August 12, 2008

$250,000 to The San Francisco Foundation to Address Nursing Crisis

Two-year Grant for Language Skills, U.S. Medical Practices, and Clinical Rotations

(SAN FRANCISCO) – Tuesday, August 12, 2008 – The San Francisco Foundation announced today a $250,000
grant to the Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative (BAWFC) from Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future,
led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Northwest Health Foundation. The two-year grant will
support three efforts to address the Bay Area nursing crisis:

• The East Bay Immigrant Nursing Re-entry Program (INRP).
• A community college capacity building initiative with a focus on strengthening nursing education programs.
• The BAWFC partnership and partner investments in nursing projects.
  

The nursing crisis will have a devastating impact on the health of our community unless we strengthen the
nursing workforce now,” said Sandra R. Hernández, M.D., CEO of The San Francisco Foundation. As the state
population grows, the shortage of nurses is projected to increase to 116,600 by 2020, meeting only 55% of the
state’s demand for nurses. The Bay Area alone will need an additional 11,945 nurses by 2020 to meet the
national average. “These efforts are critical and timely in our work to address these healthcare and economic
challenges.”

The INRP works with foreign-trained nurses to train them for the U.S. nursing field. Many of these people have
advanced degrees in their home countries and are working in lower-level positions in the U.S. The INRP will
teach language skills, U.S. medical practices, and clinical rotations. More than 300 people will prepare for
employment through classes, individual coaching, referrals to resources, and job placement assistance. In
addition, the grant will support capacity building efforts at Bay Area community colleges to strengthen nursing
education programs.

The grant to the BAWFC from Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future will be matched by grants from The
California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and the David B. Gold Foundation.

The San Francisco Foundation and its partners are one of 18 foundations nationwide to receive funding in the
third year of Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future, a unique national initiative to help close the shortage gap in
the nursing workforce across the country.

Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future energizes local foundations to act as catalysts in their communities to
develop strategies for creating and sustaining a viable nursing workforce. These foundations, some for the first
time, have forged partnerships in their own communities to apply for this grant, giving increased attention to the
nursing shortage in their communities.

“As the severity of the nursing shortage continues to grow, the stability and quality of our nation’s health care
stands at risk,” said Susan B. Hassmiller, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., senior program officer at the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation. “It’s not only a national problem, but a local issue that demands community-based
interventions and innovative solutions. This unique partnership of the philanthropic community helps foster
innovations that will drive nursing workforce solutions beyond what any one foundation could do alone.”

This marks the third year of a five-year, $10 million commitment by Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future
which funds partnerships of up to $250,000 each. During the program’s first two years, 21 foundation partners
in 19 states established more than 215 local partnerships between nursing organizations, funders and workforce
development boards to address the nursing shortage.

Through Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future, initiative directors are hoping that local and regional
foundations create a domino effect – where innovative ideas are tested locally and shared nationally. Partners
represent a diverse group planning a wide range of program initiatives.

Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future is currently seeking proposals for a fourth round of partnerships. Two-year
grants of up to $250,000 each will be awarded in September 2009, with partnerships matching their awards
with at least $1 for every $1 provided. The Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future call for proposals is available
at their website. Brief proposals are due by October 2, 2008.

About the Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative
The Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative (BAWFC) is a public/private partnership of 11 philanthropic
foundations designed to increase the economic security of low-income Bay Area residents while meeting the
workforce needs of key industry sectors in the region. The BAWFC invests in workforce training efforts that
promote the development and sustainability of career ladder initiatives that lead from entry level positions to
progressively more skilled occupations in high-wage, high-demand industry sectors. In addition, the BAWFC
supports systems reform efforts aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of workforce development
practice in the Bay Area region, and ensuring that state and local workforce, education, and economic
development policies are responsive to the needs of local communities and critical industries. To date, the
BAWFC has conducted two grant cycles distributing $6.5 million to 20 Bay Area workforce development
projects.

About The San Francisco Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation (TSFF) is the community foundation serving the Bay Area since 1948 with
current assets of more than $1 billion. Through the generosity and vision of our donors, TSFF awarded
grants totaling $89 million in fiscal year 2007. Bringing together donors and building on community assets
through grantmaking, leveraging, public policy, advocacy, and leadership development, TSFF addresses
community needs in the areas of community health, education, arts and culture, community development, social
justice, and the environment. The San Francisco Foundation is a community foundation serving San Francisco,
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Mateo Counties.

About The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country.
As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all
Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and
achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought
experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health
care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the
Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime.

About the Northwest Health Foundation
Founded in 1997, the Northwest Health Foundation is an independent, charitable foundation committed to
advancing, supporting, and promoting the health of the people of Oregon and southwest Washington. Embracing
its role as the community’s partner for better health, the Foundation achieves its mission primarily through
grantmaking and support for advocacy efforts that influence public policy.