need or value it.

* It would have broad reach in our region—with lots of leaders and organizations benefiting from it. We are picturing things like events, research, or other activities intended to inspire, equip and connect people to address challenges within and across communities. We know unexpected things come up every year.

This potential additional funding is for truly unusual situations, where our support can help the organization do something extraordinarily useful for the region. To apply, current Ecosystem grantees should reach out to their primary support staff if they would like us to consider funding an extraordinary opportunity. Jargon is tricky.

The words themselves aren’t necessarily bad. The problem is when we assume that we all interpret them the same way. Sometimes, jargon can be useful and familiar.

When we use jargon, we provide the context and definition for what we mean. ### **Ecosystem grants through the years** We provided **grants to 38 organizations** through this program in 2023. ### **Our commitment to grantees and Bush Fellows** We want grantees and Bush Fellows to have a great experience with us.

We developed a set of commitments with input and feedback from grantees and Fellows over the years. We aspire to live up to these commitments in our work.