Fe y Justicia and Family Tree Clinic Named 2026 Bush Prize: Minnesota Honorees

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — October 15, 2026 — Fe y Justicia, a Latinx-led organization in Waite Park serving immigrant and working families across Central Minnesota, and Family Tree Clinic, a Minneapolis nonprofit that has provided sexual and reproductive health care and education since 1971, are the 2026 Bush Prize: Minnesota honorees, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation announced today. Each organization will receive an unrestricted award of $250,000 that can be used for any charitable purpose in Minnesota, from operating costs to programs to capital.

The honorees were selected by a Community Selection Committee of community members from across the state, convened by the Foundation. To ensure the award reaches every part of Minnesota, the committee named eight finalists, four from the seven-county Twin Cities Metro Area and four from Greater Minnesota, and chose one honoree from each. The six remaining finalists will each receive $10,000: African Development Center in Minneapolis, MN, Anishinabe Legal Services in Cass Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth, MN, ISAIAH in Saint Paul, MN, Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming in Bemidji, MN, One Roof Community Housing in Duluth, MN and Urban Roots in Saint Paul, MN.

“The Bush Prize celebrates organizations that pair bold ideas with a deep commitment to the people and places they serve,” said Kari Onyancha, Senior Director of Partnerships at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. “Fe y Justicia and Family Tree Clinic are creating lasting change by bringing people together, responding with creativity and building solutions grounded in community.”

Fe y Justicia is a Latinx led grassroots organization that works to support Latinx community members across Central Minnesota. The organization's goal is to provide education and leadership development to Latinx community members across the region so that they can advocate for themselves and others with dignity in spaces where decisions are made. Fe y Justicia takes a blended approach to organizing, both meeting the community directly where they are with direct services, and creating opportunities for education, leadership development and systemic change over time. The organization's main programs include immigration, public safety, worker rights, leadership development, health and housing. Fe y Justicia works in deep collaboration with other partners to build a more equitable Minnesota everyday.

“This grant is so important for our community because there are not many resources in greater Minnesota. But we are building those resources. We are building leadership. Our mission is to have more leaders in the community to have a better community,” said Ma Elena Gutierrez, founder and executive director of Fe y Justicia.

Since 1971, Family Tree Clinic has been cultivating healthy communities through comprehensive sexual health care and education. Rooted in the belief that health care is a human right, Family Tree provides excellent, affirming, person-centered care and education for diverse needs. Family Tree's clinic services include sliding scale options so cost is never a barrier.

"This grant will help us continue to create transformational change in health equity for our communities. So many of the folks that we see at Family Tree have been harmed by the healthcare and education systems. Our work seeks to forge a new pathway for them and with them," said Annie Van Avery, executive director of Family Tree Clinic.

Bush Prize: Minnesota honors organizations with at least three years of creative, community-led solutions and a record of transformational impact. Previously known as the Bush Prize for Community Innovation, the Bush Prize is implemented in partnership between the Bush Foundation and its four community grant partners: the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Good Relatives Collaborative, South Dakota Community Foundation and Strengthen ND. The Foundation was selected as the community grant partner for Minnesota and began implementing Bush Prize: Minnesota in 2024.

Videos featuring the honorees, along with logos and additional information about the honorees and finalists, are available in the Foundation’s press kit at spmcf.org.

About the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation believes in the best of Minnesota and the power of its communities. With roots in Saint Paul and partners across the state, it is Minnesota's largest community foundation and the partner of choice for thousands of donors, nonprofits and community organizations. The Foundation aspires to create an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive by inspiring generosity, advocating for equity and investing in community-led solutions. To learn more, visit spmcf.org.

About the Bush Foundation

The Bush Foundation works to inspire and support creative problem solving-within and across sectors-to make the region better for everyone. Bush invests in great ideas and the people who power them in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. Bush works through open grantmaking programs to develop, test and spread great ideas to make the region better, and to inspire, equip and connect people to lead change effectively.