First Peoples Fund was honored, after a rigorous and competitive application process, to be invited to join the Bush Foundation's Regional Arts Development Program II (RADP II) this fall. This program offers long-term financial support and is described by the Bush Foundation as "an investment in the vitality, creative potential and long-term sustainability of mid-size arts and humanities organizations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota as a strategy towards the Bush Foundation's goal "to support leadership that will create conditions for a vibrant, sustainable and interdependent system of cultural activities that contribute to the well-being of the region."

First Peoples Fund entry year program guarantees an invitation to an additional nine years of operational and capacity-growing support from the Bush Foundation. The purpose of RADP II, as described by the Foundation, is "to strengthen the organizational development and long-term sustainability of quality mid-size arts organizations through a long-term investment in their operations, with an emphasis on long-range planning, organizational self-improvement and accountability." This is a perfect fit with the Fund's needs at this time, as we have experienced a great deal of successful growth in a short period of time. Participation in RADP II will help us widen and deepen our capacity to serve tribal artists, while insuring that our internal organizational structure grows and remains strong. We are grateful to the Bush Foundation for its belief in First Peoples Fund, and support for the work that we do.