Click here to see the full list of award winners
RNFOO Mission
The Registered Nurses' Foundation of Ontario enhances and advances nursing practice, and contributes to the health of individuals by raising funds and stewarding sound investments to provide awards and scholarships to Ontario nurses and nursing students in all programs including RN, RPN and RN-EC, and at every level, including Masters and Doctorate.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors is an inter-professional team, of which at least 50 % must be nurses. Three ex-officio members represent the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), the Registered Practical Nurses' Association of Ontario (RPNAO) and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO).
RNFOO VALUES
| Academic Achievement | Integrity |
| Partnerships | Donor-Centered Stewardship |
| Inclusiveness | Collaboration |
| Accountability |
BackgroundRNFOO Alumni Speak:
In 1972 the RNAO Foundation was established with a mandate to establish and administer an Award and Scholarship program. In 1997 the Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario was established as an organization independent from RNAO. In 2007 RNFOO added support for Internationally Educated Nurses, funded through the Royal Bank of Canada, to its commitment to supporting nurses and nursing students in Ontario. In 2018 the Ministry of the Attorney General appointed RNFOO to administer funds from the estate of Herbert T. Baily designated to support nurses recovering from illness or injury. The Nurse Innovator Award (NIA) was conceived by the Honorary Life Members of the Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario to design and build a mechanism whereby 100+ Nurses Who Care will enable, encourage, support and celebrate nursing innovation. The first awards will be presented at a reception on November 20, 2019.
1972 Origin
1997 Independence
2007 Funds for IENs
2018 Herbert T Baily Fund
2019 Nurse Innovator Award
RNFOO Alummni Speak:
This scholarship is contributing to my development as a junior researcher. I am grateful for the encouragement received as I establish a program of research focused on supporting patients undergoing cancer genomic testing.
As a nurse practitioner in primary health care working with Indigenous communities in urban and rural settings, I have seen the barriers to accessing health care services. Thanks to the RNFOO Scholarship, I have been able to pursue research that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people and community I serve. I am grateful.
Thanks to the support I received, I am able to continue to strive for excellence in my studies. As well, my RNFOO scholarship has introduced people who are enhancing and advancing nursing practice, which is giving me motivation and determination to do the same once I graduate.
The RNFOO Award helped me to advance nursing practice by recognizing the potential of my research study to contribute to nursing science. -LMacDougall
With help from RNFOO I was able to complete my practical nursing program, graduating with honours. As a mature student with many responsibilities, the scholarship I received allowed me to focus on finishing school and applying for jobs. I hope to continue my studies through an RPN to RN bridging program; I am thankful for the ongoing support from RNFOO. -EBushell
RNFOO not only provided financial support, but more so recognized my efforts and passion for improving nursing. My employer recognized the prestige of RNFOO scholarships; I feel they trusted my passion to make a positive impact in nursing because of this. I'll always be grateful to this scholarship community, as it paved me a path to achieve my career aspirations.
-DWang
The scholarships awarded by RNFOO to nurses alleviate some of the financial stress often felt by nurses trying to pursue higher education. The attainment of higher education enables nurses to explore opportunities and programs that can directly affect and improve the front-line care provided to residents of Ontario.