RCN Foundation

The RCN Foundation, an independent UK-wide charity established in 2010 by the Royal College of Nursing, exists to support and strengthen nursing, midwifery, and healthcare support workforces, ultimately improving public health and patient care. Its mission emphasizes safeguarding professionals through welfare relief, advancing education and skills, and enabling innovative projects, guided by values of compassion, professionalism, and public benefit. Open to all UK practitioners regardless of RCN membership, it uniquely blends benevolent aid, professional development, and project funding in a collaborative, evidence-driven approach, distributing over £1.36 million annually across hundreds of grants.

It prioritizes three grant types: hardship grants for nurses, midwives, and support workers facing acute financial difficulties (covering essentials like living costs or mobility aids); education and career bursaries/scholarships for training, postgraduate studies, research, and specialist skills (e.g., emergency nurse practitioners); and project grants for nurse- or midwife-led initiatives tackling mental health, dementia care, workforce wellbeing, care homes, leadership, and evidence-based innovations that enhance patient outcomes.

Eligible applicants include UK-based individuals and small-to-medium organizations/teams in nursing, midwifery, or support roles across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Channel Islands—no income thresholds or religious restrictions, with preference for smaller entities. Applications are unsolicited via online form: rolling for hardship (decisions in ~6 weeks), biannual for education/projects (next deadline 22 September 2025 for Autumn 2025 courses starting 2026-2027). Typical grants range £1,000-£2,500.

Exclusively funding nursing/midwifery with direct/indirect patient benefits, it avoids unrelated healthcare or non-workforce support. Distinctive for its sector-specific focus, robust governance, measurable impact emphasis, and transparency via annual reports, making it ideal for aligned charities innovating in these professions.