About the Foundation

Golden State Nursing Foundation (GSNF) was created by Nurses for Nurses. The foundation was formed in 1994 with the purposes of granting scholarships to qualifying nurses and to create a Nurse Museum to honor the profession.

Become a Friend of the Foundation

The Foundation is seeking Friends of the Foundation through individual sponsorships or through planned giving. Become a Friend Today. For planned giving arrangements, contact our office at 916-447-0225.

Our History

  • In 1929, according to the terms of the last will and testament of Morris Herzstein, MD $10,000 was invested in securities with Wells Fargo Bank. The net income from these securities were to be used by the San Francisco Nurse Association, Inc. for the aid of indigent and aged nurses residing in San Francisco. This was identified as the Nurses Welfare Fund.

  • In 1983, The Superior Court of San Francisco decreed that Wells Fargo Bank, as trustee, distribute all the trust assets to the Golden Gate Nurses Association (GGNA), the successor of San Francisco Nurse Association. These monies were to be used for the promotion of professional and educational advancement of nurses. This money, known as the Herzstein Educational Fund, was invested and income from this fund was used to provide low-interest loans to nurses returning to school for advanced education.

  • In 1994, at the annual audit, the policies for the Herzstein Educational Fund were found to not be in compliance with recent changes in IRS regulations. In order to use this money the way it was intended and was decreed by the court, and to be in compliance with IRS regulations, in October 1994, the GGNA Board of Directors voted to transfer the Herzstein Educational Fund to the newly created Golden Gate Nursing Foundation. The Golden Gate Nursing Foundation was incorporated in November 1994.

  • The name was later changed to the Golden State Nursing Foundation to better reflect the state wide nature of the foundation as it was perceived that the "golden gate" in the title tended to suggest the functions of the foundation would be mainly in the Bay Area.

  • Members of the founding Board of Trustees were: Stan Walker, President; Elaine McKenna, Secretary/Chief Financial Officer; Jo Anne Saxe, and Tony Leone Board Members. Jo Anne Powell was Special Project Coordinator and provided staff support for the board.

  • A book "At the Forefront of Modern Nursing: the San Francisco County Nurses' Association 1905-1973" by Gail Kurtz, was published in September 1999 by the GSNF.

  • The foundation is currently in the process of reorganization (2006); the bylaws have been revised and changes are being made in the composition and functions of the Board of Directors.

  • Projects to be supported are selected by the Dean and/or faculty committee convened for this purpose. The initial payout for the first year, approximately $2,500 was used to help with the completion of a book on the history of the UCSF School of Nursing for its centennial in 2007. The book by Marilyn Flood, Associate Dean Emerita, will be available from UCSF Nursing Press in 2007.

  • GSNF's vision is to create a California Nursing Museum.

Endowed History Fund

Our Objectives

The Golden State Nursing Foundation, through its scholarship and programs plans to help:

  • Prepare nurses for the roles emerging from the changes in the delivery of health care.
  • Preserve the local history of nursing.
  • Support innovative practice in nursing.
  • Develop a fundraising plan to assure that activities can be planned to carry out the mission.

Meet The Board of Directors

 

GSNF is a 501 (c) 3 organization and our Tax ID #94-3214987. All contributions made to the foundation are subject to tax deduction. Please consult with your tax professional.