The 2024-2025 NEF Scholars attend 32 different Graduate Nursing Programs across the United States.


Support a nurse

Make a donation to NEF and support the future of nursing leadership.


The 2025 NEF Gala Sponsors Include


Ruby ($5,000)
  • New York City Health + Hospitals
  • NYU Langone Health
  • The Mount Sinai Health System Nursing and the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing
Amethyst ($3,000)
  • Henry B. Spencer, NEF Advisory Board Member
Topaz ($2,500)
  • Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing
  • Cynthia D. Sculco, EdD, RN, NEF Board Member - In Memory of Larry Siegel
  • Gotham Companies
  • NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing
  • The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing
Pearl ($1,000)
  • Allison Adams Wieczorek, BS, BA, NEF Advisory Board Member
  • Ann Vanderberg, MA, MBA, RN, Treasurer of NEF
  • Betsy M. McDowell, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, NEF Board Member
  • Cathryne A. Welch
  • Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
  • Joan Marren, MEd, MA, RN, President of NEF
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
  • Lienhard School of Nursing, College of Health Professions at Pace University
  • Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE)
  • Pat Siegel - In Memory of Lawrence J. Siegel, MBA, JD
  • Philip J. Ryan, CPA, NEF Board Member
  • Rosanne Raso, DNP, RN, NEA-BC FAAN, Secretary of NEF
  • Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEF Board Member Emeritus
  • VNS Health
Benefactors ($500)
  • Elizabeth Duthie, PhD, CPPS, FAAN
  • Francine Bono-Neri, PhD, RN, APRN, PNP, NEF Scholar
  • Rita Reiss Wieczorek, EdD, RN, PNP, FAAN, NEF Board Member Emeritus & Robert Wieczorek
  • Whitney Thornton, DNP, MS, RN, NEF Scholar
Patrons ($250)
  • Annie George, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, CCRN, NEF Scholar
  • Harriet Feldman, PhD, RN, FAAN, NEF Board Member
  • JAHF Discretionary Grant
NEF GALA, A SUCCESS!

NEF GALA, A SUCCESS!

An enthusiastic group of nursing leaders, nursing educators, health care business executives, NEF Board members and NEF Scholars came together in the beautiful surroundings of the Columbus Citizens Foundation Townhouse in New York City on May 22, 2025, to support and celebrate the 113 year old non-profit, Nurses Educational Funds, Inc, (NEF) one of the oldest and largest nursing nonprofit corporations in the United States whose mission is to raise money to award scholarships to graduate (master's and doctoral) degree nursing students.

While guests socialized with old friends and met new friends, caterers served delicious refreshments.

read more.
Thelma Schorr, 1924 - 2024

The Nursing Community Loses A Living Legend, Thelma Schorr.

When she left home at the age of 17 to attend nursing school, Thelma Schorr (nee Mermelstein) could not have predicted what lay ahead—forty years at the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) company, progressing from editorial assistant to editor-in-chief, and then ten years as president and publisher; being named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing; receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from ANA; being named Outstanding American Jewish Nurse by Hadassah; three honorary doctorates and many other honors.

read more.
NEF Receives Three New Scholarships

NEF Receives Three New Scholarships

In August 2024 the "Columbia University – Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association Inc./Penny Hund West" Scholarship was established. This is the second Columbia University Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association Inc. Scholarship donated to Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. Both of these permanent scholarships will give preference to a Columbia University School of Nursing student or alumnus.

A second new NEF Scholarship was established in October 2024 by the Conroy Family Charitable Foundation, in honor of Joan L. Conroy, who was a master's prepared nurse. This scholarship will be awarded to PhD prepared nurses specializing in Nursing Education.

Also established in October of 2024 was the Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing, New York Alumnae Association/Edith G. Ryan and Joan Herman Bilder Scholarship. Nurses Educational Funds will award this scholarship to master's or doctoral nursing students who have achieved academic excellence and exhibit excellence in nursing leadership.

UN Recognizes Francine Bono-Neri

Francine Bono-Neri, PhD, RN, APRN, PNP

Francine Bono-Neri Scholarship Fund

On May 8, 2024, Dr. Francine Bono-Neri will be recognized and honored by the NURSES WITH GLOBAL IMPACT and VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at the United Nations as, "the extraordinary nurse who is making a huge impact".

NEF congratulates Francine for this remarkable honor and for her tireless efforts dedicated to the prevention of Human Trafficking.

Francine and NEF have established the Francine Bono-Neri Scholarship Fund to support graduate nurses who are specializing their studies in the prevention of Human Trafficking. As an experienced pediatric nurse practitioner, Dr. Bono-Neri's passion for the global reach of human trafficking inspired her to co-found and serve as president of Nurses United Against Human Trafficking. read more.
BECOME AN NEF DONOR

Brittney Sullivan, 2016-2017 NEF Scholar

Become an NEF Donor and Support NEF

You can make a contribution online directly to NEF by clicking on the DONATE icon in the menu above or by going to the direct link below and following the prompts:

https://www.n-e-f.org/donate

Or you can write a check, payable to NEF and mail the check to NEF, 137 Montague Street, Ste.144, Brooklyn, NY 11201

If you have any questions, please contact the NEF Executive Director, Jerelyn Weiss by email:
jweiss@n-e-f.org

All donations to NEF, a nonprofit organization are tax deductible.

Our Mission & Vision Statement

Pin for Scholarship Recipients

Mission & Vision Statement Of The Nurses Educational Funds, Inc.

Mission

To promote leadership and health equity through scholarship support for professional nurses seeking master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, service and research.

Vision

To be a national leader in providing scholarships to nurses that benefit nursing, health care and the global community.