Frequently asked questions

The complete application is due September 21st at 11:59 PM ET.

Click the Apply Now button to submit your application. You will also have the option to save it if you wish not to complete it in its entirety.

You will receive a confirmation email upon submission.

US Applicants: A 501(c)(3) organization is a specific type of nonprofit organization in the United States that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These organizations are typically organized and operated for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, or other similar purposes.

Not sure if you are a non-profit organization (US-only)? An Internet search with your Organization's name and “EIN” will provide you the unique number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to be entered into the section Enter Organization's EIN Number.

Global Applicants: To determine if an organization outside the US is a non-profit, you can look for evidence of its legal status, charitable purposes, and tax-exempt status in its respective country. Many countries have mechanisms for registering and recognizing non-profit organizations, similar to the IRS's 501(c)(3) status in the US.

Legal status and registration:

• Search for registration information: Look for the organization's official registration number or license within the country's non-profit registration system.
• Check the organization's official website: Many non-profits will prominently display their legal status and registration details on their website.

If an organization is not a 501(c)(3), which is a non-profit, it may partner with a fiscal sponsor. This means that for your hospital, health system, or organization to back your pitch, you need a non-profit organization to partner with you and be in charge of the funding, to give an extra layer of accountability that any grant award will go toward building your idea, and not into anyone's pocket.

The Fiscal Sponsor directly receives the Grants for the project or program, and the receipt and use of these funds are reported on the Fiscal Sponsor's tax filings. The Fiscal Sponsor is responsible for the government filings, compliance tasks, fund disbursement, and financial reporting.

NurseHack4Health, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, and SONSIEL do not acquire any IP — this is a no-strings-attached arrangement.

Any IP creation and/or protection remains the sole responsibility of the inventors. Please speak with your Tech Transfer Officer or an institutional equivalent before proceeding to ensure clarity and understanding of IP.

A patent is not required to apply.

Do not submit confidential information. Only non-confidential information should be submitted, and anything you submit will be treated as non-confidential.

Although completing the written application typically takes less than an hour, there are approximately 5 hours of optional but highly recommended training and workshops, covering topics like Design Thinking, Budgeting & Competitive Analysis, AI Prompting & Solutions, and Crafting the Perfect Pitch. Including the training, most teams spend between 15–30 hours total on breaking down the problem, brainstorming solutions, and developing their pitch.

We understand your time is valuable, so we have a few Must-Haves as you consider your eligibility and application:

Track 1 & Track 2:

• Grants must be used for project implementation.
• Teams must be nurse-led and encouraged to be interdisciplinary.
• Teams must have at least one member of executive leadership as an advisor or sponsor to implement innovations within healthcare system / organization.
• Grantees must start implementation by January 2027 and end fund spending by December 31, 2027.
• Teams must articulate sustainability plans beyond this grant cycle.
• Grantees cannot be vendors.
• Grantees must be a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit / international equivalent or have a fiscal sponsor.

Track 3:

• Grants must be used for project implementation.
• Must be US-based nurse-founded startups with less than $50,000 in capital.
• Teams must be nurse-led.
• Grantees must start implementation by January 2027 and end fund spending by December 31, 2027.
• Teams must articulate sustainability plans beyond this grant cycle.
• Innovation / solution must create a thriving workforce and/or healthier work environment in alignment with Pitch-A-Thon objectives.