They believe in being focused in their giving; involved with their grantees; and results-oriented, always looking to demonstrate the tangible impacts of their gifts. The Jonas Center’s model—grant-making paired with advocacy and convening—is already attracting other funders. While nursing is the prime philanthropic focus of the Barbara and Donald Jonas Family Fund, the Fund also supports select in
itiatives in mental health and at-risk families and youth—efforts that involve the Jonases’ children and grandchildren.ng incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases. Changing demographics require a nursing workforce that reflects a diverse society and provides culturally appropriate care, responding to the realities of health disparities. As a result, the U.S. confronts a serious nursing shortage, with best estimates projecting a minimum shortfall of hundreds of thousands of nurses in the next 15 years. This is due to a convergence of factors, including an acute faculty shortage, which restricts enrollment of future nurses; an aging nurse workforce; and high job turnover due to burnout caused by demanding work conditions, insufficient staffing and strenuous physical work. Against this backdrop, the Barbara and Donald Jonas Family Fund established the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence, a groundbreaking program that deploys philanthropy in novel and traditional ways to advance the nursing profession. The Jonas Center works closely with powerhouses in nursing practice and education, public health and philanthropy on innovative grant programs in New York City and beyond. Such partners include: New York University, Columbia University, City University of New York, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, the Urban Institute, the National League of Nursing, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The John A. Hartford Foundation. Perhaps the most significant indicator of the success of these partnerships is that grantees have leveraged an additional $3 million in funding from other organizations because the Jonas Center grant helped them establish their programs’ viability and credibility.
