2025 Pitch-A-Thon
Take It Apart | Fix It | Build It Better
July 23 | Pitch-A-Thon Information Session
August 18 | Pitch-A-Thon Applications Open
$385,000 in Funding Available!
Nurses bring forward powerful ideas on how to help improve health and healthcare for all. Strengthening this critical workforce is essential to delivering equitable healthcare, and establishing and sustaining healthy work environments in all settings where nurses practice is crucial.
This request for proposals seeks innovative solutions that create systemic and sustainable change for a thriving workforce and healthier work environments.
Who better than nurses to Take It Apart, Fix It, and Build It Better!
Track 1: Health Systems & Nursing Organizations (High-Resource Countries)
Open to global health systems and nursing organizations from high-resource countries.
Must be 501(c)(3) or global equivalent or have a fiscal sponsor (US applicants-only).
Interdisciplinary nurse-led teams within the same organization.
Funding Amount: Up to $175,000 grant funding, with support from Johnson & Johnson Foundation.
Track 2: Health Systems & Nursing Organizations (Low to Mid-Resource Countries)
Open to global health systems and nursing organizations from low to mid-resource countries.
Must be a non-profit organization or global equivalent.
Interdisciplinary nurse-led teams within the same organization.
Funding Amount: Up to $175,000 grant funding, with support from Johnson & Johnson Foundation.
Track 3: Nurse-Founded Startups (US-only) a
Must be registered in the United States with a valid bank account.
Must have less than $50,000 in capital.
Must be nurse-led.
Funding Amount: Up to $35,000.
Teams will receive coaching support throughout the process. Applications open August 18th and are due September 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.. The top entries will be invited to pitch their innovative solutions at a virtual session on November 19, 2025, with the opportunity to receive up to $385,000 in funding.
Click the buttons below to download the Country Resource Guide and the Funding Resource Guide to support you with your application and track selection.
Innovation Accelerator for Finalists Teams:
October 15, 2025 – November 10, 2025
Live Virtual Pitch-A-Thon:
November 19, 2025
NurseHack4Health: Innovation Accelerator & Pitch-A-Thon, presented by Johnson & Johnson, SONSIEL and Microsoft, with support from Johnson & Johnson Foundation.
During the Accelerator, the finalist teams will be assigned coaches to pressure test their innovations/solutions, refine a detailed one-year budget, and practice their pitches.
Finalists will present their pitches to a panel of industry-expert judges. Selected awardees will receive funding to assist with the creation, testing or expansion of early-stage solutions to create systemic and sustainable change for a thriving workforce and healthier work environments.
FAQs
Where do I apply? Do I have to complete the application in one sitting?
The complete application is due September 30th 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.
What is a 501(c)(3) or global equivalent?
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.
What is a fiscal sponsor? a
This is only relevant for Track 1 (US applicants-only). 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.
What happens with IP (Intellectual Property)?
NurseHack4Health/J&J/Microsoft/SONSIEL DOES 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.
Is it okay if some of the information I submit is confidential?
DO NOT SUBMIT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Only non-confidential information should be submitted and anything you submit will be treated as non-confidential.
What time commitment is needed to apply to the Pitch-A-Thon?
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.
What are the “Must-Haves” for applications and “Restrictions of Use” for funding?
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 2026 and end fund spending by December 31, 2026
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 nurse-led
Teams must be nurse-led
Grantees must start implementation by January 2026 and end fund spending by December 31, 2026
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
Grantees cannot be vendors
