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Peter Hutchinson to take over top job at Bush Foundation
Peter Hutchinson, the Independence Party's candidate for governor in 2006, has landed a new leadership post -- president of the Bush Foundation.
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Share on DiggPeter Hutchinson, the Independence Party's candidate for governor in 2006, has landed a new leadership post -- president of the Bush Foundation.
Hutchinson will leave the Public Strategies Group, a St. Paul-based government consulting company he co-founded, to become only the third president of the Bush Foundation, one of the state's largest philanthropic organizations. He will replace Anita Pampusch, who is retiring after 10 years with the foundation.
Hutchinson, who will begin his job next month, wasn't looking for a new gig. But after being approached, he listened and liked the direction that the foundation -- which has assets of nearly $900 million -- is headed.
"When I read what they described as their new strategic plan, it was like I could have written it, and that got me really excited," Hutchinson said. "The focus is on leadership and leadership development and on these issues that I care so much about: health care and environmental stuff and education and arts and culture.
"I learned a long time ago that if your heart is telling you to do it, go do it."
In 2006, the Bush Foundation gave out 188 grants worth $38.6 million. Minnesota organizations got 127 of the grants, and most of the rest went to groups or programs in North Dakota and South Dakota. The foundation, which was formed in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Granville Bush and his wife, Edyth, is expected to make grants of approximately $40 million this year.
Before becoming a government consultant, Hutchinson led the Dayton Hudson Foundation, was the state's commissioner of finance, served as the superintendent of the Minneapolis public schools and was the deputy mayor of Minneapolis.
JEFF SHELMAN
