PLATINUM2023

American Nurses Foundation, Inc.

Our vision is to achieve a healthy world through the power of nursing.

Silver Spring, MD   |  https://www.nursingworld.org/foundation

Mission

American Nurses Foundation was founded in 1955 as the research, education, and charitable affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA). Since then, the Foundation has fought tirelessly to advance the nursing profession by raising funds for advances in research, education, and clinical practice to the benefit of the whole health care system. Our mission is to ‘transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing’, and this is more relevant today than ever. With the future of health care changing so dramatically, nurses can revolutionize the approach to care for the better. The Foundation invests in the wellbeing and success of individual nurses while championing the nursing cause throughout the health care system.

Ruling year info

1956

Principal Officer

Kate Judge

Main address

8515 Georgia Avenue Suite 400

Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

13-1893924

NTEE code info

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (H12)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (E12)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (T12)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Founded in 1955 as the research, educational, and charitable affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Nurses Foundation's (the “Foundation") mission is to transform the nation's health through the power of nursing. The Foundation raises funds, develops programs, and manages grants to support advances in research, education, and clinical practice. Its principal activities are intended to elevate the image of nursing; improve the health of nurses and the nation; strengthen nurse leadership; and generate new knowledge and policy through nurses' scholarly research and practice.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Nursing Research Grant Program

The American Nurses Foundation's Nursing Research Grant Program provides an opportunity for the beginner and experienced nurse researcher to demonstrate the impact of nursing intervention on consumer health and strengthen nursing practice. Since the programs inception in 1955, the Foundation has supported more than 1,100 studies, totaling over $5 million.

Population(s) Served
Academics
Students

The Foundation created the its Nurses on Boards initiative in response to the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report on “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” which called for nurses to assume leadership roles, including on boards of directors. As the largest proportion of staff within a health system, nurses bring a focus on patients, quality, strategic planning and so much more to all types of boards of directors, which in turn will improve the health of the community. The initiative includes telling the stories of nurse leaders, supporting nurses in becoming board-ready, and advocating to organizations to include a nurse on their board.

Population(s) Served
Adults

The Foundation’s Honor a Nurse Program enables colleagues, friends, family, and leaders to honor and tell the stories of nurses who have made a positive difference in nursing. The program provides a vehicle for meaningful recognition that is separate from nurses’ employment settings. Instead, the recognition is solely in the purview of the person paying the honor, and, at the same time, encourages philanthropic donations to the nursing profession.

Population(s) Served
Adults

The human toll of the Coronavirus-19 pandemic is being felt throughout the nation and most acutely by the nation's largest body of healthcare professionals – nurses. These nurses will deliver the vast majority of patient care as COVID-19 spreads across the country. To provide support for nurses on the frontlines, American Nurses Foundation has launched Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses.

The Fund has four focus areas, which are based on information we received from tens of thousands of responses to the American Nurses Association COVID-19 survey, townhalls, and outreach from nurses to state nursing associations.
• Ensuring nurses everywhere have access to the latest science-based information to protect themselves, prevent infection, and care for those in need
• Providing direct financial assistance to nurses
• Supporting the mental health of nurses – today and in the future
• Driving the national advocacy focused on nurses and patients

The Latest Science-based Information
RNs and other healthcare providers need the best, latest, unbiased information to protect themselves and their patients. Unfortunately, in the current, often-chaotic environment surrounding the pandemic, there is conflicting information from employers, federal agencies and the media. Accurate, consistent, science and data-based information is a life-critical priority for nurses, and the Fund will invest in materials and tools to ensure all nurses have access to this information as it becomes available.

The American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses has paid for key activities to hear from nurses, and based on their requests, questions, and real-time descriptions of what they need, to get that crucial information to them as quickly as possible.
• More than 32,000 nurses replied to ANA’s first COVID-19 Workplace Survey Additional surveys are being planned.
• Improvements to ANA COVID-19 Resource Center offer a one-stop source of what nurses need to know about the pandemic
• A Free COVID-19 Webinar Series developed by ANA specifically for topics critical to nurses. Over 120,000 nurses registered for the first three webinars, with more on-demand sessions coming.

Direct Financial Assistance
The Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses will be used to provide direct financial assistance to nurses through Nurses House, Inc., a nurse-managed, non-profit organization dedicated to helping registered nurses in need.

Nurses House has established a special COVID-19 fund, to offer one-time financial hardship grants to nurses who are COVID+, caring for a COVID+ family member, or on mandatory quarantine. Nurses do not have to be a current member of ANA to apply, and LPNs are eligible as well. Grant applications for this fund will be accepted through July 31, 2020 or until the fund is depleted.

Mental Health
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses experienced extraordinary levels of stress in their day-to-day work. Early research of healthcare workers in Wuhan, China found that nurses experienced higher likelihood of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress than other health care workers in hospitals. We can expect the same impact on nurses working with COVID-19 patients in the U.S. It's all too apparent nurses need as much mental health and wellbeing support as possible.

In response, the Foundation has launched The Well-Being Initiative, in partnership with American Nurses Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the Emergency Nurses Association. The Initiative offers responsive and preventative resources to support nurses’ mental health and resilience, including virtual support systems, a curated digital toolkit, and expressions of gratitude.

Our virtual support system includes opportunities to connect in peer-to-peer conversations, in one-on-one warmline calls, and through narrative expressive writing with feedback provided from trained responders. The digital toolkit includes the best and most relevant video. audio and visual content and the impact it has on nurses' well-being. The Fund will also focus on identifying and providing all nurses with meaningful expressions of gratitude - from peers, patients, and the general public.

Advocating for Nurses and Those They Serve
The Foundation supports American Nurses Association (ANA)’s legislative, regulatory and education efforts to keep nurses’ needs at the center of the conversation.

Efforts thus far include ensuring nurses' needs are understood and factored into government decision making, by engaging with the Administration, government agencies like HHS, FEMA, DOL, and communicating with Congress. The Foundation and ANA's priorities focus on crucial issues such as:
• The needs for testing and increasing production of PPE
• Funding for health care systems, staffing & equipment, and
• Support for nursing education funding

The advocacy driven by the Fund will also campaign to strengthen public health efforts in preventing the spread of coronavirus, managing the care of infected patients, ensuring the flow of accurate public information and shaping the future of the professional field post-pandemic.

In addition to addressing the needs of nurses, the Fund is an opportunity for the public to support and show gratitude through a text-to-give campaign, individual giving and corporate donations.

Population(s) Served
Emergency responders
Caregivers

The RN Initiative (RNI) has granted $14 million to 10 pilot programs in 29 states. These pilots are sparking new ideas and testing solutions. RNI is focused on three priority areas for innovation that present unique opportunities for large-scale, replicable change. Focusing on these areas can enable nurses with cutting-edge knowledge, tools, environments, and systems to deliver equitable and exemplary care to their patients: Practice-Ready Nurse Graduates pilots will prepare newly graduated nurses to immediately succeed in and contribute to a variety of settings where patients need care. Technology-Enabled Nursing Practice pilots will support the design and implementation of technology-based tactics and tools that enhance the practice of nursing. Direct-Reimbursement Nursing Model pilots will expand nursing practice and elevate the value of nursing through direct reimbursement for nursing care delivery, management, and coordination outcomes.

Population(s) Served
Emergency responders
People with diseases and illnesses

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of Nursing Research Grants Given

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Related Program

Nursing Research Grant Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

nurse-led research projects funded by the Foundation. Program has supported over 1,200 nurses the past 60 years with these grants.

Number of Distinguished National Academy of Medicine Fellowship Nurse Scholars

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Provides a year-long residential leadership opportunity in health policy. The experience supports engagement of nurse leaders in a prominent role in health policy at the national level. Metrics are cu

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The American Nurses Foundation (the Foundation) was founded in 1955 as the charitable affiliate of American Nurses Association (ANA). Since then, the Foundation has fought tirelessly to advance the nursing profession through raising funds for advances in research, education, and clinical practice to the benefit of the whole health care system.

Our vision is to achieve ‘a healthy world through the power of nursing’, and this is more relevant today than ever. With the future of health care changing so dramatically, nurses can revolutionize the approach to care for the better.

The Foundation pursues this mission through:
• Recognizing the dedication of America’s 4 million invaluable registered nurses and the lives they touch
• Elevating the profession of nursing globally
• Engaging all nurses to ensure professional success
• Evolving the practice of nursing to transform health and health care

With gifts and grants from generous donors – individuals, corporations, private foundations, and government agencies – the Foundation invests in the wellbeing and success of individual nurses while championing the nursing cause throughout the health care system, to improve health care for all.

The American Nurses Foundation has an expansive reach and unique ability to engage with millions of nurses. The Foundation utilizes its access to this network to learn about the current needs and pressing issues facing the nursing profession. Based on that knowledge, the Foundation creates programs to address those needs. Foundation programs and services have manifested in resources to improve the overall health of nurses, support education and research , share free resources to help nurses advance their careers and improve their mental-wellbeing, and on a national level implementing legislative/regulatory education and advocacy activities to engage with Congress and government agencies around improvements to the nursing profession and patient care.

The American Nurses Foundation has made significant positive impacts on the lives of nurses in America, with a history dating back to 1955. The Foundation has that capability in part because of the engagement it has with America’s 4 million registered nurses, including nurses who are not active members of the ANA. Through newsletters, surveys, webinars, and major events, the Foundation keeps abreast of all major issues that are important to American nurses. That information informs the Foundation’s work, so that programs are data-informed and designed to address specific needs that nurses identify.

The Foundation has a dedicated fundraising and programming staff with nearly a century of collective non-profit experience. The leadership team, though small, is adept at designing and implementing programs, and all aspects of administering non-profit grants – both successfully acquiring external funding while also disseminating grants that the Foundation awards to increase professional expertise and improve the lives of nurses.

The Foundation has significant external support which enhances its capabilities to fulfill its mission. The Foundation has a dedicated 18-person Board of Trustees featuring a diverse group of nurses, healthcare professionals, and representatives from the private sector. In addition, the Foundation maintains a corporate advisory board, a group of prominent companies that serves as a forum for fostering innovation in nursing. The Foundation also partners with other nursing and healthcare organizations, including American Academy of Nursing, National Academy of Medicine, Sigma Theta Tau International, a variety of nursing research societies and nursing specialty groups, and constituent and state nursing associations nationwide.

That collective leadership significantly increases the capabilities of the Foundation. This widespread engagement, across industries and across the nation, ensures that our work is informed by a variety of timely perspectives. The Foundation collaborates extensively, thereby leveraging the expertise of partners and minimizing any duplication of effort. Together, we drive positive change in the healthcare system, as partners contribute resources and extend their influence to promote the overall goals of the Foundation.

The American Nurses Foundation has accomplished a great deal in the past sixty-five years. From advocating for greater leadership roles for nurses, to funding innovative care solutions, the Foundation is passionate that nurses have a critical view of the challenges we face in health care, and that nursing should be supported to lead health care change. This will keep patients safe, ensure they experience the best care, and encourage them to lead healthier lives.

Since 1955, the Foundation has awarded nearly 1,200 research grants totaling more than $6 million for nurses to advance clinical care and academic training. This work is important for the professional advancement of the individual nurse as well as the broader profession, and the practice of healthcare overall. It has developed and implemented national education and best practice campaigns focused on children, adults and the elderly.

In the last few years, the Foundation has also awarded $125,000 in scholarships for aspiring and current nurses to increase their professional expertise. That is a vitally important program considering the exorbitant cost for nursing degrees and education pathways, weighed against the high demand for healthcare professionals, and a shortfall in the number of nurses. Additionally, it has provided awards for developing nursing leadership and innovation totaling $170,000 in two years. The Foundation launched the Nurses on Boards Coalition, a national partnership of organizations committed to appointing 10,000 nurses to boards of directors of corporate and non-profit health related organizations by 2020. Currently that initiative has helped 7,500 nurses achieve board leadership positions.

Nurses give the best care to patients when they’re operating at their own peak wellness. The Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation program is an initiative to connect and engage nurses, employers, and organizations around improving health in five areas: physical activity, nutrition, rest, quality of life, and safety. The Foundation has prioritized helping nurses be healthier and has enrolled 187,000 nurses and more than 500 partner organizations in three years.

In the future, Foundation programming will continue to adapt to the current needs of nurses. There is no clearer example than the current fundraising priority for the Foundation: The Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses. With focused fundraising efforts for individual donors and strategic outreach to corporate and foundation partners, the Foundation has raised $12 million dollars as of June 2020 for this initiative. The Fund is designed to address the most pressing needs for nurses working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund has four focus areas: direct financial support, mental health resources, access to latest medical/scientific information relative to the pandemic, and national advocacy.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    America’s 4.3 million nurses comprise the largest body of healthcare professionals and are the most trusted professionals in the country. They are ideally positioned to be the best role models, educators, and advocates of health, safety, and wellness. The Foundation endeavors to serve all American nurses through our program offerings, available regardless of age, employment/retirement status, geographical location within the US, race, gender, orientation, or any specific nurse type or specialty. A significant factor in the Foundation’s success is our ability to both disseminate information to, and receive feedback from, hundreds of thousands of American nurses. We have our finger on their pulse, learning from nurses on the front lines about the challenges they are facing.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    The Foundation's largest existing program is the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses. Created in Spring of 2020 and still providing resources to nurses today, it has evolved to meet the current needs of nurses since its inception. That evolution is based on survey feedback from nearly 200,000 front-line nurses who shared their most pressing work challenges and offered solutions. An initial focus of the fund was providing direct financial assistance grants to nurses who had been laid off, furloughed, or lost work by testing positive for COVID-19. Based on more recent feedback we have transitioned the focus to mental health and well-being resources including therapeutic resources, toll-free support lines, creative writing programs and mobile apps to reduce stress.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback, tracking participation and getting specific feedback is hard when dealing with mental health.

Financials

American Nurses Foundation, Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

American Nurses Foundation, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 01/25/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Kathy Driscoll

Humana

Term: 2022 - 2024


Board co-chair

Wilhelmina Manzano

New York Presbyterian Health System Enterprise

Tom Tefft

Consultant

Paul W. Abramowitz

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Karen Daley

Independent Healthcare Consultant

Kathy Driscoll

Humana

Zoila D. Escobar

AltaMed Health Services

Laura Leigh Ferrio

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Randall Lipps

Omnicell

Kathleen Malloch

Kathy Malloch Leadership Systems

Mehul Mehta

ASG

Ahrin Mishan

Bernie Park

Park Family Charitable Foundation

Ruth Williams-Brinkley

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.

Ena Williams

Yale New Haven Hospital

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/25/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 12/01/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Policies and processes
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.