NLN Nursing Education Research Grants Program
Research activities advance the NLN's goal of taking the "lead in the conduct of research that informs and promotes evidence-based teaching, advances the science of nursing education, and provides and interprets data about nursing education and the nurse educator workforce." Over the past decade, the NLN has provided funding of approximately $2 million dollars for research in nursing education.
Proposals for the 2027 cycle will be accepted October 31, 2026 through January 20, 2027.
Available NLN Funding Opportunities
Major Grants ($30,000 max):
NLN Nursing Education Research Grants
The NLN Research in Nursing Education Grants Program provides up to $30,000 in grant funding to support high-quality nursing education research conducted by beginning researchers and accomplished scholars. The program supports innovative, rigorous studies that advance the science of nursing education and address critical issues in teaching and learning. Approximately four to five grants are awarded annually to NLN individual members and faculty at NLN member schools.
Goals
- Advance the science of nursing education through rigorous and innovative research
- Support both emerging and established nursing education researchers
- Increase visibility and impact of NLN-sponsored nursing education research
Eligibility
- Applicants must be NLN individual members or faculty at an NLN member school
- Proposed studies must focus on nursing education and address one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
- Applicants must demonstrate methodological rigor and the potential to contribute to the science of nursing education
Funding
- Up to US $30,000 per research award (approximately four to five awards are funded annually)
- Funding is provided by the NLN and through endowments and donations to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education
Small Grants ($5,000 or less):
Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo Research Award
The Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo Research Award is an annual award up to $5,000 to support PhD dissertations, DNP projects or capstones, and MSN student research focused on health informatics, innovation, data analytics, or health information technology in nursing education.
Goals
- Advance the integration of technology in nursing education and academic learning environments
- Expand nurses' and nurse educators' roles in informatics, innovation, and technology
- Promote the development of evidence-based educational technologies and resources
- Advance the science of nursing education through health informatics research and innovation
Eligibility
- Applicants must be NLN individual members or faculty at an NLN member school
- Applicants must hold a master's or doctoral degree or be enrolled in a graduate nursing program (MSN, DNP, DNS, EdD, or PhD)
- Proposed studies must focus on health informatics, innovation, data analytics, or health information technology in nursing education and and must relate to one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
- Applications are encouraged in one of the following areas:
- Translating nursing informatics concepts into new educational applications and systems
- Advancing and expanding future nursing roles through informatics and innovation
- Developing innovative educational technologies that enhance high-impact learning experiences
Funding
- Up to US $5,000 research award
- Funding is provided by the NLN and through endowments and donations to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education
Emerging Investigator in Nursing Education Research Award
Established in 2025, the Emerging Investigator in Nursing Education Research Award is an annual award of up to $5,000 to support early-career nurse educator researchers who are beginning their tenure-track journey. The award provides financial support to advance innovative research and foster the development of future leaders in nursing education.
Goals
- Advance innovative nursing education research
- Support the professional growth of early-career nurse educator researchers
- Develop future leaders in nursing education scholarship
Elibility
- Applicants must be NLN individual members or faculty at an NLN member school
- Applicants must be nurse faculty in the early years of their tenure-track careers who are engaged in research and scholarship
- Proposed studies must relate to one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
Funding
- Up to US $5,000 research award
- Funding is provided by the NLN and through endowments and donations to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education
Mary Anne Rizzolo Doctoral Research Award
The Mary Anne Rizzolo Simulation Doctoral Research Award is a $2,500 award offered annually to support PhD or EdD doctoral dissertation nursing education research or DNP final project nursing education research. This award supports doctoral level research to increase the quality and quantity of scholarly inquiry into the uses of simulation in nursing education.
Goals
- Increase scholarly inquiry into simulation in nursing education
- Advance the science of nursing education
- Increase visibility of NLN-sponsored nursing education research
Eligibility
- Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral nursing program (DNP, DNS, EdD, or PhD); preference will be given to NLN members
- Proposed studies must be clearly focused on advancing the science of nursing education through the use of simulation and must relate to one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
Funding
- US $2,500 research award
- One-year student NLN membership (for recipients who are not already NLN members)
- Funding is provided by the NLN and through endowments and donations to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education
Co-Sponsored Grants:
Eastern Nursing Research Society/NLN Doctoral Research Award
The Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) and the National League for Nursing (NLN) partner to support nursing education research through a $2,500 joint research award.
Goals
- Recognize meritorious dissertation research
- Increase the quality and quantity of nursing education research
- Advance the science of nursing education
Eligibility
- Applicants must be ENRS members who are doctoral nursing students and must be enrolled in a research-focused doctoral nursing program in the eastern region of the US
- Proposed studies must relate to one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
Funding
- US $2,500 research award
- One-year student NLN membership (for recipients who are not already NLN members)
Sigma Foundation for Nursing/NLN Diane Billings Research Award
The National League for Nursing (NLN) and Sigma Foundation for Nursing share a mutual interest in advancing the science of nursing education through research and innovation. Made possible through an individual donor gift, this annual award supports research that explores the use of technology in nursing education and the dissemination of knowledge. This joint award of $5,000 is available to a nurse researcher or doctoral dissertation student.
Goals
- Advance the science of nursing education through research and scholarship
- Support the use of technology in nursing education research and knowledge dissemination
- Increase awareness of support from both Sigma Foundation for Nursing and the NLN for nursing education research
Eligibility
- Applicants must hold a master's or doctoral degree or be enrolled in a doctoral nursing program (DNP, DNS, EdD, or PhD), be a registered nurse with a current license, and preference will be given to Sigma and/or NLN members
- Applicants must provide evidence that the proposed study has been approved by their dissertation or scholarly project committee and that IRB/REC approval has been obtained, where applicable
- Proposed studies must be clearly focused on advancing the science of nursing education through the use of technology in the dissemination of knowledge and must relate to one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
Funding
- Up to US $5,000 research award
- Funding is administered by Sigma and does not cover expenses incurred prior to the disbursement of funds
- Sigma will disburse funds by November 1 of the award year; funds will not be distributed until the required IRB/REC approval documentation has been provided
- One-year student NLN membership (for recipients who are not already NLN members)
Southern Nursing Research Society/NLN Doctoral Research Award
The Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) and the National League for Nursing (NLN) partner to support nursing education research through a $5,000joint research award.
- Recognize meritorious dissertation research
- Increase the quality and quantity of nursing education research
- Advance the science of nursing education
Eligibility
- Applicants must be SNRS members (student or regular) who are doctoral nursing students and must be enrolled in a research-focused doctoral nursing program in the southern region of the US
- Proposed studies must relate to one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
Funding
- US $5,000 research award
- One-year student NLN membership (for recipients who are not already NLN members)
Western Institute of Nursing/NLN Research Award
The Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) and the National League for Nursing (NLN) partner to support nursing education research through a $5,000 joint research award.
Goals
- Advance the science of nursing education through high-quality research
- Increase the quality and quantity of nursing education research
- Strengthen awareness of WIN and NLN support for academic nursing education research
Eligibility
- Applicants must be WIN members (student or regular) and hold a master's or doctoral degree or be enrolled in a research-focused doctoral nursing program in the western region of the US
- Proposed studies must relate to one or more of the Research Priorities in Nursing Education
Funding
- US $5,000 research award
- One-year student NLN membership (for recipients who are not already NLN members)
NLN Research Grants Additional Information
Resources to Review Before Preparing Proposals
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the following resources before preparing and submitting a proposal. These documents provide important guidance on eligibility, proposal requirements, review criteria, budget preparation, and required application forms. (For access, be sure to enable pop-ups in your browser).
- NLN Nursing Education Research Grants Submission Guidelines (PDF)
- Proposal Review Rubric (PDF)
- Critical Points in Successful Nursing Education Research Grant Proposals (PPT) - This slide deck highlights strategies for strengthening proposal rigor and avoiding common pitfalls. It offers guidance on evaluating project feasibility within time and budget constraints, summarizes key review criteria, and encourages submissions that address priority issues advancing the science of nursing education.
- NLN Research Priorities in Nursing Education 2024-2027 (PDF)
- Research Grant Budget Template and Modification Form (XLSX) - This document is required and should be uploaded separately in the application system.
- Sample Budget (justification not included in sample)
- Qualifications of the PI Form (DOCX) - This document is required and should be included in the Comprehensive file.
- Biosketch Form for PI, Co-PIs and consultants (DOCX) - This document is required and should be included in the Comprehensive file.
- FAQs (PDF)
Review Process
The NLN Nursing Education Research Grants review process is used. All proposals are submitted for blind review by carefully selected experts in nursing education research. The submitted Blind Review File is the file that is reviewed by these experts. Grant recipients are selected through a peer review process using the NLN Proposal Review Rubric (see under resources list above).
NLN members who are interested in volunteering as a grant reviewer and have not applied the current cycle, please complete INTEREST FORM.
NLN's appointed Scientific Research Review Board meets each spring to select NLN's research grant and award recipients who are recognized annually at the NLN Education Summit.
Letters of notification are sent to grant applicants in July of each cycle.
Grant recipients are formally announced at the NLN Education Summit each fall. Awardees are encouraged to attend.
For questions about the submission or review process, please contact research@nln.org
Reporting Requirements
The Principal Investigator (PI) establishes the project start and end dates.
Final Report due dates:
- One-year grants must submit report by October 1 of the year following the funding award
- Two-year grants must submit report by October 1 of the second year following the funding award
Any extension or modification of these deadlines requires approval by the NLN. Additional information will be provided to awardees before funds are disbursed.
Online Submission System
Please note: Submissions are accepted online only. You must have a SurveyMonkey Apply account to submit an application. Your NLN Member login is NOT valid.
For questions about the submission process, please contact research@nln.org
Proposals for the 2027 cycle will be accepted October 31, 2026 through January 20, 2027.