Canadian Nurses Foundation · National
CNSA Community Involvement Award
About this award
Get up to $3,000 for your community involvement work — apply between December and late January.
You can receive up to $3,000. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have dedicated your time this academic year to helping others through community work, such as health promotion or advocating for people in vulnerable situations. Applications open each December and close in late January for the following academic year. No specific notification date is posted publicly — when you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back via email, portal, or phone. The CNF (Canadian Nurses Foundation — the organization that supports nursing education) awards committee chooses winners based on merit. They give out over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they don't publish exactly how many people win this specific award — ask them how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the Canadian Nurses Foundation during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with the Canadian Nurses Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
- Undergraduate — study level
- Studying nursing — field of study
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is listing a series of clubs you joined without explaining the result.
Winners instead show the actual impact of their work, like how many people they helped in a harm reduction clinic.
Give a concrete number of hours or people served.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic character reference.
Winners provide letters from supervisors at the clinics or organizations where they volunteered.
Get a signed letter on official letterhead that describes your specific contributions.