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Canadian Nurses Foundation · National

Kathy Howe Nursing Leadership Fund

Reviewed by G Paul · verified April 23, 2026

$5,000

Total value

Dec 1

Deadline

About this award

Get up to $5,000 for your nursing leadership or business studies if you are a licensed nurse in Alberta with at least two years of experience.

Depending on your level of study, you can receive up to $3,000 for a baccalaureate degree or up to $5,000 for a masters or nurse practitioner program. 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 nursing professional in Alberta looking to advance your leadership skills or business knowledge through further university education. Applications open each December and close in late January for the following academic year. No specific date is posted publicly for the current cycle — before you start your application, check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization that supports nursing education) program page or call their office to confirm when applications close this year. You will hear back through the application portal or email. Winners are chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. They award over 135 scholarships per year across all their different funding tiers, so you are competing against a large pool of nursing students nationwide. 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, Graduate — study level
Resident of AB — provincial eligibility
Studying nursing, leadership, business — 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 December 1, 2026~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.

More details

Experience

The biggest mistake is simply listing your job title.

Strategy

Winners instead describe specific leadership moments from their two-plus years of nursing, such as mentoring new staff or improving ward efficiency.

Strategy

Give concrete examples of how you led others.

Licensure

Many applicants forget to attach their current Alberta license.

Strategy

Ensure your LPN, RN, or NP credentials are up to date and clearly visible in your upload so the committee doesn't have to hunt for your eligibility.

Strategy

Since one single application covers every CNF scholarship you qualify for, don't try to write a separate essay for each.

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