Helene Fuld Health Trust

Quick Stats

Total Assets: $122.5 million (FY 2024)
Annual Giving: $8.6 million
Grant Range: $500,000 - $1,700,000
Application Method: Invitation only
Geographic Focus: National (United States)
Primary Focus: Nursing education and student nurse scholarships

Contact Details

Trustee: HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (sole trustee)

Mailing Address: 1 W 39th St Fl New, New York, NY 10018

Phone: 212-525-2418

Fax: 212-525-2395

Website: http://www.fuld.org

EIN: 13-6309307

Overview

The Helene Fuld Health Trust is the largest charitable trust in the United States devoted exclusively to supporting student nurses and nursing education. Originally established as the Helene Fuld Health Foundation in 1935, the foundation transferred its assets to the trust in 1969, growing from $25 million at that time to over $122 million today. Managed by HSBC Bank USA as sole trustee, the Trust's primary mission is to support and promote the health, welfare, and education of student nurses. The Trust awards grants to leading nursing schools and organizations that undertake innovative programs designed to develop and expand the professional and leadership skills of nursing students, faculty, and administration. Recent strategic focus has centered on accelerated second-degree BSN programs, recognizing the increasing complexity of healthcare delivery and the need for highly educated nursing professionals.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates exclusively through an invitation-only process for institutional grants to nursing schools. Recent grant awards include:

Endowed Scholarship Programs: $400,000 - $650,000 (three-year grants for endowed scholarship funds)
Immediate-Use Scholarships: $100,000 - $200,000 (for current student support)
Infrastructure and Innovation Grants: $680,000 - $1,700,000 (for facilities, simulation centers, and program development)

Recent examples:

University at Buffalo: $500,000 (2024) - $400,000 endowment + $100,000 immediate scholarships
University of Pittsburgh: $650,000 (three-year grant) for Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN students
George Washington University: $600,000 for Accelerated BSN Program scholarships
Regis College: $600,000 for Accelerated BSN program
University of Miami: $1.7 million for skills resource center and second-career nursing students

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

Financial aid for nursing students, particularly in accelerated second-degree BSN programs
Endowed scholarship funds at selected nursing schools
Students pursuing BSN degrees and higher

Secondary Focus:

Innovative programs for professional and leadership skill development
Evidence-based practice training and certification
Nursing simulation facilities and skills resource centers
Faculty and administration development programs
Programs serving students with undergraduate/graduate degrees in other disciplines transitioning to nursing
Military veterans transitioning to nursing careers

Preferred Program Types:

Accelerated second-degree BSN programs (current priority)
Baccalaureate nursing programs
Programs emphasizing academic leadership and research toward PhD in nursing
Community health nursing programs

What They Don't Fund

Individual student applications (students must apply through their nursing schools)
Non-nursing healthcare programs
Graduate nursing programs without BSN component
International institutions (U.S. only)
Diploma or associate degree programs (preference for BSN and higher)

Governance and Leadership

Sole Trustee: HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

The Trust operates under a corporate trustee structure rather than a traditional board of directors. HSBC Bank USA (which acquired Marine Midland Bank in 1980) serves as the sole trustee with full governance and decision-making authority. Marine Midland Bank of Buffalo became the sole trustee in 1969 when the foundation converted to a trust structure.

Historical Leadership: Gordon Alexander Philips (1917-1991) served as President of the Helene Fuld Health Trust from 1969 to approximately 1971 after serving as co-trustee of the foundation following Leonhard Felix Fuld's death in 1965.

The Trust partners with the Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare at Ohio State University to advance evidence-based practice in nursing.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Helene Fuld Health Trust does not have a public application process. The Trust operates exclusively through an invitational process for institutional grants.

According to the Trust's documented approach: "The trust will seek opportunities to establish endowed scholarships for students in baccalaureate programs at selected nursing schools through an invitational process."

How Grants Are Awarded:

The Trust identifies and invites selected nursing schools to participate
Schools cannot submit unsolicited proposals
The Trust initiates contact with institutions that meet their strategic priorities
Preference given to programs offering BSN degrees and higher
Focus on leading nursing schools with innovative programs

For Students: Students cannot apply directly to the Trust. Instead, students should:

Check with their nursing school's financial aid office to determine if the school has received Helene Fuld funding
Apply through their institution's scholarship application process
Complete FAFSA and school-specific scholarship applications during designated application periods

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust operates on its own timeline for identifying and inviting institutions. Individual schools with Fuld scholarships typically have annual application cycles for students, often in February-March for the following academic year.

Success Rates

Not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of the grant process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for institutions, as the Trust uses an invitation-only process. For students at schools with Fuld scholarships, reapplication policies vary by institution.

Application Success Factors

Since this funder operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, based on the Trust's documented priorities and recent grant awards, the following factors appear to influence their selection of nursing schools:

What the Trust Looks For:

Accelerated Second-Degree BSN Programs: The Trust has made "financial assistance for students in second-degree accelerated baccalaureate programs a current priority." Recent grants to University at Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh, George Washington University, NYU, and others all focused on accelerated BSN programs.
BSN and Higher Degree Programs: The Trust explicitly states it "will give preference to programs that offer BSN degrees and higher, acknowledging the increased complexity of and sophisticated knowledge required for health care delivery."
Leading Nursing Schools: The Trust's mission includes supporting "leading nursing schools," suggesting preference for well-established institutions with strong reputations.
Innovative Programs: The Trust seeks "organizations which undertake innovative programs designed to develop and expand the professional and leadership skills of nursing students, faculty, and administration."
Financial Need Population: Priority for programs serving students who "often have limited scholarship opportunities as second-degree students."
Career Changers and Veterans: Programs serving "students who have undergraduate or graduate degrees in other disciplines and/or served in a medical capacity in the military."
100% NCLEX Pass Rates: University at Buffalo's grant announcement highlighted their "100% pass rate on the National Council Licensing Exam," suggesting strong outcomes matter.

Evidence from Recent Awards:

The Trust's 2024 grant to University at Buffalo exemplifies their priorities: the school's Accelerated BSN program graduates approximately 50 students annually with a 100% NCLEX pass rate, serving career-changing students who need financial support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only process: You cannot apply directly; the Trust must approach your institution
Focus on accelerated second-degree BSN programs: This is the Trust's current priority area
Nation's largest nursing education funder: With $122.5 million in assets and $8.6 million in annual giving, this is a significant funder
Long-term relationships: Many schools receive multiple grants over years (endowments plus immediate-use funds)
Institutional grants only: Individual students cannot apply directly to the Trust
Preference for BSN and higher: Associate degree and diploma programs are not prioritized
Student scholarships at recipient schools: If your nursing school has Fuld funding, students should check with financial aid offices about application processes, typically requiring FAFSA, transcripts, and personal statements about career goals in academic leadership, research, or community health

References

Helene Fuld Health Trust - Cause IQ. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/helene-fuld-health-trust,136309307/
Helene Fuld Health Trust - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helene_Fuld_Health_Trust
Helene Fuld Health Trust - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136309307
Candid Foundation Directory - Helene Fuld Health Trust. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=FULD001
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing - Grant Announcement. https://www.nursing.pitt.edu/news/school-nursing-secures-grant-helene-fuld-health-trust
Regis College - $600,000 Grant Announcement. https://www.regiscollege.edu/about-regis/news/regis-receives-600000-grant-prestigious-helene-fuld-health-trust
Simmons University - Grant Announcement. https://www.simmons.edu/news/simmons-school-nursing-receives-significant-grant-from-helene-fuld-health-trust
University at Buffalo - $500,000 Grant (2024). https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2024/07/nursing-scholarship-grant.html
NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing - Helene Fuld Scholarship Information. https://nursing.nyu.edu/current-students/scholarships/helene-fuld-health-trust-scholarship-fund-new-15-month-accelerated
George Washington University - Grant Announcement. https://nursing.gwu.edu/helene-fuld-health-trust-awards-gw-nursing-grant-fund-bsn-student-scholarships
Philanthropy New York - Helene Fuld Health Trust Profile. https://philanthropynewyork.org/redhen/org/540
UCF College of Nursing - Helene Fuld Scholarship. https://nursing.ucf.edu/academics/scholarships-aid/helene-fuld/
University of Kentucky - Grant Announcement. https://www.kentuckycan.uky.edu/index.php/your-gifts-at-work/uk-philanthropy-news/helene-fuld-trust
Villanova University - Grant Announcement. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/nursing/newsevents/archives/2015_1210.html

All sources accessed December 24, 2025.