Nursing Workforce Development (NWD)

The Nursing Workforce Development (NWD) program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration. This federal initiative is aligned with national priorities to strengthen the healthcare workforce, particularly by addressing shortages and improving diversity within the nursing profession. HRSA, as a primary federal agency supporting health workforce programs, focuses on expanding access to quality healthcare by investing in education and training pathways. The NWD program specifically supports efforts to increase opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter and succeed in nursing careers. The core purpose of the program is to expand nursing education opportunities and promote workforce diversity. Funding is intended to support initiatives that reduce barriers to nursing education, including financial, academic, and social obstacles faced by underserved populations. Projects may include academic support services, mentorship programs, pipeline development, and institutional capacity-building efforts that improve recruitment, retention, and graduation rates for nursing students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes that contribute to a more diverse and culturally competent nursing workforce. Funding under this opportunity is distributed as discretionary grants, with an estimated total program funding of 20000000 dollars and approximately 36 awards expected. Individual awards may reach up to 555000 dollars. While a minimum award amount is technically listed as 1 dollar, this appears to function as a placeholder rather than a practical funding threshold. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, allowing applicants to fully utilize federal funds for allowable program expenses. These typically include personnel, training resources, student support services, and administrative costs necessary to implement approved project activities. Eligible applicants are broad and include state and local governments, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, institutions of higher education (both public and private), tribal governments and organizations, school districts, and other domestic nonprofit entities. Additional eligible entities specifically include accredited schools of nursing, academic health centers, nursing centers, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations. This wide eligibility scope reflects the program’s intent to engage diverse institutions capable of supporting nursing workforce development initiatives. The application process requires electronic submission through the designated federal grants portal by the stated deadline. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast notice, applicants should expect to provide standard federal grant materials, including project narratives, budgets, and organizational information. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent indicated in the forecast stage. The timeline for this opportunity indicates that it is currently in a forecasted phase, with an estimated posting date of May 22, 2026, and an application deadline of June 22, 2026. Awards are expected to be made by September 1, 2026, with project activities beginning shortly thereafter. The opportunity is associated with fiscal year 2026 funding and does not explicitly indicate recurring cycles, though similar workforce programs are often reissued annually. Applicants are encouraged to monitor official postings for final application instructions and any updates prior to submission.