WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2026 – Today, Jonas Nursing, a leading supporter of doctoral nursing students in the U.S., and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) announce a new investment in the future of nursing education with the expansion of the Jonas Scholars program. During this critical time for the profession, Jonas Nursing aims to make an impact on the nursing workforce by providing financial support to students who will assume faculty roles after graduation. Nursing schools are invited to apply for support for outstanding doctoral students through a national call for nominations.

Steered by next-generation family leadership, Jonas Nursing has developed an innovative approach to preparing future nursing faculty leaders through four key pillars: mentoring, leadership development, policy, and teaching. Jonas Nursing is the signature impact area of Jonas Philanthropies, whose work to transform communities also encompasses Children’s Environmental Health, Climate Health, and Vision Health.

“At a time when federal funding for graduate nursing education is being reduced, Jonas Nursing is committed to stepping forward with meaningful financial support and strong mentorship,” said Lendri Purcell, Co-President, Jonas Philanthropies. “We are pleased to continue our partnership with AACN to deliver a robust educational and leadership experience that prepares future leaders in nursing education.”

The ninth cohort of Jonas Scholars builds on Jonas Philanthropies’ longstanding support for academic nursing, having awarded more than $27 million in scholarships to doctoral nursing students since 2008. Following the success of the current cohort of students, Jonas Nursing will continue to offer an incentive for Scholars who transition into a full-time faculty role upon completing their doctoral degrees. “This increased investment allows us to reward Scholars who enter faculty roles and strengthen the capacity of nursing schools to educate future clinicians and leaders,” said Purcell.

“AACN commends the Jonas family for their continued investment in doctoral nursing education and for their efforts for addressing financial barriers facing graduate nursing students,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our collaboration with Jonas Nursing plays an essential role in supporting doctoral students as they prepare to transition into teaching roles, helping to alleviate the nationwide faculty shortage. We are excited to continue this program designed to prepare leaders to teach the next generation of nurses.”

For the upcoming cohort, 80 doctoral nursing students will each receive $12,000 over two years, matched by their university, along with an additional $6,000 award for serving in a faculty role for at least one year post graduation. With nearly $1 million allocated in scholarship funding, along with support for participation in a national Jonas Nursing leadership conference, this cohort will join more than 1,400 Jonas Alumni Scholars nationwide who serve as faculty members, clinical leaders, and researchers across all 50 states.

Central to the program’s success is its robust mentoring model. In preparation for the ninth cohort, the program is seeking mentors to provide guidance and professional support to small groups of Jonas Scholars. Mentors will meet with their assigned Scholars on a monthly basis to discuss topics related to academic teaching and leadership, serve as a resource throughout the two-year cohort, and join the Scholars at the Jonas Scholar Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. in spring 2027. For additional details on the mentor role, please visit AACN’s website.

“Our work is rooted in a commitment to expanding healthcare access by investing in the nursing workforce that makes that care possible,” said John Jonas, Co President, Jonas Philanthropies. “As public funding for nursing education becomes increasingly uncertain, private philanthropy must play a larger role in supporting students and the mentors who shape them. This effort reflects the legacy of our founders, the late Donald and Barbara Jonas, and their belief in creating sustainable communities of care across the country. In the spirit of this belief, we remain dedicated to ensuring that the Jonas Scholars program creates opportunities to expand the pipeline of nurse faculty.”

Applications for both the Jonas Scholars Program and Mentors Program are open and will be accepted through June 26. The Jonas Scholars Program will accept nominations from schools of nursing who have exceptional students conducting research or clinical work in these focus areas: Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE), Disaster Response, Environmental Health, Gerontology, Health Policy, Integrative Care, Psychiatric/Mental Health, Pediatrics, Preventative Care, Rural Health, School Nursing, Vision Health, Women’s Health, and Veterans’ Health. A technical assistance webinar will be offered on June 1 at 2:00 pm (ET), to help answer any questions you may have about the program application. To register for this webinar, click here. For more details about the Jonas Scholars program, visit AACN’s website or contact Noah Brown, Jonas Grant Program Manager, at jonasnursing@aacnnursing.org.

About Jonas Nursing
The mission of Jonas Nursing is to enhance the nursing profession by developing nurse leaders who will address the nursing shortage by educating the future nursing workforce and by investing in the health and well-being of our most underserved communities.

About Jonas Philanthropies
Jonas Philanthropies is transforming our communities for the better by investing where it matters most, in solutions that can be scaled for the greatest impact. Its programs address high-need issues and audiences with high-impact solutions: promoting leadership in nursing, promoting vision health, protecting our children’s environmental health, and taking care of our climate. For more information about Jonas Philanthropies, visit jonasphilanthropies.org, follow us on LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X.

About the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
AACN is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 890 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice. For more information about AACN, visit aacnnursing.org and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.