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Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.4M
Grant Range
$15K - $22.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,395,000 (2022)
  • Assets: $59.8 million
  • Number of Grants: 9 awards (2022)
  • Average Grant Size: $710,556
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $22,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Florida and Massachusetts (primarily Amherst, Boston, Fort Myers, Holyoke, Naples, and Sarasota)

Contact Details

Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation Naples, FL EIN: 27-2986918

Note: No public website, email, or phone number available. The foundation operates as a private foundation with grants awarded through trustee discretion.

Overview

The Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Elaine Nicpon Marieb (1936-2018), a pioneering nursing educator and bestselling author of anatomy and physiology textbooks whose work has been read by more than 3 million nurses and healthcare professionals. With assets of approximately $59.8 million, the foundation distributed $6.4 million in grants in 2022. The foundation's mission is to advance nursing development, education, and training, with a strong emphasis on innovative, technology-enhanced learning experiences. Dr. Marieb, who ranked 7th on TIME magazine's 2016 list of 100 Most-Read Female Authors in College Classes, was herself a nontraditional student who earned nursing degrees from Holyoke Community College and Fitchburg State College before becoming one of the most influential voices in nursing education. The foundation continues her passionate commitment to helping others achieve success through education, particularly in nursing and healthcare fields.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes major institutional grants to colleges and universities, typically ranging from several hundred thousand to tens of millions of dollars over multi-year periods. Recent grants include:

  • Major University Programs: $21.5 million - $22 million (multi-year commitments to establish or enhance nursing colleges and centers)
  • Technology and Innovation Grants: Amounts vary (supporting augmented reality, simulation laboratories, holographic technology)
  • Emergency Relief Funding: $250,000 (Hurricane Ian nurse support at Lee Health)
  • Pilot Research Grants: $15,000 (through the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation at UMass Amherst)
  • Scholarship Endowments: Varies (need-based scholarships for female students from Collier County, FL, and nontraditional students)

Priority Areas

Nursing Education Infrastructure

  • State-of-the-art simulation laboratories
  • Augmented and virtual reality training platforms
  • Holographic healthcare training technology
  • Rehabilitation equipment

Interdisciplinary Innovation

  • Nurse-engineer collaborative research
  • Integration of engineering principles into nursing education
  • Development of innovative healthcare products and processes

Workforce Development

  • Student scholarships, particularly for nontraditional students
  • Endowed professorships in nursing
  • Support for students pursuing advanced nursing degrees (BSN to DNP, family nurse practitioner programs)

Nontraditional and Underserved Students

  • Special focus on female students from Collier County, Florida
  • Support for students who experienced lapses in their educational journey
  • Programs addressing critical nursing shortages in Southwest Florida

Educational Technology and Instructional Innovation

  • Cutting-edge instructional technology
  • Student-designed augmented reality simulations
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to nursing education

What They Don't Fund

While explicit exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's grants exclusively support nursing and healthcare education. There is no evidence of funding for:

  • Non-nursing/healthcare programs
  • International programs (focus is Florida and Massachusetts)
  • General operating expenses unrelated to nursing education innovation
  • Individual nursing practice or clinical operations (except in context of education partnerships)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Martin M. Wasmer Trustee and spokesperson for the foundation. Wasmer is associated with Wasmer Schroeder. He has been quoted extensively in foundation announcements, emphasizing the foundation's commitment to educational innovation: "The innovative nursing engineering program currently being launched at the university was clearly the catalyst for capturing the interest of the foundation and is consistent with Elaine's own spirit of innovation in learning."

Elizabeth "Libby" R. McHugh Trustee who serves as an active spokesperson for the foundation. McHugh has articulated the foundation's focus on continuing Dr. Marieb's educational mission: "Dr. Marieb spent her career in education, which is why we wanted to stick with education. For healthcare, not only does it fit with Elaine's passion, but it's also something that's desperately needed down here in order to train that next generation of nurses and healthcare professionals."

Elaine Ironfeld Trustee of the foundation. Limited public information available about her specific role.

All trustees contribute minimal hours without compensation, according to IRS filings.

Foundation Philosophy

From trustee statements, the foundation's philosophy emphasizes:

  • "Expanding and enhancing [Dr. Marieb's] legacy through collaborative efforts"
  • "Helping others achieve personal success through education"
  • "Developing innovative ways to enhance learning experiences"
  • Supporting programs that demonstrate "spirit of innovation in learning"

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private foundation with grants awarded through trustee discretion rather than competitive application cycles.

Grants are typically awarded to institutions with which the foundation has established relationships or that align with Dr. Marieb's personal connections (she was an alumna of Holyoke Community College, Fitchburg State University, and University of Massachusetts Amherst).

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented grantmaking patterns, the following funder-specific approaches may be relevant:

Institutional Connections to Dr. Marieb's Legacy The foundation has consistently supported institutions where Dr. Marieb studied or taught, including:

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (PhD alma mater, former faculty)
  • Holyoke Community College (nursing program alumna, received $1.5 million in donations during her lifetime)
  • Fitchburg State University (BSN alma mater, Class of 1984)
  • Florida Gulf Coast University (her home region of Naples, Florida)

Innovative Nursing-Engineering Collaborations Trustee Martin Wasmer specifically noted that UMass Amherst's "innovative nursing engineering program" was the "catalyst for capturing the interest of the foundation." Institutions developing interdisciplinary approaches that integrate nursing with engineering, technology, or other innovative methodologies may align with foundation interests.

Regional Focus The foundation prioritizes Southwest Florida (Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota region) and Western Massachusetts (Amherst, Holyoke, Boston region). Healthcare education institutions in these geographic areas addressing critical nursing shortages may be of interest.

Crisis Response in Healthcare Education The foundation made a rapid $250,000 grant to Lee Health after Hurricane Ian to support nurses. This demonstrates potential responsiveness to acute healthcare workforce needs in their priority regions.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than fixed application cycles. Major institutional grants appear to involve extended discussions and relationship building with university leadership.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to lack of public application process. The foundation made 9 grants in 2022, 5 in 2021, and 7 in 2020, suggesting selective, high-impact grantmaking to a limited number of recipients.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no formal application process exists.

Application Success Factors

While there is no formal application process, analyzing the foundation's grantmaking patterns reveals key factors that appear to influence funding decisions:

Innovation in Learning Technology The foundation has repeatedly funded cutting-edge educational technology. Recent examples include:

  • Augmented reality platforms (GigXR technology at Fitchburg State)
  • Holographic healthcare training platforms
  • Student-designed simulations created by nursing and game design students working collaboratively

Trustee Wasmer emphasized the foundation's interest in programs "consistent with Elaine's own spirit of innovation in learning."

Interdisciplinary Approaches The foundation strongly favors programs that break traditional silos. The UMass Amherst Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation exemplifies this priority, with pilot grants supporting collaborative nurse-engineer research teams addressing topics like nurse stress and workforce planning, Alzheimer's detection, and food accessibility mapping.

Demonstrated Impact on Nursing Workforce Shortages Trustee McHugh noted that healthcare professional training is "desperately needed" in Southwest Florida. Grants to FGCU, Lee Health, and related institutions all address critical nursing workforce gaps in the region.

Alignment with Dr. Marieb's Personal Values

  • Nontraditional students: Dr. Marieb earned her bachelor's degree at age 28 and established scholarships for students who experienced educational lapses
  • Female students in nursing: Scholarships specifically support female students from Collier County, Florida
  • Teaching excellence: The foundation funded an annual faculty award at Holyoke Community College
  • Practical, student-centered education: Dr. Marieb wrote her textbooks because existing materials were "ineffective" for her nursing students

Institutional Leadership and Vision Trustee McHugh specifically mentioned "the visionary leadership of FGCU President Dr. Aysegul Timur and Marieb College Dean Shawn Felton" as factors in their decision to make the $22 million gift. Strong institutional leadership with clear vision for nursing education innovation appears important.

Multi-Year Commitment to Sustainability The foundation structures major grants over extended periods (9 years for FGCU, ongoing support for UMass Amherst Center), suggesting preference for sustainable, long-term impact over one-time projects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is a private foundation making grants through trustee discretion, typically to institutions with existing relationships or connections to Dr. Marieb's personal history
  • Innovation in educational technology is paramount - the foundation consistently funds cutting-edge simulation, augmented reality, holographic, and other advanced learning platforms
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration, especially nursing-engineering partnerships, strongly aligns with foundation priorities - demonstrated by major investments in the UMass Amherst Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation
  • Geographic focus is highly specific - Southwest Florida (particularly Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota) and Western Massachusetts (Amherst, Holyoke, Boston) are the foundation's primary regions
  • Dr. Marieb's personal values drive decision-making - support for nontraditional students, female nursing students, teaching excellence, and practical education that addresses real student needs
  • Relationship building with university leadership matters - trustees specifically cite "visionary leadership" as a factor in major gift decisions
  • Think big and long-term - average grant size exceeds $700,000, with major institutional commitments ranging from $15-22 million over multiple years

References

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