Amplifying Impact, One Nurse at a Time: The Houston Nursing Education Foundation

The Houston Nursing Education Foundation (HNEF) is stepping up with a new strategy during a time when the healthcare system is under unprecedented strain. Recognizing the urgent need to address the nursing shortage, HNEF has made a pivotal shift: focusing all its resources on scholarships to empower the next generation of nurses.
Decades of Caring
HNEF has had a resounding impact on advancing healthcare in the Greater Houston area, pursuing a dual mission of funding nursing scholarships and awarding grants to other nonprofits that enhance healthcare delivery in Houston. Over its history, HNEF has directed over $6 million towards initiatives that improve healthcare for all people in the Houston area.
Historically, HNEF’s grantmaking focused on enhancing access to quality healthcare for communities in need, supporting a variety of specialties, including adolescent mental health, maternal health, senior programs, disability support, pediatric care, obesity and so much more. As the national nursing shortage reached critical levels, HNEF recognized that Houston—home to the world’s largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center—would face even greater challenges.

Nursing In Crisis
The nursing shortage is not just a staffing issue; it’s a crisis that impacts hospitals, clinics, and communities nationwide. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis estimates that by 2030, the estimated shortfall of registered nurses will exceed 500,000. The report also notes how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the population seeking care, the workforce providing care, and the data available for both.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 193,000 registered nursing positions will need to be filled each year through 2032, driven by both workforce turnover and the growing healthcare needs of an aging population. This persistent gap is felt across the entire healthcare spectrum, from hospitals and long-term care facilities to outpatient clinics, schools, and community health centers. A shortage of nurses means a shortage of care for everyone.
A Strategic Pivot
For years, HNEF has been a quiet but powerful force in supporting nursing education and healthcare initiatives. Now, HNEF is amplifying the impact of its dollars by focusing exclusively on supporting nursing education scholarships.
By solely focusing on scholarships, HNEF is not just funding education; it’s fueling dreams, breaking down barriers, and building a stronger, more resilient healthcare workforce. Since partnering with the Community Foundation in 2017, HNEF has awarded over $2.4M in scholarships to 295 nursing students. With their new strategy in place, for the 2025-26 academic year, HNEF will award more than $700,000 to 79 new nursing scholarship recipients, and 40 renewing scholarship recipients.
When asked about why HNEF has moved away from its grantmaking to only focusing on providing scholarships to nursing students, John Landa, Board President of HNEF, shared, “Imagine you are building a lake. You can create a lake that is a mile wide and one foot deep, or you can design a lake that is a quarter of a mile wide and several feet deep. We decided to build a deeper lake; we decided to have a deeper impact.” This strategic shift is rooted in the belief that the most effective way to combat the nursing shortage is to invest in the next generation of leaders who will shape and strengthen the future of the profession.

Stronger Together
Since 2017, HNEF has partnered with Greater Houston Community Foundation to administer their scholarships and serve as their back office, helping them to implement and manage their initiatives, including handling funds, paying bills, and board meeting preparation and administration. Landa describes HNEF’s relationship with the Community Foundation as “far more than just our business office. The Community Foundation administers our scholarship program and ensures that we are utilizing the industry’s best practices and remain in alignment with IRS rules and regulations. HNEF does not have any employees, meaning we do not have to pay salaries, benefits, and so forth. This partnership enables us [HNEF] to focus on leading and less on administration while keeping our overhead expenses low.”
Additionally, the Scholarships Team at the Community Foundation provides analytics to HNEF to help shape how they deploy funds. Landa continued, “We rely on the team at the Community Foundation to provide us with statistics, data analysis, and number crunching to guide our decision-making, sharpening the tools we use to navigate this landscape.”

Launching Futures
By easing the financial burden for nursing students, HNEF is unlocking opportunities for passionate, capable individuals in Houston who might not otherwise have the means to pursue their calling. These scholarships go beyond financial support—they are powerful launchpads for future healthcare leaders.
HNEF’s scholarship program is designed to support students every step of the way. As long as they continue to meet eligibility requirements, students can renew their scholarship each year they are enrolled, continuing through graduation from their nursing program. Undergraduate students can receive up to four semesters of funding. Landa explained, “A lot of these nursing students, especially graduate students, have multiple personal obligations—raising children, supporting extended family, and more. To get these students to cross the bridge and enter a nursing program, they will have much more confidence if they can count on support that gets them closer to the finish line—graduation. Students who need financial assistance need money just as much in their second year, if not more.” By easing some of the economic barriers to post-secondary attainment, a nursing degree becomes not only more accessible but also more attainable and within reach for many aspiring students.

What makes HNEF’s sharpened focus on scholarships so impactful isn’t just the number of awards—it’s the commitment to nurturing future leaders, strengthening communities, and transforming lives. Landa stated, “The nursing profession is one of the best and most accessible professions for upward economic mobility. The most amazing thing about providing scholarships to nurses is that you are giving them access to climb an economic ladder that is so direct and effective. This is a huge difference-maker in the lives of these students and their families.”
Looking Ahead
Every scholarship awarded by HNEF builds on a proud legacy of investing in the future of healthcare. For decades, HNEF has planted seeds of opportunity, each one representing a student’s story of perseverance, compassion, and commitment. And as these scholars graduate and enter the workforce, they carry with them not only clinical skills, but a deep sense of purpose—knowing they were supported by a community that believed in their potential to lead, heal, and make a lasting impact.

Let’s Work Together for Greater Impact
Ready to make a meaningful difference? Whether you’re passionate about launching a scholarship fund or you are a grantmaking nonprofit looking to simplify the operation of your organization, teaming up with Greater Houston Community Foundation can streamline your giving to open more doors for people in our community.
By partnering with us, you’ll receive expert guidance every step of the way—and together, we’ll invest in the potential of future generations. Reach out to Courtney Grymonprez to discuss how you can begin your journey of giving. Join us in building a brighter future through education.
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