Canadian Nurses Foundation · National
NLN.ON/CNF Nursing Leadership Award
About this award
Get up to $10,000 for your graduate nursing leadership studies — apply between December and late January.
Depending on your level of study, you can receive up to $5,000 for a Masters degree or up to $10,000 for a Doctoral / PhD. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an experienced Ontario nurse moving into a leadership role and want to share your findings with your peers. Applications open each December and close in late January for the following academic year. No specific notification date is posted publicly — before you start the application, check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization providing financial support to nurses) program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. The CNF awards committee chooses winners based on merit. They award over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they do not publish the exact number of winners for this specific award — ask the CNF how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the CNF 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 CNF whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
- Graduate — study level
- Resident of ON — provincial eligibility
- Studying nursing leadership — 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 describing your research in purely academic terms.
Winners instead explain exactly how their knowledge translation will practically improve nursing leadership in Ontario.
Detail the specific topics you are prepared to present at NLN.ON events.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic character reference.
Winners instead secure letters from supervisors who can vouch for their leadership potential and their active engagement with the NLN.ON community over the past year.
The biggest mistake is treating this as a separate application.