ABSTRACT
Minnesota is a state with a history of an active citizenry, a strong tradition of populism and liberalism in its politics, and a proliferation of vigorous nonprofit groups. There are a good number of private foundations in the state, some of them of outstanding quality such as the Amherst Wilder Foundation, active in the care of the elderly. William L. McKnight was the principal architect of the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company's development. The foundation he established, with assets of some $450 million, is far and away the biggest in the strip of states from Minnesota westward to the Pacific Northwest. The Bush Foundation's programming and grant making are analytical, dispassionate, and professional. It has systematically explored various possible fields of interest and has developed careful plans before proceeding. It has also devoted an unusual amount of effort to the evaluation of the results of its efforts.
