In 2019, the AORN Foundation provided over $1.4 million to support perioperative nurses.
- 91 academic scholarships
- 33 face-to-face regional seminars
- 28 grants were issued to chapters
- 741 professional development grants were given
It is because of generous individual contributions and corporate giving that we provide nurses these resources to help reach their goals:
- Academic scholarships
- Professional development grants
- Seminars for leadership and clinical nurse education
- Research grants
Meet one of our scholarship recipients.
Support the Foundation
Text NURSE to (720) 770-4624 to make a secure donation.
Academic Scholarship Recipients

“This generous help you, the donors, have provided goes a long way. Not only do you help us to continue with school, you help our kids, our husbands and wives, our patients and our community. School makes us improve in so many different aspects of our lives that many benefit from it; so when you say “I am helping a nurse” you should say instead “I am helping a community.”
Belisa Barrier, AORN Foundation Scholar

“On behalf of myself, my family, and my leadership team, we are truly honored for your gratitude and your willingness to support my educational journey, through the awarded scholarship funding for the 2019-2020 academic year...I took a leap of faith to further my knowledge and grow within my career. Often times, the financial burdens hinder the opportunities that may present themselves. I enter a new academic setting with a full heart and peace of mind, due to the generosity that you have bestowed on me.”
Joseph Hicks, AORN Foundation Scholar
Professional Development Grant Recipients

"My first day in the OR I was greeted by Doreen Cahill, she is a nurse with incredible experience and knowledge. Doreen is CNOR certified and taught me how to do everything right in the OR from the start. Her expertise is all I knew as a fledgling circulator. I believe that this knowledge provided by Doreen gave me an incredible advantage in the operating room and still helps me today. I have obtained my CNOR certificate to pay it forward and help others just as Doreen helped me. I believe that the CNOR certification gets me one step closer to one day being as great of a resource to others as Doreen was to me."
Martin Beyer, CNOR Grant Recipient
AORN President Missi Merlino sponsored grants for three grateful nurses so they could attend the AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo.