Overview
National data show healthcare workforce shortages across the country. The Kenan trust invests in programs aimed at educating a healthcare workforce to reduce these shortages. We primarily focus our efforts on projects that educate individuals at the post-secondary degree stage.
Eligible Project Types
The Trust will fund projects that:
- Provide support for traditional or accelerated nursing programs;
- Offer scholarships or build capacity for healthcare education programs;
- Incentivize students to practice in rural or other underserved communities; or
- Support individuals wishing to re-enter the workforce
Eligible Organizations
The Trust will consider proposals for the types of projects listed above from organizations working in post-secondary settings only, including:
- Colleges and Universities, including Community Colleges and career/vocational certification programs; or
- Organizations training new healthcare workers or re-credentialing individuals who have a degree but who have left the workforce.
Size and Duration of Grants
The Kenan Trust awards $250,000 – $350,000 for most grants. Grant sizes may be larger or smaller than this range depending on the size of the organization, the scope of the project, and the potential for broad-scale impact. Grant durations typically range from 1-3 years.
Please note, the grant size and duration listed here are meant as a general guide. A Kenan Grant Officer will work closely with organizations advancing to later stages of our grant process to tailor grant requests if needed.
Featured Grant in Healthcare Workforce: Elon University
In 2024, the Kenan Trust funded new Nursing Fellows at Elon University. The Nursing Fellows are offered four-year, merit-based scholarships to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This pre-licensure program provides students with a foundational knowledge base and promotes an ethos of patient-centered care across the lifespan and the health-wellness-illness continuum.
