Research Grant and Award
Opportunities
About
The mission of Sigma is developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere. Sigma
promotes the growth of the scientific base of nursing practice by awarding nursing research grants and
disseminating nursing research in healthcare delivery, academia, and public policy.
The Sigma Foundation for Nursing provides support for Sigma through active fundraising and
conscientious stewardship.
Funding Research
In 1934, Sigma established the first fund for nursing research in the United States, and it is now known
as the Research Permanent Fund through the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. Since its modest initial
award of US $600 in 1936, the organization's research grant program has continued to grow as scholarly
activities and the advancement of nursing science have become more sophisticated and integral to the
growth of the nursing profession. Sigma annually awards a variety of international and co-sponsored
research grants that cover a range of global health topics.
Purpose
The purpose of the international grants program is to provide funding for novice researchers, to assist
them in beginning their research trajectories and to help more seasoned researchers strike off in new
directions. In the process, Sigma and the Foundation have contributed significantly to many nurse
researchers' professional careers while also contributing to the advancement of nursing science. Sigma
and its Foundation also accept inquiries from other collaborative partners who want to advance global
research.
Application Process
For complete information, current deadlines, and applications for any of the grants listed in this
brochure, visit SigmaNursing.org/Grants or contact Sigma at 888.634.7575 (US/Canada toll-free);
+1.317.634.8171 (International); or research@sigmanursing.org.
Disbursement
All grants are disbursed in US dollars.
Grant Opportunities by Application Deadline
For more information regarding grants and application information, visit SigmaNursing.org/Grants or
email Research@SigmaNursing.org. Unless otherwise noted, all grants are available to nurses around
the world. Grant applications are generally open three months in advance of deadline.
3 February
National League for Nursing (NLN) Grant
28 March
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Foundation Grant
1 April
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) Grant
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) End-of-Life Nursing Care Research Grant
Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Research Grant
National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Research Grant
Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) Research Grant
1 May
Dr. Martha Pitel Global Nursing Research Grant
Global Nursing Research Grant
1 June
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) Grant
1 July
American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) Grant
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Grant
Doris Bloch Research Award
Joan K. Stout, RN, Research Grant
28 August
Emergency Nurses Association Foundation (ENA) Grant
31 August
Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Grant
1 November
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Grant
1 December
Alpha Eta Collaborative Research Grant
Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF) Collaborative Grant
Council for the Advancement of Nursing Scientists (CANS) Grant
Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Award
Sigma Small Grants
Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) Research Grant
Information on grant requirements, budget, and funding dates for grants is below.
Sigma-Sponsored Grant Opportunities
All grants are available to nurse researchers from around the world unless otherwise specified in the
criteria or online. For more information regarding grants and application information, visit
SigmaNursing.org/Grants or email Research@SigmaNursing.org.
Sigma Small Grants
Encourages nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research.
• Application deadline: 1 December
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 June
• Grant topic: Any nursing topic
Doris Bloch Research Award
Encourages nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research.
• Application deadline: 1 July
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 November
• Grant topic: Any nursing topic
Global Nursing Research Grants
Encourages nurses to focus on responding to health disparities globally.
• Application deadline: 1 May
• Budget maximum: Up to US $10,000
• Funding date: 1 November (In biennial convention years, the nurse researcher must be present
at the event to accept the award.)
• Grant topic: Global health disparities
Joan K. Stout, RN, Research Grant
Advances the ongoing evidence-based study by nurse researchers on the impact of the practice of
simulation education in schools of nursing and clinical care settings.
• Application deadline: 1 July
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 November
• Grant topic: Simulation education in school of nursing or clinical care setting
Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Award
This grant supports nursing research in the critical areas of women's health, oncology, and pediatrics.
• Application deadline: 1 December
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 June
• Grant topic: Women's health, oncology, pediatrics
Sigma-Sponsored Grant Opportunities
All grants are available to nurse researchers from around the world, unless specified in the criteria or
online. For the most up to date information regarding grants and application information, visit
SigmaNursing.org/Grants. Unless indicated, all proposals are submitted through the Sigma online
application system. Grant applications are generally open three months in advance of deadline.
Alpha Eta Collaborative Research Grant
Encourages new research project in Africa. ONLY available to active members of Sigma chapters in
Africa.
• Application deadline: 1 December
• Budget maximum: Up to US $2,500
• Funding date: 1 June
• Grant topic: New research projects
• Funds for this grant are provided by the Alpha Eta Chapter
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Grant
Encourages nurses in clinical settings to apply evidence to practice and evaluate the effects on patient
outcomes.
• Application deadline: 1 July
• Budget maximum: Up to US $20,000
• Funding date: 1 November
• Grant topic: Evidence-based practice
• Grant recipients or proxy must be present, depending on year, at either the ANCC Magnet
conference or Sigma convention.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Grant
Encourages qualified nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through critical-care nursing
practice research.
• Application deadline: 1 November
• Budget maximum: Up to US $10,000
• Funding date: 1 January
• Grant topic: Critical-care research
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and AACN.
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) Grant
The purpose of this collaborative grant is to encourage research career development of nurses through
support of clinically oriented HIV/AIDS research and increase the number of HIV studies being done by
nurses.
• Application deadline: 1 April
• Budget maximum: Up to US $2,500
• Funding date: 1 August
• Grant topic: HIV prevention, symptom management, promotion of self-care, and adherence
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and ANAC.
Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Grant
Encourages qualified nurses to conduct research related to perioperative nursing practice and
contribute to the development of perioperative nursing science.
• Application deadline: 31 August
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 15 November
• Grant topic: PeriOperative nursing care
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and AORN.
Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF) Collaborative Grant
Supports research that advances the practice of nursing, with an emphasis on nursing care issues.
• Application deadline: 1 December
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 June
• Grant topic: Nursing practice
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and the CNF.
Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS) Grant
Encourages qualified nurses to improve the health of the world's people through research.
• Application deadline: 1 December
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 June
• Grant topic: Proposals for clinical, educational, or historical research, including plans for broadly
disseminating the research findings, may be submitted for the grant.
• Funds for this grant are provided by Sigma and CANS.
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Foundation Grant
Encourages nursing research that will advance the specialized practice of emergency nursing. All
relevant research topics will be considered.
• Application deadline: 28 August
• Budget maximum: Up to US $6,000
• Notification date: October
• Grant topic: Emergency nursing
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and ENA Foundation.
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) End-of-Live Nursing Care Research Grant
The purpose of the research grant is to encourage qualified nurses to contribute to the advancement of
nursing care through research.
• Application deadline: 1 April
• Budget maximum: Up to US $10,000
• Funding date: 1 August
• Grant topic: End-of-life nursing care
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and HPNF.
Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Research Grant
Encourages qualified nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research.
• Application deadline: 1 April
• Budget maximum: Up to US $2,500
• Funding date: 1 August
• Grant topic: All research topics and designs are eligible for support. Multidisciplinary, historical,
and international research is encouraged.
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and MNRS.
National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Research Grant
Encourage qualified nurses to contribute to the advancement of Latino health through nursing research.
Proposals for pilot and/or development research may be submitted for this grant.
• Application deadline: 1 April
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 August
• Grant topic: Latino health through nursing research
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and NAHN.
National League for Nursing (NLN) Grant
Supports research that advances the science of nursing education and learning through the use of
technology in dissemination of knowledge.
• Application deadline: 3 February
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 November
• Grant topic: Nurse education and learning through the use of technology
• Funds for this grant are made possible from a gift from Dr. Diane Billings to the Sigma
Foundation for Nursing research endowment.
Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) Research Grant
The purpose of the collaborative grant is to encourage qualified nurses to contribute to the
advancement of nursing through research.
• Application deadline: 1 April
• Budget maximum: Up to US $5,000
• Funding date: 1 August
• Grant topic: Any nursing topic. Proposals for pilot and/or development research may be
submitted for this grant.
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and SNRS.
Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) Research Grant
Encourages qualified nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research.
• Application deadline: 1 December
• Budget maximum: Up to US $10,000
• Funding date: 1 April
• Grant topic: Any nursing topic. Proposals for pilot and/or development research may be
submitted for this grant.
• Funds for this grant are provided jointly by Sigma and WIN.
Research Award Opportunities
The mission of Sigma is developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere. Sigma
celebrates nursing excellence through our award programs. For more information regarding awards and
nomination information, visit Sigmanursing.org/Awards or email Awards@SigmaNursing.org.
Leadership and Professionalism
• Amy J. Berman Geriatric Nursing Leadership Award*
• Daniel J. Pesut Spirit of Renewal Award*
• Dorothy Ford Buschmann Outstanding New Member Award*
• Excellence in Leadership Award (Mary Tolle Wright Founders Award)*
• Excellence in Service Award (Dorothy Garrigus Adams Founders Award)*
• Melanie C. Dreher Award for Outstanding Chapter Support
• Virginia K. Saba Nursing Informatics Leadership Award*
Nursing Practice
• Audrey Hepburn Award for Contributions to the Health and Welfare of Children*
• Excellence in Creativity & Innovation Award (Edith Moore Copeland Founders Award)*
• Excellence in Nursing Practice Award (Marie Hippensteel Lingeman Founders Award)*
• Healthy Work Environment Awards (Academic & Clinical)
• Helen Henry Excellence of Interprofessional Care Award
• Lucie S. Kelly Mentor Award*
Research and Education
• Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award*
• Episteme Award
• Excellence in Education Award (Elizabeth Russell Belford Founders Award)*
• Excellence in Research Award (Elizabeth McWilliams Miller Founders Award)*
• International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame*
• Research Dissertation Award
Communications
• Capstone International Nursing Book Award
• Creative Communications Award
*Sigma membership is required
Research grants are made possible through donations
to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing's Research Fund.
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Zainabu Sesay-Harrell, BSN MSN APRN
Community Educator
New York
United States of America
Sierra Leone, West Africa
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