Healthcare and Nursing Education Foundation

**What is HNEF?** The Houston Nursing Education Foundation (HNEF), a not-for-profit organization, awards financial scholarships to Houston-area nursing students. In 2025 alone, HNEF will award more than $700,000 in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students attending accredited programs at eight local universities. Over its history, HNEF has directed the distribution of over $6 million in support of better healthcare for all people in the Houston area. Our Board members are Houston leaders dedicated to helping nursing students overcome financial barriers, toward the goal of reducing Houston’s critical nursing shortage, and empowering individuals to pursue careers in this vital field of healthcare delivery. **Our History** HNEF continues a 100-year history of supporting healthcare needs of the greater Houston area. It is the direct successor to the original Houston Settlement Association founded in 1908 and the subsequent Visiting Nurse Association of Houston. In 1994 the organization became known as Healthcare and Nursing Education Foundation. For many years it pursued a dual mission: funding nursing scholarships, and awarding grants to nonprofit organizations to encourage the creation of new models in healthcare delivery in Houston. In 2024 the organization decided to dedicate all of its resources to providing scholarships to nursing students who plan to practice in our community, and changed its name to Houston Nursing Education Foundation **Addressing Houston’s Nursing Shortage** The nursing shortage in the United States has reached critical levels, impacting healthcare delivery nationwide. Houston, as one of the nation’s healthcare hubs, faces unique challenges that exacerbate the shortage. The city’s rapidly expanding population increases demand for healthcare services, particularly in specialized areas such as oncology, cardiology, and neonatal care. The Texas Medical Center, based in Houston, is the largest medical complex in the world and attracts patients from every continent. With some 10 million patient encounters per year, nurses are critical to the availability and delivery of healthcare services to Houston’s growing population and its many visitors. The nursing profession—and access to the education required to enter this field–are critical not only to our community’s health, but also our economy. Nursing is among the most opportune professions for upward mobility, combining strong demand, accessible entry points, clear pathways for advancement, and competitive compensation. Many of our scholarship recipients have worked for years as a bedside aide, waiting for the opportunity to pursue the dream and professional and financial advancement of a nursing degree. Our goal is to help them fulfill that dream.