Washington, DC (October 5, 2023) – Today, the American Academy of Nursing (Academy) hosted its 50th anniversary celebration during its 2023 Health Policy Conference, Celebrating 50 Years of Leadership, Policy, and Partnerships. In honor of the Academy’s golden anniversary year, President Kenneth R. White, PhD, APRN-BC, FACHE, FAAN announced The President’s Fund for Policy Investment. Over the past five decades, the Academy and its Fellows have made a lasting impact on health policy—especially improving health and health equity for communities locally and globally. Since 1973, the Academy has welcomed nearly 3,000 Fellows, commissioned 23 Expert Panels to develop policy recommendations based on nursing knowledge, and founded three signature initiatives—the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, Edge Runners, and the Institute of Nursing Leadership—to further integrate nursing science, innovation, and leadership into sound policy decisions.

Dr. White first garnered support from all past presidents of the Academy to establish The President's Fund for Policy Investment, which will help fund the future work of the organization. He requested that they pool their collective contributions, resulting in donations totalling $36,500 to launch the campaign - with a plan to appeal to the Fellows and donors to match the amount to generate gifts totaling $73,000 – which is fitting as 1973 is the organization's founding year. In April 1973, the 36 Charter Fellows held their first meeting to establish the governing council and Rheba de Tornyay (the namesake of the Academy’s annual development fund) was elected as the Academy’s inaugural President.

Philanthropy has been a distinct and highly successful focus of Dr. White’s presidency. He secured the largest major gift in Academy history ($100,000) from a Fellow based on alignment of this individual donor’s interest in amplifying nursing knowledge in policy and the organization’s mission. Under Dr. White’s leadership, the Academy contracted a philanthropy and fundraising consulting firm to assess the organization’s philanthropic capacity and advise on best practices to ensure valued current donors, as well as future ones, are aware of the difference their support makes. The firm’s report identified some key areas in which the Academy can strengthen its community and culture of philanthropy, both within and outside the organization, including launching a 50th anniversary matching campaign.

“As the 29th President of the American Academy of Nursing, during our 50th anniversary year and my 50th year in nursing, I want to look to our future. Fundamentally, the Academy is a policy organization. Our Fellows, nursing’s foremost experts, are selected because of their ability to use nursing science to influence health policy. The Academy has engaged in more than fifty direct policy actions this year, and during my tenure as President, more than one hundred actions on issues ranging from gender affirming care, to preventing gun violence, safe reproductive care, and bolstering the nursing workforce. Our Academy voice is reaching policy makers in Congress and the Administration,” said Dr. White. “As the Board of Directors considers our new strategic plan in 2024, we intend to strengthen this outreach and create organizational infrastructure needed to do so. This matching campaign is an investment that will elevate the expertise of our Fellowship before the highest levels of government to ensure that we are Nurses Out Loud!”

The Academy mission is to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science. Dr. White’s announcement and the investment by the organization’s past presidents demonstrates that the Academy’s central goal— to be a leader for the public and develop equitable policy solutions— is amplified. Learn more about the Academy’s policy impact.

Please join the Academy in recognizing Dr. White’s philanthropic work as he finishes his presidential term and ensures the organization continues to convene, recognize, and celebrate the nursing profession’s most distinguished leaders. Learn more about the campaign and to help support the Academy’s ability to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.