Strengthening the Nursing and
Allied Health Workforce
We invest in organizations that expand access to nursing careers and strengthen professional pathways — enabling nurses and allied health professionals to build lasting careers and deliver compassionate, effective care.
We envision a healthcare system where nurses and allied health professionals:
- Receive education that advances their own professional growth and serves the needs of their communities.
- Transition confidently from academic training to practice
- Navigate clear, well-supported career pathways
- Collaborate across disciplines to improve health outcomes
- Shape health policy and system design
The Elisabeth C. DeLuca Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) private family foundation.
Guided by Elisabeth DeLuca’s experience as a nurse, the Foundation focuses its philanthropy on expanding access, strengthening career mobility, and elevating leadership for nursing and allied health professionals.
The Foundation supports this work across three stages of professional development —
from early exposure and education through career advancement and leadership.
Root
face obstacles, setbacks, or doubts that can limit their growth
1
Find
The aspiring nurse discovers the work and impact of nurses and a viable path to a nurse degree that fits their life circumstances.
2
Enroll
The nurse candidate commits to the post-secondary education that fits their goals, budget, and other personal considerations.
3
Study
The nurse student applies themselves in and out of the classroom to gain a big-picture orientation of the profession.
4
Graduate
The new nurse prepares to launch their career with an informed perspective on the profession and industry.
Grow
and opportunities a nurse will need to navigate their career
5
Place
The licensed nurse finds the role in health care that can start them down the path they want to pursue.
6
Evolve
The working nurse matures their unique path as they gain first-hand experience with the nursing profession.
7
Advance
The experienced nurse refines their abilities towards the venue or practice of care in health that motivates them.
Bloom
positive change in health and prepare the next generation of nurses
8
Spread
The experienced nurse or academic drives change and brings people together to advance the profession.
9
Attract
The veteran nurse or thought leader broadens the conversation around the profession to communicate its potential.
Stories of Impact
Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing | University of Connecticut
UConn is more than doubling the number of nurses it graduates each year — and a new, purpose-built home for the school is making it possible, with simulation labs, innovation hubs, and the space to train more nurses than ever. For students, it means a preparation built to match the demands of the work ahead.
Chief Nursing Officer Institute | The Nurses Legacy Institute
The CNO Institute is a four-day immersive program where aspiring, new, and established chief nursing officers build the practical leadership skills the role demands — alongside peers who understand the climb. For nurses ready to lead, it’s a rare space designed specifically for that next step.