Eunice M. Smith Scholarship Mary Lewis Wyche Fellowship Loretta Ford Scholarship

Who We Are

The North Carolina Foundation for Nursing is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation which was founded in 1988 to receive and administer funds for charitable, scientific and educational purposes related to nursing in North Carolina. Funding to support the Foundation and its activities comes from individual contributions, business donations, bequests, recognitions, and memorials. Administrative support is donated by the North Carolina Nurses Association. The mission and work of the Foundation is accomplished by the service and time donated from educated volunteers—both nurses and non-nurses. The Board of Trustees consists of members appointed by the Foundation and the North Carolina Nurses Association.

Our Mission

The purpose and goals of the Foundation are to secure and administer funds directed toward:

1. Education that assures that registered nurses are prepared to meet the current and changing health care needs of North Carolina citizens;
2. Research that identifies the value of registered nurses in health care delivery;
3. Activities that publicize the value of registered nurses in health care delivery.

Scholarship and Fellowship Information

Eunice M. Smith Scholarship
In 1995, the NC Foundation for Nursing, Inc. received a bequest from the estate of Kate Lerch in honor of her sister, Eunice M. Smith, to be used for scholarships and grants related to study in the field of nursing. The Foundation established a scholarship program to support registered nurses who pursue additional education on a part-time basis.
Purpose: Scholarships are available to registered nurses who have chosen to further their professional career by pursuing education at the baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral level on a part-time basis.

Posted December 1, 2008:
Due to the current financial atmosphere, funds for the Eunice M. Smith scholarship are not available for 2009. Pending brighter financial outlooks, the scholarship will be funded in 2010. Please see other scholarship information below.

Mary Lewis Wyche Fellowship
In 2003, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation to create a First in Nursing license plate with $15 of each license plate sold going to the NC Foundation for Nursing to fund the Mary Lewis Wyche Fellowships. Mary Lewis Wyche was the founder of the North Carolina Nurses Association in 1902 and was the nurse who spearheaded the creation of the first nursing practice act in the country which was passed on March 3, 1903.
Purpose: The Fellowships will be awarded to registered nurses seeking their masters or doctorate in education, practice or administration on a full-time basis. These Fellowships are for $5,000 annually. If a recipient finds that they must reduce the number of hours enrolled, they will only receive half of the monetary award.

Thank you to all applicants. Deadline for this cycle was June 1, 2009. Notice will be sent to everyone that applied.

For your assistance, please find more information on scholarships available for nursing students below.

Nurse Education Scholarship-Loan Program (NESLP)-This program was first funded by the 1989 North Carolina General Assembly as part of a series of initiatives designed to reduce the shortage of practicing nurses in North Carolina. NESLP is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. NESLP awards are available through the financial aid offices of North Carolina colleges and universities that offer nurse education programs which prepare students for licensure in North Carolina as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN). Awards are based upon financial need and other factors such as academic performance. NESLP awards range from $400 to $5,000, depending upon the student's demonstrated financial need, cost of instruction, other financial assistance, and the amount of funding available through NESLP. The maximum award for students enrolled in Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Practical Nurse Education (LPN) programs is $3,000. The maximum award for students enrolled in a baccalaureate (BSN) program is $5,000.
NESLP Information. 

Master's Nurse Scholars Program (M-NSP) Graduate Program- The Master's-Nurse Scholars Program (M-NSP) was an expansion of the Nurse Scholars Program in 1991. It was introduced to attract outstanding nurses to pursue a master's degree in nursing as preparation for them to teach nurse education programs and to provide nursing services to citizens of North Carolina. M-NSP is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). An 11-member Nurse Scholars Commission selects recipients for the MNSP award on the basis of superior academics, leadership potential, and desire to practice nursing on a full-time basis in North Carolina. Recipients must be North Carolina residents. Students must have a minimum of a 3.2 grade point average and plan to enter a master's level nursing program at a participating college or university in the state of North Carolina. MNSP is strictly merit-based; financial need is not a criterion. The annual value of the award is $6,000 for full-time study toward the master's degree in nursing, up to two years and $3,000 for part-time (6-8 semester hours per semester) study toward the master's degree in nursing, up to three years.
M-NSP Information.

NCNA District Scholarships- A few of the NCNA Structural Units offer scholarship assistance for their members. Please contact the individual associated with the District or Region for more information.

District 5 – Pat Campbell, President
District 14 – Katheryn Jenifer, President

Triangle Region (See Triangle Scholarship Handbook Information)
– Liz Bell or Celeste Toombs, Co-Chairs Awards Committee

Capital Campaign

The goal of the Capital Campaign is to raise another $150,000 to increase the scholarship endowment to $300,000. Eighty percent of the interest earned each year on the endowed funds will be used to fund approximately ten nursing scholarships. A growth rate of 7% on $300,000 will fund scholarships totaling $16,800. The remaining 20% of interest earned will be reinvested to promote endowment growth.

Hallmarks of Healthy Workplaces Project

The NCFN administers the Hallmarks of Healthy Workplaces funds. The North Carolina Nurses Association administers the Hallmarks' programmatic aspects. To date, financial support has been received from the Center for American Nursing State Demonstration Project, the Nursing Spectrum/Gannett Foundation, the NC Organization of Nurse Leaders, the Duke Endowment, and NCNA. The intent is that the program will be self-sustaining by 2010; with the state blanketed in health-related facilities of all types that value its registered nurses. For more information go to Hallmarks.

You Shop, Foundation Earns!

You can help the North Carolina Foundation for Nursing just by shopping at Food Lion! Food Lion is involved in the local communities in which it serves and is offering a program called LionShop & Share. Each time you shop at Food Lion and use your MVP card, a portion of your total grocery purchase will be donated to the Foundation. What a great way to save money and help raise funds for the Foundation! You can pick up an MVP card at any Food Lion location and then register it to donate to the Foundation by going to www.foodlion.com or calling 704.633.8250 extension 3810. This program is a great way to save money and help raise funds for the Foundation!