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 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 were presented at a reception on November 20, 2019.  The 2020 Nurse Innovator Awards will be presented at a reception in November.