$30,000 in Grants Up for Grabs for Nurses Ready to Lead the Future of AI
- The American Nurses Foundation is partnering with Hippocratic AI to give away three $10,000 microgrants for nurse-led research teams to explore AI in nursing.
- Applications are due by February 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST, with winners to be notified in April.
- The program aims to position nurses as key stakeholders and decision-makers in healthcare AI adoption.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way healthcare works, and nurses are being invited to lead the charge. The American Nurses Foundation (ANF), in partnership with Hippocratic AI, has announced three $10,000 microgrants for nurse-led research teams dedicated to exploring how AI can transform nursing practice and improve patient care.
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Amy McCarthy, Chief Nursing Officer at Hippocratic AI, explained in a press release that the grants are a reflection of the company's belief that nurses are integral to ensuring AI is used to improve nursing care.
"At Hippocratic AI, we believe the future of healthcare innovation must be shaped by nurses, who are the clinicians that best understand the realities of patient care," she noted. "Our partnership with the American Nurses Foundation reflects our shared commitment to empowering nurses as leaders in AI adoption."
If you happen to be a nurse researcher interested in furthering AI in clinical practice, read on for the details of how to apply for one of the three $10,000 microgrants.
Who Can Apply for the $10,000?
This funding opportunity is open to nurses at all career stages, but priority is being given to proposals from clinical bedside nurses with 3–5 years of experience who collaborate with nurse leaders in executive roles. So, if you’re a hands-on nurse who’s ready to team up with the C-suite and get your ideas off the ground, this is your moment.
Priority will also be given to projects focusing on:
- Developing AI tools that help nurses prep before patient procedures (imagine a tool that makes pre-op smoother than ever)
- Creating nurse-friendly AI interfaces
- AI nursing tools and communication
- Strategies to increase AI adoption while easing skepticism among nursing staff
All proposals need to be clear about their goals and include realistic plans for implementation. In other words, dream big, but keep it practical.
How Do You Apply?
The application window opened on November 11, 2025, and closes February 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST. That gives you about four months to brainstorm, plan, and submit your ideas. Notifications of winners will be announced in April 2026.
If you’re curious and want to learn more, mark your calendar for an informational phone call for prospective participants on November 19, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST. No need to register—just show up (virtually, of course) and get the details straight from the source.
Applications need to be submitted through ANF’s online Submission Portal.
Why AI in Nursing?
The ANA officially endorses the ethical use of AI in nursing practice, but is also committed to exploring the best ways to use it in a way that supports both nurses and patients, as well as the overall healthcare industry.
If AI is unavailable in nursing practice, it only makes sense to ensure that nurses—especially those nurses involved in hands-on, clinical, bedside care—are also the ones helping to lead its formation and application in practice.
So, this funding initiative goes beyond just handing out checks for cool projects. It’s part of a larger effort to build nurse leaders in innovation, with a focus on early-career nurses.
“We’re seeking proposals that don’t just imagine what might be possible but demonstrate how nurse-led solutions can transform patient care and improve the health of communities," Graig Eastin, Executive Director of the American Nurses Foundation. "We look forward to receiving bold, thoughtful, and actionable proposals that turn ideas into evidence, and evidence into impact.”
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