The Nightingale Fund was established in 2004 to provide grant support for established Faith Community Nursing programs in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. These programs were formerly known as Parish Nursing programs.

Faith Community Nurses are specially trained registered nurses who blend healthcare and ministry by integrating faith and spiritual approaches with traditional medicine. They achieve this through education and assessing the physical, psychological and spiritual health of their faith community.

Who is eligible to apply for funding?
Churches, synagogues or other religious institutions located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia that meet the following criteria:

• They have operated a Faith Community Nursing program for at least one year.

• They are classified as tax exempt by the Internal Revenue Service.

What can be funded:

• Medical and educational equipment

• Specific programs

• Educational materials

• Supplies

What is not funded:
Grant funds are not available for:

• Salaries or stipends

• Financial assistance to individuals

• Activities normally considered to be the responsibility of the requesting religious institution.
   

How to Apply:
Click herefor a grant application. Please note that the completed applications must be received by October 31 and must include the following:

• A description of the proposed project.

• A history of the religious organization’s Faith Community Nursing program.

• The size of the faith community being served and a breakdown of its age distribution.

Mail applications to The Nightingale Fund, c/o The Norfolk Foundation, One Commercial Place, Suite 1410, Norfolk, VA 23510-2103. For questions email SusanSaundersRN@cox.net


Review Process
The Nightingale Fund is a donor advised fund of The Norfolk Foundation. The original donors, Milt and Susan Saunders, will review all application materials. Evaluation may include a site visit and personal interview. The Saunders will recommend grant recipients for final approval by The Norfolk Foundation board of directors. All applicants will be notified by December 31 of the results of their requests.


History of the Nightingale Fund
The Saunders established the Nightingale Fund in 2004 in memory of Susan’s parents Franklin and Katherine Friend. Franklin volunteered with the mental health system in Virginia Beach after retiring from the Ford Motor Company and Katherine volunteered with Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters for more than 25 years. Milt Saunders is a retired physician who volunteers in disaster preparedness and response. Susan Saunders is a Faith Community Nurse. The Saunders live in Chesapeake.
 

Grants Awarded

2007 – Three grants were awarded for faith community nursing programs. Recipients were:

• Bethel Temple – for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) equipment and training

• Bon Secours Medical Center – for lay health minister training

• Old Donation Episcopal Church – for an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)

2006 – Six Hampton Roads churches received grants for their faith community nursing programs:

• Church of the Resurrection in Chesapeake -- to purchase an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

• First Baptist Church of Lambert’s Point – for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training equipment.

• First Lutheran Church of Norfolk – to start a CPR teaching program.

• Historical Queen Street Baptist Church – for training in the use of CPR and an AED in emergencies.

• St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Virginia Beach – to purchase CPR manikins and to train parishioners in emergency care.

• St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach – to establish the Lighten Up program to promote a healthy lifestyle that minimizes cardiovascular risk.

2005 – The Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach received a grant to purchase a scale and materials for the Lighten Up program.