The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
American Nurses Foundation experienced tremendous growth in the past year, while also navigating changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We launched the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses in April 2020, designed to give immediate relief to frontline nurses experiencing life-threatening challenges in the pandemic, and in anticipation of long-term impacts. Based on nurses’ responses to our on-going survey series, our data informed COVID response planning across federal agencies (CDC, FDA, FEMA, GAO). We provided millions in direct financial assistance to nurses, advocated on their behalf with the US government, educated them with the latest scientific information on pandemic care, and launched the Well-Being Initiative, a slate of invaluable mental health resources and services for nurses. These free resources have continued to expand based on evolving needs, to include mood-boosting apps, confidential phone consultations with licensed professionals, a narrative expressive writing program, a podcast series on mental health and wellness, and free and discounted therapy services, among others.
While our program team refined and enhanced offerings over the past year, the development staff grew our funds from $2 million to $17.7 million through strategic campaigns, grant writing, and soliciting institutional donors. The staff has accomplished all this while working remotely since March 2020. Working from home, the Foundation also established new partnerships, created new webpages, and produced two donor newsletters and countless updates, two successful board meetings, a virtual conference for our corporate advisory board, virtual team meetings, and an annual impact report. To build the capacity required to successfully operate the expansive programs, the staff grew from 3 to 12 employees, recruited, hired, and successfully onboarded in the last year, enabling the Foundation to continue to produce crucial results for the nurses we serve.