Collaborative initiative to address nursing shortage

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Northwest Health Foundation (NWHF) today issued its Call for Proposal for Partners Investing in Nursing's Future (PIN), a collaborative initiative that addresses the nursing shortage at the community level through funding partnerships with local and regional foundations.

In its fifth year, PIN will award up to $250,000 to qualified local or regional, private, independent, family or community grantmaking foundations and public charities for projects lasting up to two years (effective September 2010 to September 2012). Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that:

• increase the diversity of the nursing workforce to improve access to care
• support strategies to increase the number of public health nurses
• develop more nurses specializing in geriatric and long term care
• fill the gaps in primary care by expanding the role of nursing
• encourage collaboration and leadership in the profession
• address faculty development and educational infrastructure

"The initial grants will provide a kick start of funds to incentivize and inspire local and regional foundations to tackle much needed nursing workforce issues," noted Judith L. Woodruff, J.D., director of nursing and workforce development at NWHF.

The Call for Proposals is available online at http://grantmaking.rwjf.org/pin5. Interested parties must submit applications through the RJWF Grantmaking Online system. Guidelines and information, including a list of frequently asked questions, are available at www.PartnersInNursing.org. Deadline for the first stage of competition is October 29, 2009.