Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 16 064
The Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) intended to expand and strengthen pathways into nursing for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a specific emphasis on racial and ethnic minorities who remain underrepresented among registered nurses. The core idea behind the program is not only to recruit students, but to keep them in nursing programs through graduation by intentionally addressing the real-world conditions that shape educational outcomes. To do that, the program expects applicants to use social determinants of health and education (factors such as financial strain, transportation, housing instability, family responsibilities, academic preparation, and limited access to support systems) to guide how they design student retention and success strategies.
The program supports a wide range of activities that reduce barriers to entry, persistence, and completion in nursing education. Funded projects may provide direct student financial support through stipends or scholarships, including scholarships or stipends for students in accelerated nursing degree programs. The program also allows stipends for diploma or associate degree nurses who are moving into bridge programs or degree completion tracks, along with pre-entry preparation efforts (such as readiness or pipeline programming), advanced education preparation, and structured retention activities. In practice, this means a funded project can combine money for students with tutoring, mentoring, and other supports that help students stay on track academically and personally.
A central requirement of the NWD program is that applicants must do more than describe a need for diversity. They must identify and clearly explain the root causes of attrition among their target students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes a focused discussion of the specific social determinants that are limiting student achievement and persistence in that institution or community. Applications are expected to show how that analysis directly informs the selection of evidence-based approaches that have been shown to work for retaining disadvantaged nursing students, including underrepresented racial and ethnic minority students. The expectation is that the proposed plan is practical, grounded in documented evidence, and tailored to the barriers students are actually facing rather than using generic retention activities.
HRSA signals that strong retention strategies typically involve a combination of several elements, rather than relying on only one intervention. The evidence-based approaches highlighted in the announcement include academic and peer support (for example, tutoring, study groups, supplemental instruction, or structured peer networks), mentoring (faculty, peer, or professional mentoring models), institutional and community partnerships, and student financial support. Competitive applicants are expected to demonstrate how they will blend these components in a coordinated way to support students with low academic achievement or those at risk of failing, and to show how the planned interventions connect back to the identified social determinants affecting their students.
Two expectations are particularly explicit. First, applicants must implement at least one partnership with both an internal institutional partner and an external community organization. The partnerships should be designed to improve academic achievement and persistence through efforts like academic enhancement, science and math enrichment, and mentoring supports. Second, applicants must identify and address institutional structures within schools of nursing that act as barriers to student success. This requirement pushes applicants to look at policies, program design, advising systems, course sequencing, clinical placement access, gatekeeping practices, or other institutional factors that may unintentionally contribute to dropout or failure for disadvantaged students.
The announcement also makes clear what sets highly competitive applications apart. Strong applicants are expected to demonstrate a real organizational commitment to diversity in nursing, provide evidence that they have historically faced challenges retaining disadvantaged students, and present a clear analysis of the root causes of those challenges using a social determinants lens. They also should describe concrete actions already taken or underway, such as hiring key staff, building internal student support programs, and establishing external partnerships, rather than treating the project as purely aspirational. In other words, the most competitive proposals tend to show readiness and capacity to implement quickly, evaluate effectively, and sustain meaningful retention improvements.
Eligibility is broad but institution-focused. Eligible applicants include accredited schools of nursing, nursing centers, academic health centers, state or local governments, and other public or private entities the Secretary deems appropriate. Faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and Tribes and Tribal Organizations may apply if they otherwise meet eligibility requirements. Individuals cannot apply. A major compliance detail is that any school of nursing involved in providing a formal degree program must be accredited by a recognized national nursing education accrediting agency or an approved state agency, and the application must include proof of accreditation as Attachment 8 (such as an official accreditation letter showing the approved dates). Applications missing this documentation are considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed for funding, and simply linking to an accreditor website is not accepted as proof.
From the funding notice details provided, this opportunity is listed under HRSA funding opportunity number HRSA-16-064, CFDA 93.178, categorized as a grant in the health activity area. The original closing date shown is November 16, 2015, and the notice anticipated about 12 awards, with no specific award ceiling stated in the provided data.Apply for HRSA 16 064
- The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.178.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-11-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program (HRSA)
What is the Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program?
The Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It is designed to expand and strengthen pathways into nursing for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a specific emphasis on racial and ethnic minorities who remain underrepresented among registered nurses.
What is the main goal of the NWD Program?
The program aims to do more than recruit students into nursing. A central goal is to improve retention and support students through graduation by addressing real-world conditions that affect educational outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Who is the program intended to help?
The NWD Program focuses on individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, with particular emphasis on underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups in the registered nurse workforce.
How does HRSA expect applicants to design their retention and success strategies?
Applicants are expected to use a social determinants of health and education lens to guide their retention and success strategies. This includes considering factors such as financial strain, transportation challenges, housing instability, family responsibilities, academic preparation gaps, and limited access to support systems.
What kinds of activities can be supported with NWD Program funds?
The program supports a wide range of activities aimed at reducing barriers to entry, persistence, and completion in nursing education. Examples mentioned include direct student financial support (stipends or scholarships), pre-entry preparation (readiness or pipeline programming), advanced education preparation, and structured retention activities such as tutoring and mentoring.
Can funded projects provide scholarships or stipends directly to students?
Yes. Funded projects may provide direct student financial support through stipends or scholarships.
Are scholarships or stipends allowed for students in accelerated nursing degree programs?
Yes. The program specifically notes that scholarships or stipends may include support for students in accelerated nursing degree programs.
Can the program support diploma or associate degree nurses who are moving into bridge programs or degree completion tracks?
Yes. The program allows stipends for diploma or associate degree nurses transitioning into bridge programs or degree completion tracks.
Does HRSA expect projects to combine financial support with other services?
Yes. The opportunity description emphasizes that a funded project can combine student financial support with tutoring, mentoring, and other academic and personal supports to help students stay on track.
What is required regarding root causes of student attrition?
Applicants are required to identify and clearly explain the root causes of attrition among the target students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes a focused discussion of the specific social determinants limiting student achievement and persistence in the institution or community.
Is it enough to simply state that nursing workforce diversity is needed?
No. Applicants must do more than describe a general need for diversity. They must present a clear analysis of why disadvantaged students are leaving or struggling (root causes of attrition) and connect that analysis to the interventions they propose.
Does the program require the use of evidence-based approaches?
Yes. Applications are expected to show how the root-cause analysis informs the selection of evidence-based approaches that have been shown to retain disadvantaged nursing students, including underrepresented racial and ethnic minority students.
What evidence-based approaches are highlighted as examples in the announcement?
The announcement highlights several categories of evidence-based retention strategies, including academic and peer support (such as tutoring, study groups, supplemental instruction, or structured peer networks), mentoring (faculty, peer, or professional models), institutional and community partnerships, and student financial support.
Does HRSA prefer a single intervention or a combination of strategies?
HRSA indicates that strong retention strategies typically involve a coordinated combination of elements rather than relying on only one intervention.
What partnership requirements apply to NWD Program applicants?
Applicants must implement at least one partnership with both (1) an internal institutional partner and (2) an external community organization. These partnerships should be designed to improve academic achievement and persistence through efforts such as academic enhancement, science and math enrichment, and mentoring supports.
What does HRSA mean by internal and external partners?
The opportunity states that applicants must have at least one internal institutional partner and at least one external community organization partner. The specific entities are not named in the provided description, but the intent is to coordinate efforts inside the institution and with a community-based partner to support student achievement and persistence.
Are applicants required to address institutional barriers within schools of nursing?
Yes. Applicants must identify and address institutional structures within schools of nursing that act as barriers to student success.
What are examples of institutional structures that may be considered barriers?
The announcement provides examples such as policies, program design, advising systems, course sequencing, clinical placement access, gatekeeping practices, and other institutional factors that may unintentionally contribute to dropout or failure for disadvantaged students.
What characteristics are associated with highly competitive applications?
Highly competitive applications are expected to demonstrate organizational commitment to diversity in nursing, provide evidence of historical challenges retaining disadvantaged students, present a clear root-cause analysis using a social determinants lens, and describe concrete actions already taken or underway (such as hiring key staff, building support programs, and establishing partnerships). They also tend to show readiness and capacity to implement quickly, evaluate effectively, and sustain improvements.
Who is eligible to apply for the NWD Program?
Eligible applicants include accredited schools of nursing, nursing centers, academic health centers, state or local governments, and other public or private entities the Secretary deems appropriate. Faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and Tribes and Tribal Organizations may apply if they otherwise meet eligibility requirements.
Can individuals apply for this grant?
No. Individuals cannot apply.
What accreditation requirement applies to schools of nursing involved in formal degree programs?
Any school of nursing involved in providing a formal degree program must be accredited by a recognized national nursing education accrediting agency or an approved state agency.
What documentation is required to prove nursing program accreditation?
The application must include proof of accreditation as Attachment 8, such as an official accreditation letter showing the approved dates.
What happens if the application does not include the required accreditation documentation?
Applications missing the required accreditation documentation are considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed for funding.
Is a link to the accrediting agency website acceptable proof of accreditation?
No. The information provided states that simply linking to an accreditor website is not accepted as proof of accreditation.
What is the HRSA funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is HRSA-16-064, and the CFDA number is 93.178.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as a grant in the health activity area.
What closing date is listed in the provided notice details?
The original closing date shown is November 16, 2015.
How many awards were anticipated in the notice details provided?
The notice anticipated about 12 awards.
Is an award ceiling stated in the provided information?
No specific award ceiling is stated in the provided data.
What kinds of student needs does the program expect applicants to consider?
The program expects applicants to consider real-world conditions that affect educational outcomes, including financial strain, transportation barriers, housing instability, family responsibilities, academic preparation, and limited access to support systems.
How should proposed interventions relate to the barriers students face?
Interventions are expected to be practical, grounded in documented evidence, and tailored to the specific barriers identified through the applicant's root-cause and social determinants analysis, rather than relying on generic retention activities.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Next opportunity: Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Sentinel Site Project
Previous opportunity: FY 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity for NGO Programs in South Sudan Responding to the Ongoing Sudan Crisis
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for HRSA 16 064
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (HRSA 16 064) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Strengthening Laboratory and Blood Transfusion Services in South Sudan under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH15 157102CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH15 157102CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Strengthening HIV Strategic Information Activities in the Republic of Senegal under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Apply for CDC RFA GH15 157302CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH15 157302CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Strengthening the Capacity of the Republican AIDS Center to Implement HIV Program in the Republic of Tajikistan under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH15 151402CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH15 151402CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Technical Assistance to National AIDS Control Program (NACP) in India for Strategic Planning and Decision Making under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Voluntary Health Services Apply for CDC RFA GH13 136203CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH13 136203CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Technical Assistance for Strengthening of Blood Transfusion Services and Increasing Access to Safe Blood in India under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Christian Medical Association India Apply for CDC RFA GH13 136003CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH13 136003CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Building Institutional Capacity to Improve HIV-TB Care and Treatment Service Quality in India under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH15 154002CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH15 154002CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Partnering with Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City to Enhance Regional Capacity to Prevent, Detect, Monitor, and Respond to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Vietnam under PEPFAR Apply for CDC RFA GH15 159502CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH15 159502CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Apply for RFA DP 16 001 Funding Number: RFA DP 16 001 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA Category: Health Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Sentinel Site Project Apply for CDC RFA IP13 130204CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA IP13 130204CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Partnering with Hanoi Medical University to Build Capacity and Implement Program Evaluation and Health System Strengthening in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)” Center for Glo Apply for CDC RFA GH12 123204CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH12 123204CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Implementation of a Program to Build the Institutional Capacity to Develop Strategic Information Capability for Individuals and Organizations that will Contribute to Enhanced Quality in Collection, Management, Analysis and Presentation of HIV/AIDS Apply for CDC RFA GH12 124304CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH12 124304CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Technical Assistance to Provide High-Quality Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) Services to Programs Supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH15 153702CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH15 153702CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Emergency Relief Funds (ERF) Apply for HRSA 16 080 Funding Number: HRSA 16 080 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Social and Behavioral Interventions to Increase Organ Donation Apply for HRSA 16 072 Funding Number: HRSA 16 072 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers Without Walls for Collaborative Research in the Epilepsies: Developing Transformative Therapies for Modifying or Preventing Epilepsy (U54) Apply for RFA NS 16 012 Funding Number: RFA NS 16 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Improving the Capacity of the Southern Province Medical Office in the Management of HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Services in the Southern Province of the Republic of Zambia under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA PS10 1010705CONT16 Funding Number: CDC RFA PS10 1010705CONT16 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Service Area Competition – Additional Areas (SAC-AA) – Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, and West Virginia Apply for HRSA 16 168 Funding Number: HRSA 16 168 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Phase II Innovation Award for Mechanistic Studies to Optimize Mind and Body Interventions in NCCIH High Priority Research Topics (R33) Apply for RFA AT 16 006 Funding Number: RFA AT 16 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants (T03) Apply for PAR 15 352 Funding Number: PAR 15 352 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA Category: Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health (U54) Apply for PAR 15 353 Funding Number: PAR 15 353 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,350,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "HRSA 16 064", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.